Stour tamed by Lions

Despite dominating first half possession and territory Stour were guilty of trying to force matters, their endeavour undone by a rash of handling errors and a well organised Lions’ defence that repelled everything thrown at it. On an afternoon to forget Stour salvaged a losing bonus point thanks only to the wayward boot of the visitors’ outside half Jon Williams who missed four kicks at goal.

Stour were straight out of the blocks, and though unable to work an advantage when Lions conceded a penalty deep in their 22 referee Neil Chivers initially awarded a try when Rod Petty snuck over from a quick tap. But following AR Mark Liddell’s intervention he ruled that the penalty had been taken from the wrong spot, Stour opted to kick to the corner but blew the opportunity when the lineout throw evaded jumper Robbie Hurrell.

Lions’ flanker Drew Rudkin got yellow carded for a high tackle, Stour declining the kickable penalty for a catch & drive routine that was moved wide when the visitors pack declined to commit to a maul but gifted back with a handling error. Another penalty award was kicked to touch in the Lions’ 22, Stour’s pack this time wise to the defenders’ stand-off tactics but a loose pass in the backfield coughed the ball up once again.

Centre James Otutaha’s promising break found Hurrell on the right flank but he was forced into touch. The visitors attacked from deep, winger Sam Benjamin scorching round the cover to draw the last defender but with the line at his mercy centre Luke Veebel fumbled the scoring pass and Stour were gifted a let-off. An innocuous contact off the ball during a kick chase gave Williams a straightforward opportunity to end the scoring drought but his attempt drifted wide, the half ending with the scoreboard operators untroubled.

That was to changed very quickly when the teams took the field for the 2nd half. Stour aimlessly kicked away possession near halfway to set up a Lions’ attack, Williams ghosted through a gap in the defensive line and linked with his wide runners, Benjamin crossing for a try in front of the scoreboard barely a minute from the restart.

Winger Ash Elvers managed to evade the chasers of a loose clearance kick, but an otherwise open run was blocked by a line of his own forwards and another chance went begging. Gaining in confidence the visitors started to move the ball, the elusive Benjamin a constant threat out wide. A fluffed clearance kick gifted the visitors another opportunity to run at the Stour defences, both sides coughing up the ball cheaply before replacement backrow Will Roach reacted quickest, burst through a gap in the misaligned Stour fringe defences and galloped 35m to score.

Handling errors continued to dog Stour’s attacks, scant return coming as they persisted in trying to attack though their threequarters. Frustration resulted in a reversed penalty directly in front of their posts but again Williams failed to convert. Stour opted for points when awarded a penalty at the other end, fullback Tom Mitchell’s kick bringing them back within a score. The game drew to a conclusion with both sides attempting to move the ball around but finding their attacks either snuffed out by handling errors or comfortably contained by their opponents’ defences.

Next week Feb 7th Stour travel to Coventry to take on Broadstreet. Their next home game will be on Feb 13th when they take on Nat. 2N basement side Huddersfield, 3pm ko.