A blend of youth and experience took to the field to get the Lions season underway. Percy Park looked a big fit squad as they pressured the Lions for ten minutes before the firt real attack was set up. Durnion popped the ball and it spun out to Ker then on to Screen who raced in from distance to score under the posts simple long passes caught the visitors on the hop. The lions pressed again Hammond and Robinson making good yardage into the opposition half with Cranston hitting the gain line at pace.
Park were lucky to get away with a dubious turnover and cleared their lines with a long kick. Screen was the recipient and weaved his way through the defensive wall to score his second in impressive fashion. Armstrong further increased the lead with a well taken penalty making it three from three with his boot with a quarter of the game gone. This spurred Park into action and only resolute defending from Paul Shepherd our new open side flanker and Phil Reay on the blind stopped them scoring.
Half Time Lions 17 – Percy Park 0
The second half saw Dave Reay on for Hammond and Scott replace the injured Rumis who had dominated the lineout yet again with second row partner Fernie.
On the hour following some provocation a scuffle broke out and one player from each side was carded for a ten minute rest to put their handbags away. Park took advantage of the imbalance and scored a seven pointer. Keenan made a head on tackle to prevent them drawing closer and had to leave the field to be replaced by McCabe meaning a reshuffled back line. Park were in the ascendancy pressing hard despite breakaways by Brewis, Screen and Sudron we could not add to our score. Daley joined the fray to bolster the pack and had to use all his experience to nullify their blinside who was dictating forward drives. Park scored again following a couple of missed tackles with eight minutes left on the clock. The Lions looked to be home when in a drizzle soaked pitch a loose ball squirted out to give them an unconverted try and a two point lead with three minutes to go and they had possession. Our forwards hammered into them and Woodhouse made a break with seconds on the clock only to be brought down on their ten metre line. Great backing up by Shepherd, Daley and Ker saw Park come in from the side giving us a penalty on their ten metre line. “Mine” said Josh Armstrong and from distance rattled the Clubhouse wall after passing through the posts for three points with the last kick of the match and a great victory.
Full Time Lions 20 - Percy Park 19
MOM Daddy Paul Shepherd