BILLINGHAM LIONS 37 V MORPETH 2NDS 10

BILLINGHAM LIONS V MORPETH 2NDS
It certainly was not a day for the faint hearted Lions as hard graft and determination gave them a great win and a bonus point in an exciting match at the Campus. The heavy conditions were less than perfect for flowing rugby as the Lions took to the pitch after a long break with players returning to the fold. Widridge partnered Hamer in the power house with Guz at eight, Woodhouse moved to inside centre to team up with Matty Westall allowing Finney much needed game time at nine, Husband took the full back shirt and Rob McCabe came back at hooker following a long lay off. The Lions pressed straight from the kick off and forced a penalty which Armstrong slotted with ease. Hamer added to the score four minutes later with a great passing movement seeing him burst through the gap to touch down. Raey was taking ball every ball in the line and Finney giving the backs room to create havoc. As the play flowed back and forth Morpeth started to leave gaps and Wesall spotted one with a good line ran through to score. A couple of penalties saw the visitors move down the field with some short ball plays and they scored with a cleverly worked forward move. Dan Westall came on to replace Cider Rob and Chapman moved into the front row.
BILLINGHAM LIONS 13 V MORPETH 2NDS 5
A change at half time saw Keenan replace Watkins who saw very little of the ball in the first half despite coming in off his wing looking for work. After only five minutes the ball went out wide and Aschettino sprinted in to score in the corner. Raey made way for McCabe to return to join a very effective pair of Cranston and Angus Ten minutes later Guz drove hard towards the line sucking in their forwards, Woodhouse drew thee tacklers with a dummy run, Finney spun the ball to Elliot, Westall used the space to race at their full back and flipped to Armstrong to stroll in.This was the last play Guz would take part in as his thumb popped out and he left the field to be replaced by Oliver. The visitors were awarded a penalty and took a scrum on the five metre line and with slimy underfoot conditions pushed the Lions back over the line to score. Davies still recovering from injury decided to stay on the line to give it another week before returning to the game and could have been needed as Hamer sprinted sixty yards looking for support and an oxygen mask. With three quarters of the game gone Oliver intercepted a pass and raced clear to pop to Westall to get his second of the day. The dying minutes saw Elliot break clear and race half the length of the field with a defender racing across to make a tackle. As he touched down a desperate lunge from the Morpeth player saw him collide with the post and a sickening crack indicated a serious injury. The result was a broken arm for the unlucky player and the match official blew up early with an ambulance on the way.
BILLINGHAM LIONS 37 V MORPETH 2NDS 10
Scorers Tries Hamer 1,M. Westall 2, Ash 1, Armstrong 1, Elliot 1
Kicks Armstrong Conversions 2, Penalties 1
Supporters Comment: Variations in tactics could have made this win much larger To many miss passes when overlaps were on.
Reporters comment: Thanks to all the supporters who came give the Lions encouragement and our thoughts go to the Morpeth player and wish him a speedy recovery and return to the pitch.