Featherstone Lions v Wibsey u12s
13/09/08
Lions were well deserved victors in their first competitive match of the season against a strong Wibsey side.
Lions started to apply pressure right from the kick off with a strong defensive effort keeping Wibsey penned in their half.
Good forward play by Callum Coleman and Ashley El Zebedi gained vital field position where Lions could start to build their attack.
Their first try came early on after a scrum 10 meters out. Quick thinking from captain Lawson Roberts saw him take the ball from the scrum and was just held short. A quick ball from hooker Ellis Hobson out wide to center Will Plimmer stretched the defence with him running back on the angle. Good support play by scrum half Jack Waites switched play back to the corner, leaving stand off Jack Harris with the hard work to do. Five meters out, he showed grit and determination to take four defenders with him over the line giving him a well deserved try, but a difficult conversion which landed just short.
Confusion at the restart put Lions under immediate pressure which Wibsey capitalised on scoring in corner.
Fev then moved into familiar territory within Wibsey’s half of the field when second row Sam Megson powered his way down the touch line giving Lions half backs the opportunity to use the width of the field, eventually finding second row Todd Morgan who scored between the sticks giving Jack Harris an easy conversion.
Again Lions made it hard for themselves after the restart handing possession to Wibsey. Already saddled with a high penalty count, Fev gave easy yards to their opponents, which again they made the most of scoring a try, leaving Lions with only a two point advantage going into the second half.
The game revolved around the middle of the park with Lions dictating play, only for Wibsey to come up with the goods between the sticks, which was easily converted.
Playing uphill Fev had to dig deep and work on well drilled plays to get a grip on the game. A defensive effort was called for and big hits by Roberts, Hobson, second rower Jordan Adams and wing Tom Beal saw Wibsey spill the ball on Fev's 30 meter line. Wibsey saw their chance to kill the game and came away with the ball; only quick thinking by Waites, Plimmer and Beal stopped a try in the corner forcing Wibsey to move the ball back toward the other touch line.
A huge bomb was diffused by centre Thomas Hatfield and the resulting restart saw Todd Morgan race through the opposition for a length of field try, converted by Harris.
Big hits in defence started to show dividends as Lions turned the screw on Wibsey forcing errors giving them room to control the game. Forward Ryan Jones, still carrying an injury, came off the bench to soak up some of the pressure, almost resulting in a try after fullback Jack Sutton came into the line and fed Hatfield who pinned his ears back and raced towards Wibsey’s try line. A last ditch tackle saw the ball been played back across the pitch with a well timed pass from Waites to Roberts reversing play again giving an opportunity to debutant winger Matty Wallace who was unlucky not to score in the corner.
The last try of the match came from Morgan, again converted by Harris.
Man of the match for Lions was Plimmer, top defender Roberts and coaches’ merit went to Coleman.
