ROUTINE WIN AT TAMWORTH FOR LIONS

ROUTINE WIN AT TAMWORTH FOR LIONS

The Lions maintained their top status with a bonus point 34-24 win away to mid-table Tamworth. Six tries would suggest a rampant performance but in truth the Lions played well only in bursts against a committed but limited home outfit who relied much on a fine pairing at half-back. Loss of focus, particularly in the second half against a revitalised home side, allied to some inconsistencies with the whistle, made the game far more difficult than it should have been.
The first half opened with a bang, with fireworks in the first 8 minutes and 2 tries for Will Fallows down the left, the first after a lineout drive and crisp passing among the backs and the second from a tap penalty and another backs move. At this point it seemed like a rout was in prospect with the Lions eight driving the home pack backwards in the tight and taking the home throw-in on several occasions.

However, the Lions stepped off the gas and Tamworth improved to put pressure on the away defence. On 20 minutes an astute chip through by the home 10 led to a try and conversion and a penalty left the Lions perilously poised at 12-10.
Chastened, the away team gathered themselves and dominated the remaining quarter, with a fine opportunist try and conversion from Trinham, having a good game at 10 and a fine backs move to give the old war-horse Matt Poole a try deserving of his energetic efforts, leaving the Lions 24-10 up at the half.

Now was the chance for the Lions to put Tamworth to the sword but the old inconsistencies remain. The signs looked good, with a Pennock try after 12 minutes of the second half after a series of infringements by the home defense near their line finally rewarded with a couple of penalties from which Pennock went over. Despite pressure the home pack tightened up and became more competitive in the scrum, but the next score again went to the Lions, Scotty Langdon, doubling up in the centre, being put through from 40 metres out and laying waste to sundry defenders before crashing over.

At this point, with the score at 34-10 and maximum points, a 50 pointer was well on the cards, but again the Lions lost focus and started to give away penalties. They lost Cass Brooks a little harshly to a yellow card but conceded possession far too easily, which resulted in 2 late home tries for a scoreline that flattered Tamworth somewhat but gave due warning that there will be tougher encounters coming up, not least Camp Hill, where loss of concentration and focus could be very damaging.
Overall a mixed bag, with some brilliance and some weaknesses, but nothing that the coaches won’t be able to work on.

Jon Dews