SECOND LEAGUE DEFEAT OF THE NEW YEAR FOR THE LIONS

The Lions hosted Shrewsbury in a key game for both sides, with the clubs close to each other in the league. Although the Lions started brightly they eventually succumbed to a sharper, well organised visiting outfit.
With changes having to be made owing to the loss of Fred Brooks at the last minute and the injuries to scrum-half Ben Trinham and prop Ross Bowser, the Lions started quickly, putting a series of attacks together and pressuring Shrews into early penalty errors. On 3 mins a penalty gave the home side a 3-0 lead and around the quarter hour another gave the Lions a 6-0 lead, both converted by Sam Wilson.
Despite pressure the Lions failed to score tries or add to their score and Shrews gained in confidence and began to find gaps in the home defence. A penalty reduced the arrears on 25 mins and, despite having lost a player to the sin-bin a move to the left along their backs and a missed tackle just after the half hour left the Lions 6-8 behind at half-time.
The second half was a litany of missed tackles, 12 in all, as Shrews scored 3 more tries, two converted; their greater fitness and ability to ride tackles being crucial. Shrews ruled the lineout and prevented any Lions pressure or continuity.
The first second-half try came just after the restart, with the conversion making it 15-6 to Shrews, again the result of missed tackles. A further try10 mins later pushed the visitors out to 20 points and seeming safety. To their credit the Lions came storming back and, aided by illegal attempts to slow the ball down, they camped for some time in or around the visitors’ 22. Eventually the pressure told and, after a series of drives towards the line on the Lions right a quick passing move saw Tom Dews crash over to the left of the posts. Unfortunately the conversion was missed, leaving the Lions 11-20 down.
The last word went to Shrews who piled on the agony with a final try through a tiring defence and a conversion to give them maximum points and further distance ahead of the Lions in the table. The defeat leaves the Lions in 8th place.
There were similar failings to the previous week, although the performance, albeit against a weaker side than Old Salts, was better. Too many missed tackles and a misfiring lineout were key, although there were strong performances in the forwards from Scott Langdon, Josh Cresswell and Sam Strangward, back for only his second full Lions game. Sam Wilson did manfully at 10 and put some telling kicks in and there was a promising debut from teenager Ben Tibbetts at 9. Again fitness was a factor with Shrews looking fitter and stronger as the game wore on.
However, with a free weekend coming up and then games against Stafford and Tamworth shortly after there is plenty of scope to start winning again. There has been much improvement over the season with a largely young squad in a league that is much tougher than last season. Work on tackling and fitness is a must that coach Tibbetts is increasingly emphasising and which the squad needs to take heed of; however there are many promising signs for this and further seasons.

Jon Dews