Lions XV
Matches
Sat 28 Oct 2017  ·  Division 1 West
WORCESTER
17
17
STOURBRIDGE RUGBY
Lions XV
Lions Stun Worcester in Nailbiter

Lions Stun Worcester in Nailbiter

Mick Hollis31 Oct 2017 - 07:11
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A pulsating match, settled in the dying seconds!

Where do you start? A pulsating match settled in the last seconds of the last minute of the match with a dramatic try and conversion to grab the draw at 17 all; this after Worcester Wanderers had scored two minutes from the end to go 17-10 up. Cue rejoicing from the Stour faithful and shocked silence from the home fans.

The match started with a bang and ended with one. In the second minute a Will King kick from a ruck in the home half saw a brilliant catch and offload by Tom Mitchell for Cass Brookes to beat the remaining defence and go over under the posts. A great start and hope of more but the home side came more and more into the game, their powerful pack and driving running pushing the Lions back.

The home side scored a converted try on 15 minutes and, although a converted penalty from Mitchell gave the Lions a 10-7 lead their pack was wilting in the tight and, but for sterling work in defence by Tom Noott and his back row, Wanderers would have had more than the unconverted try they scored after intense pressure, just before half-time.

The score remained 12-10 to the home side throughout the second half until the dramatic finale, with the Lions gaining some slight parity in the scrums and some mastery of the lineout, as well as equality in the penalty count. Nevertheless, a period of pressure with the clock ticking towards the final whistle saw a home forward go over to leave a conversion which would mean the Lions short of a losing bonus point. Somehow the conversion was missed and the Lions saw a chance for redemption if only they could get close to the Warriors’ 22.

The kick off was claimed and the away team went through the gears with a series of penetrating attacks that ultimately took them into the home 22. More and more pressure piled on with the Wanderers killing the ball in their desperation to hold on and the referee penalising them 3 times. There was little room for error but the Lions kept calm and were rewarded when another penalty was taken quickly, the move went left and Alex Jones broke through and over the line wide out on the left to leave the Lions shy by 2 points.

Tom Mitchell took the ball, placed the tee and stepped back. It was one of those moments where many could not look. Would he have the bottle and the technique to convert a difficult kick? He did and the Lions had achieved one of the finest comebacks in their history. The final whistle blew and the Lions found themselves another place up the table.

Match Report by JON DEWS, Photos by Sian Davies

Match details

Match date

Sat 28 Oct 2017

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Division 1 West

League position

9
WORCESTER
10
STOURBRIDGE LIONS
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Official Kit Partner - Canterbury
Club Sponsor - Worton Rock Accountants