RESULTS KIND TO LIONS AS THEY LOSE LOCAL DERBY

A close defeat at home to keen rivals Kidderminster Carolians by 11-10 gave the Lions a bonus point and the benefit of hearing that close rivals Camp Hill and Walsall both lost means they are still 5 points clear at the top with one game to go before the Xmas break.
A great lunch involving old friends and rivals was followed by a low scoring but absorbing game where defences were generally on top but the greater power of the visiting pack saw them home against a depleted though gallant Lions eight missing key players, as well as having crucial absentees in the backs. All in all, however, a narrow but deserved win for Kiddie.

A closely contested first half featured one score after 10 minutes from the Kiddie 10, during a period of 15 minutes or so visiting pressure. A penalty given for apparent infringement at a ruck gave a foothold that the away outfit didn’t relinquish before half-time, despite the Lions coming more and more into the game without being able to turn pressure into points.

All changed after the second half opened, with an early penalty from Owen Williams followed by a try from the already prolific George Tildesley. A series of attacks into the away 22 eventually saw a spark of brilliance from fly-half Williams with a great cross kick from left to right that Tildesley was quick up onto to touch down. A fine conversion saw the Lions ahead 10-3 and seemingly on the way after a mere 8 minutes of the half played.

It was to Kiddie’s credit that they turned up the pressure, driving the Lions back in the scrums and launching a series of attacks featuring their back row and inside centre. The Lions came back and went close themselves on several occasions but eventually the away 10 put a clever kick over the advancing Lions defence and the cover was beaten to the touchdown wide on the Lions left. The conversion missed, it was all to play for with around 15 minutes to go.

The closing minutes were nip and tuck, with both sides close to a score but with 5 minutes to go a penalty was awarded to Kiddie just beyond the 10-metre line but dead centre of the pitch. The Kiddie centre struck it straight and true for a narrow but merited victory. The Lions tried to come back but key mistakes left them frustrated by the end.

A tough defeat but it’s to be hoped that key players will be back for the visit to the dangerous but so far inconsistent Leek. A win there means that the Lions cannot be headed going into the Xmas break.

Jon Dews