LIONS START THE SEASON WITH BIG HOME WIN OVER NEWCASTLE

The Lions opened their account at home with a comprehensive and comfortable 41-0 win against promoted Newcastle. The power and industry of the forwards, in which Ross Bowser, Matt Poole and new boy Kieran Ollerenshaw were prominent, laid the foundations for this 7 try win. Of particular satisfaction to the Lions management was the shut-out against energetic but limited visitors.
The opening try after 3 minutes came via a familiar source in a Scotty Langdon burst down the left for a try converted by Ben Trinham, already busy at scrum-half. Five minutes later a lineout catch and drive from the 22 saw another familiar scorer, ex-skipper Doolittle on the end of the move. 12-0 and the Lions were looking good for a big score.

The visitors rallied somewhat and their organisation improved with several sorties into the Lions half, but on 20 minutes a sweeping move between forwards and backs saw Joe Loverock beat his man and crash over down the left. After a period of Lions pressure for the next 15 minutes new boy Ollerenshaw scored from close in after a series of rucks in the away 22. Maximum points and 22-0 at the half.

Another inevitable Doolittle try heralded the opening of the second half after 6 minutes, with the Trinham conversion moving the Lions out to 29-0. By now the Lions were in the comfort zone with little pressure on them and the moves and handling put Newcastle on the back foot for most of the half. A try for old man Poole mid-way through the half was a popular score, converted again by Trinham and the final try was a bit of opportunism by Trinham down the left after he saw a gap through the away defence and hurtled down the touchline.

A good win for the second year against newly promoted opposition with a maximum score to open the season. The Lions looked fluent, even with some players missing and there was a welcome return at full-back for Paul Harper-Smith. The Lions will know, however, that there are many more difficult tasks ahead.