There’s not much that can be said about this match except that the Lions won comfortably without really extending themselves, were never under any threat except for a short spell in the second half and that the game was over as a contest by half-time, with the Lions 19-0 ahead and a Stafford player red carded for a rather too aggressive conversation with the referee. Maximum points for 4 tries left the Lions 4 points clear of Leek, who beat Walsall but with no bonus points. There are tougher games to come, starting with Walsall next week away and coach and players know they need a better performance than that at Stafford.

The first try went to Tildesley after a kick clear by the home defence and a Lions backs move leaving him to outpace the cover, Daly-like, into the corner. The second was a penalty try, leaving a Sam Vaughan conversion for 12-0 after 25 minutes. The third try was scored by Cass Brookes after a Doolittle turnover of the home possession and another series of drives and passing left him to go over just left of the posts. At this point the Lions were 19-0 up after another Vaughan conversion and the home side were beginning to chirp at the referee.
The second half gave Stafford the chance to partially redeem themselves and the 14 men went at the Lions with gusto, aided by another bout of unfocussed relaxing by the away side. A series of penalties down the left put Stafford into the Lions 22 for only the third time and they maintained some significant pressure, almost scoring on 2 occasions. There was a fair amount of to and fro for much of the remainder of the half but 2 more home players were binned towards the end of the half and this told, a scrum 5 metres out from the Stafford line resulting in a touch down but ultimately another penalty try awarded by the referee. Trinham’s conversion was the effective end of the game.

As outlined already Walsall away next week will be a tough proposition, but these are the games that will prove the Lions’ right to promotion or not. The great thing is that, with 2 months to go they are in the right place with every chance.

JON DEWS