Lions XV
Matches
Sat 13 Jan 2018  ·  Division 1 West
MELBOURNE
21
19
STOURBRIDGE RUGBY
Lions XV
Unlucky Lions Lose in the Last Minute

Unlucky Lions Lose in the Last Minute

Mick Hollis16 Jan 2018 - 07:11
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A losing bonus point on the road against Melbourne, but it should have been more!

To say that the Lions players, management and fans are nursing a massive sense of injustice after this result would be an understatement. A controversial decision in the 53rd minute of the second half left them losing 21-19 to a penalty goal after out-scoring Melbourne in terms of tries. One point from this match was scant reward for their efforts.

The game was a long trial of recycled pressure by Melbourne against strong Lions defence and interspersed by swift and clinical Lions attacks through their superior backs. After initial home pressure the Lions broke out and Sam Wilson went over in the corner after 5 minutes for an unconverted try. On 12 minutes Alex Jones was sin-binned for a high tackle, but undeterred, the Lions fashioned another move from which Wilson scored again in the corner on 20 minutes following bullocking work from Tim Daly. The conversion left the Lions 12-0 ahead.

The rest of the half saw continuing pressure from Melbourne, with powerful drives by their forwards, orchestrated by a fine performance from their 9. This eventually told with a try in the 34th minute, followed by a penalty goal near half-time, reducing the score to 12-8 to the Lions.
The second half opened with a penalty goal from the home side with the Lions increasingly rousing the ire of the referee. Soon after, however, a stolen lineout on half-way progressed through several pairs of hands for Rhys Williams to make an excellent break and put Alex Jones in down the right. A fine conversion from Wilson put the Lions 19-11 up, with 20 minutes to go.

However, with 10 minutes left came the key moment in the match. Melbourne had been assaulting the Lions 22 with middling success, the Lions mainly holding them off and breaking out on occasion. However, the home side came again and drove into the away 22. A home forward clearly knocked the ball on; the ball fell into the arms of a team-mate, from which Melbourne scored under the posts.

After this, the match swung from one half to another, with both sides striving for the win. However, the half went on and on, with Lions defenders being continually penalised for not releasing the ball-carrier after the tackle. Eventually, after a period of Lions pressure the home side drove upfield and the Lions were penalised again, this time in front of the posts 20m out. The kick was converted for a home win and inevitably the final whistle blew immediately.

A sad end to a game where each and every Lions player knew they had been robbed at the death. They will take no solace from the fact that they remain 8 points clear of their hosts and 16 points clear of the relegation places. It leaves a sour taste, but they have games going forward that they can win, beginning with Moseley Oak next weekend.

by JON DEWS, pics by Sian Davies

Match details

Match date

Sat 13 Jan 2018

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

Division 1 West

League position

10
STOURBRIDGE LIONS
11
MELBOURNE
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Official Kit Partner - Canterbury
Club Sponsor - Worton Rock Accountants