L I O N S 2 0 1 2

Greetland 40 Featherstone Lions 0    18/10/09

Despite a promising start Featherstone were outgunned in this cup game.
Early pressure from the kick off saw Lion’s go close with Will Plimmer held short, but lackadaisical defending allowed Greetland to reply quickly with a converted try.

Featherstone soon found themselves pressing on the home side’s try line after good build up work from props Ryan Jones and Ashley El Zebidi, only for the ball to be spilled with a try begging.

The remainder of the first half saw Greetland to consolidate their lead playing up the slope.

The second half saw much of the same with Lions failing to capitalise playing down hill.

Some big hits in defence were the highlight for the visitors with Plimmer, Todd Morgan and a much improved defensive effort from hooker Jack Waites slowing down Greetland, but Lions still leaked tries at an alarming rate, although fullback Tom Beal put in some good work with a try saving tackle late on.

With Waites coming off after a knock, Loose Forward Lawson Roberts tried to get Lions going from acting half, assisted by stand off Jack Harris taking on the defenders, but the result was inevitable.

Man of the Match picked by the home side was Plimmer.

Featherstone can now concentrate on the league.


Headingly Hawks u13s 0 Featherstone Lions u13s 58
The Young Lions had convincing win against a big Hawks side in very bad weather conditions. The Lions came out hard and strong showing what they are capable off and continued applying the pressure. The Lions sometimes suspect defence held out well for the full match, not allowing a gritty Hawks side to pass over the line. All the forwards had an outstanding game taking it to Hawks and laying the foundations for the backs to run in the tries. Man of the match could have gone to any of the 14 man squad for the team performance but it went to Lawson Roberts for his overall improvement over the last few weeks and some outstanding individual play. It was good to see the pivot players playing as team at last and controlling the game between them with Ellis Hobson; Lawson Roberts. and Jack Harriss controlling plays and taking the ball to the line well A few players impressed and started to show what they are capable off; Will Plimmer scoring 4 try’s, with Todd Morgan close on his heals with 3 in what could turn out to be an interesting competition over the season to see who can rack up the most. New comer Dale Smith deserves a mention for an impressive 1st game. Players: Calum Wilson; Scott Lupish; Todd Morgan; Sam Megson; Ashley Elizebedi; Ellis Hobson; Ryan Jones; Matthew Wallace; Jack Harriss; Jack Waites; William Plimmer; Robson Bell; Lawson Roberts; Nathan Davison. Tries –Ashley Elizebedi; Matthew Wallace; William Rimmer 4, Todd Morgan 3; Lawson Roberts 2 Conversions - Lawson Roberts


FEATHERSTONE LIONS U13s 10 CRIGGLESTONE ALL BLACKS U13s 9

Superb defence was the key to this well fought Lions win. They started lively and played some good rugby in the opening minutes with Jordan Leech and Reece Dyas going close early on.
The two defences got on top in this top of the table encounter before Lions got the break through with a try from the strong running Torin Longstaff after 15 minutes, then a superb pinpoint kick from man of the match Nick Welsh put Longstaff in for his second try to see Lions go in 8-0 up at the break.
Connor Walker pushed Welsh close for man of the match causing Crigglestone constant problems with his probing runs.
Zak Dawson went close in the second half before, Crigglestone hit back with 2 tries and took the lead with a drop goal before Jack Blewitt Cooley slotted over a penalty to deservedly take the points.
Connor Bell was sound at fullback, Max Brown had his best game of the season so far.
Callum Nestor, Jack Blewitt, Kieran Tighe, Brad Smith, James Pugh, Robert England and debutant Jacob Stevenson all ran well, in a superb team defence Walker, Longstaff, Dyas, Leech, Tighe and Welsh shone.
Mason Due and Scott Ripley were solid out wide.


Fev Lions v York Acorn u13s 26/09/09

Featherstone Lions 12 York Acorn 16

Featherstone Lions came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders in this eagerly anticipated clash.
Strong runs from forwards Ashley El Zebidi and Ryan Jones put early pressure on the visitors, enabling Lions to gain excellent field position.
A quick play the ball saw centre Will Plimmer go close, but the turn over saw Acorn take their opportunities against run of play scoring a converted try.
A series of soft penalties saw Acorn threaten with a well worked drop off putting them through to score, again leaving Lions to reflect behind their own sticks.
With Lions now 12 points behind in nearly as many minutes Lions had to up their game. With good pressure from a Lawson Roberts kick, Acorn were forced to kick the ball dead behind their line after a strong chase from second row Sam Megson and wing Matty Wallace.
The resulting play saw El Zebidi drag 5 defenders with him toward the try line. A quick play the ball from hooker Jack Waites to scrum Half Ellis Hobson made the most of the overlap with the ball going through 5 pairs of hands out wide to centre Todd Morgan who took his try well.
The conversion attempt from Roberts dropped just wide of the posts.
The restart saw a difficult kick easily diffused by Thomas Hatfield who made good yards into the oppositions half. The set allowed Lions to dominate play and were unlucky not to score, but big defensive hits from prop Jones, assisted by stand off Jack Harris and Megson made sure Acorn didn’t get out of their own half.
El Zebidi caused Acorn big problems all afternoon and took Lions’ second try well after a short ball from acting half.
Roberts had another difficult conversion, with the up right thwarting his efforts.
An excellent defensive effort by Lions’ forwards pushed Acorn onto the back foot with good pressure again from El Zebidi, dragging in the defence creating an opening. An excellent ball from Waites found Plimmer who galloped through a hapless defence to score one of his best tries this season.
Roberts was unlucky not to convert with the ball again striking the up right.
Another bomb was well taken by Waites at the restart who appears to have found some form, but a jog over the advantage line was cut short with the end of the first half.
The second half brought more of the same with good flowing rugby and consistent pressure from Lions, but finishing let them down.
With Lions heading for another draw, Hobson found himself sin binned after a minor altercation with an Acorn player in front of the referee.
This gave Acorn a boost and were only prevented from scoring by a last ditch tackle from full back Tom Beal.
With Hobson back and refreshed Lions started to threaten again only for Plimmer to be bundled into touch.
From the scrum Acorn took their chance and scored the last try of the match.
The dying minutes saw another push from Lions with clever play form Roberts trying to find a way through but it wasn’t to be.

Best for Lions were Megson, Harris and El Zebidi, leaving Morgan taking the man of the match.
Good contributions too from Nathan Davison and Liam Greenwood.