This was a dispiriting performance against a poor team but one which, at times, the Lions made look good. The Lions now stand in the bottom three and 6 points from safety. The energy of the Lions backrow and other forwards around the pitch could not compensate for the lack of a secure platform in the forwards at scrum-time and in the maul, where the older, heavier Kiddie pack made inroads.

What was especially disappointing was that the Lions clearly worked out at key stages in the match how to play the home side and take advantage of a faster backrow and obviously quicker backs. At various points they used these advantages to carve out 5 tries, which, away from home would normally result in a win. Unfortunately they switched off so many times, allowing Kidderminster to score 6 tries in response, which, with 4 conversions, gave the home side a 38-27 win. The Lions’ only consolation was a bonus point for 4 tries.

Kiddie scored after 5 minutes with a forwards drive to the line for a converted try that set the tone for their play for the rest of the match. The Lions hit back 5 minutes later for an unconverted Ollie Bache try, but 8 minutes later Kiddie scored again through an identical route, another forwards drive and another converted try.

It was at this point that the Lions seemed to realise how to play, stretch the older home forwards and tire them out. This approach led to a try by Elliott Murphy on the left after a 5m scrum and a backs move across the pitch. 15-10 and the prospect of more of the same, but unfortunately the away side lost concentration and allowed Kidderminster to score a third try to lead 19-10 just before half-time.

The second half opened with another unconverted try, this time by Arthur Morgan in the right corner following an astute kick from Murphy. Again it seemed that the penny had dropped but despite that Kiddie were allowed to drive into the Lions 22 and score another, unconverted try. Back came the Lions with yet another try from George Tildesley to reduce the arrears to 24-20 and again the thought that the Lions had worked this out.

That feeling was, temporarily, confirmed when a breakaway from their own 22m line saw Nick Mann sprint away, draw the cover and put Arthur Morgan in under the posts for a converted try. Murphy’s conversion gave the Lions the lead for the first time at 24-27. It seemed that this was going the Lions’ way.

However, disaster struck in the form of a controversial sending off with just over 15 minutes to go. With the Lions surging into the home 22 and looking for another try to seal the game, the referee dismissed Freddie Morgan, apparently for punching a Kiddie player, although nothing could be seen from the touchline. This gave the home side an opportunity to exploit and they immediately took advantage. A couple of mistakes in the Lions defence and Kidderminster scored two converted tries in the last 8 minutes to take the game away from a depleted Lions team.

There were encouraging signs throughout the game of the Lions potency in attack but it was all too little and compounded by errors in defence. Much needs to be done over the next 2 months if the Lions are to maintain their status in this league.

Jon Dews