TAMWORTH THUMPED AT STOURTON PARK

The Lions completed a regulation if comprehensive win at home to bottom club Tamworth by a score of 52-10. Tamworth proved to be game opponents until around 50 minutes when the faster, fitter Lions stormed to 5 second half tries all but one excellently converted by Sam Wilson to add to 2 out of 3 successful conversions in the first half.

Play was even-steven for the first 10-15 mins but then increasing pressure in the away 22 led to a close-in converted try from Sam Strangward. Shortly afterwards an excellent run and try by Will Fallows under the posts after a good break from Danny Cox left the Lions 14-0 up. Play continued until just after the half-hour when, from a ruck near the Tamworth line Ben Trinham dummied his was over. The half ended with the Lions under a bit of pressure but 19-0 up, having played well in fits and starts.

Credit Tamworth as they started the second half well, playing urgent, expansive rugby with the reward a try 2 mins in, converted for 19-7, followed shortly after by a penalty to put them within 9 points of the home team. At this point the Lions looked to have been in a deep slumber but a converted try soon after by new recruit Alex Gormley after a good passing move down the right left the score at 26-10 and the Lions then motored away with 4 more tries to end the tiring Tamworth resistance.

A further 10 mins brought tries for Scotty Langdon and Cass Brookes, the first after a run to the line and the second after another fine backs move. Unselfish play down the left by Brookes then gave Danny Cox a try near the posts and with a few minutes left a second try for Alex Gormley gave a welcome points haul and 5th place in the table.

A fine win but the Lions will know that much tougher assignments are just around the corner with 4-5 games left. As ever there were fine individual performances and some of the usual lack of concentration before and after half-time that needed to be guarded against and will be punished by better teams. However, once they realised that passing the ball through the backs could by-pass the Tamworth midfield there was no looking back. A team effort with backs and forwards combining well was the highlight of the second half.

JON DEWS