L I O N S 2 0 1 2

 

Let’s take nothing away from East Leeds; they are a very much improved and better disciplined side than that of the last few seasons. They play to the limit and were, as always a strong and physical outfit. As the saying goes, always `in your face`

The Lions started strongly and defended their lines as they did in their previous two matches. Passing down the line gained good yardage. One up running was well dealt with by the aggressive and enthusiastic tackling of East Leeds. Time and time again the forwards ran at the defensive line ably supported by Josh Mills from centre mid field, trying to ware out the opposition’s defensive line to give our `classy backs` the opportunity to create space on the outside. A planned move saw Sam Tallent crash over in the corner for the first try. Tom Tavakoli added the extras with a difficult conversion. The second try was a fantastic team try; Bradley Gott broke the defensive line and carried a couple of players with him to within touching distance of the posts. Brad Simpson fed Louis Brown who then had the vision to miss out a couple of dummy runners and passed on to the on running Josh Mills `what a try` Tom Tavakoli just missing the conversion from the same position as the first. Just when half time looked ominous, the referee awarded East Leeds a penalty for offside on the fifth tackle, three metres out from our try line. Tiring, the usual tackling line looked to the rest of the team for one final defensive effort before the break; East Leeds scored the try making the score 10 – 4 at the interval.

The team talk at half time confirmed that our defensive shape must be kept or the East Leeds team would punish us. Getting the ball out to the wings would also create space for scoring opportunities as a result of the forwards cancelling each other out in the middle of the field. The second half kicked off, the game became messy due to the new rules around the play the ball. The Lions `coughed up` a lot of ball around these areas and as a result lost position when we were in the ascendency. This meant that the tackling stint had to continue with the usual suspects becoming increasingly tired. Despite this a carbon copy of the Lions second try again involving the same players and again scored by Sam Tallent meant that the Lions were 14 – 4 in front with ten minutes to go. This try seemed to inspire East Leeds more than it did the Lions. The oppositions centres were beginning to gain ever increasing inroads into the Lions defence, one such move resulted in one of the East Leeds boys beating nine would be defenders to score under the posts. The try was converted making the score 14-10.

With seconds to go and Lions thinking they had done enough. The Lions defenders were exhausted, Ryan Lister tackled every thing that moved today ably assisted by Bradley Gott, Sam Tallent and Josh Mills; all in double figures.
However this match was there to be won by East Leeds. They drove the ball in one last time and the same try scorer gather the ball on the twenty two and drove enthusiastically towards the Lions try line, brushing players away with ease to score unopposed under the posts. After the successful conversion, the referee blew for full time. Lions losing 14 -16. Rapturous scenes from The East Leeds players, coaching staff and supporters followed. This was an unexpected victory for the away side but they probably wanted a bit more than we did on the day!  

There are some positives to take away from this defeat. In parts we again played some very good rugby, in parts we defended excellently. There were more tackles made in this match than any other thus far this season (122) finally, lets not forget, we were only seconds away from a very hard fought victory.

Final Thought:

“Despite being up against a very good East Leeds team, the Lions could and should have won this match. When the `chips are down` ALL the TEAM must dig in to play and defend their part and not leave it to the usual `never say die` players”

Tries;                         Kicks;                            Magic Moment;
Sam Tallent   2          Tom Tavakoli   1            Ryan Lister for making a try scoring tackle 
Josh Mills      1

Top Tackler;             Man of the Match;
Ryan Lister 17            Josh Mills



Normanton Knights 8, Featherstone Lions 22

For the second game in succession, the Lions played in parts, some inspirational rugby straight from the training field. Jack Townend earning the `team player` award for leading the line all morning for what was an awesome team defensive display throughout. Today was a total 100% effort with everyone encouraging their team mates on to give that little extra effort that makes the difference between losing pay and winning pay.

 

The Normanton attack was stifled throughout the match by some controlled, disciplined and aggressive tackling by the Lions defensive line, time and time again the knights came, but today as last week, the line was not to be crossed easily. Both the Normanton scores coming from what seemed like fortuitous kicks on `the last`, when Featherstone thought the lines had been cleared. The efforts of the team typified by Tom Tavikoli`s `magic moment` when after sixteen successive tackles on the Lions try line, Tom scurried out and made a `peach of a tackle` on the would be kicker who knocked on due to the intensity of the tackle. From the resultant play, Sam Tallent, Jack Lloyd and Bradley Gott gained good meterage up field to set the platform for Alex Hopkinson’s first try for the club and what a beauty it was; a couple of lovely deft sidesteps and then pinning his ears back to out pace the defence over thirty five metres to score in the corner.

 

Louis Brown worked tirelessly in defence also diffusing numerous `bombs` effortlessly. Both Louis and Brad Simpson gaining good metreage from dummy half in our `own twenty` then serving Josh Mills & Ryan Lister who showed good attacking qualities in tandem with their magnificent defensive efforts.

 

Six players were in double figures today for the coveted `top defender award` The whole team making one hundred & nineteen tackles, highlighting the growing culture within.

Prop forward Bradley Gott just pinching it with seventeen tackles.