Lions loose out in a high scoring game

Lions V Blaydon
The Lions welcomed Blaydon whose 1st team are in National Division 1 three leagues above us. Cry offs, injuries, unavailability, a Colts game and work commitments meant players had to arrive late or play with injuries. Nice to see Wagger on the line despite a horrendous arm break requiring plates and pins he decided to give the lads all the support he could (and sinking a few sherbets on the line with Kirby. The game started well with the Lions taking the lead through an Armstrong penalty straight from the kick off. Hammond had found his sights hitting Tomby and Fernie with unerring accuracy. Blaydon were further stunned when Durnion broke clear from ten with Westall finishing from distance. This spurred Blaydon into action with seven tries and Billingham only adding three points. It would have been eight but for a last ditch tackle from Keenan. A very experienced and well drilled attacking team tore into us but it was compounded by a lack of tackling which allowed this rout as the Lions were put to the sword by a massive Blaydon side. Right on half time Kev McCabe who is adjusting better to the pace of the Candy league drove deep into the Blaydon red zone and after some good forward play Tennant wriggled his way out of a tackle to score beside the posts to bring the end to a torrid first half.
Half Time Lions 18 Blaydon 45
The changes were rung at the turn around with Amos and Garbutt returning for their first games of the season and Youdale, Sanderson and Coulle replacing McCabe, McCabe and the evergreen Davies. The changes seemed to work as the defence were holding much better with Ker once again punching massive holes into the Blaydon half and young Sando getting the odd chance out wide. A line out saw a catch and drive with Youdale going over in the corner but the visitors replied almost straight away with a try of their own. Not to be outdone Coulle got his name on the score sheet with another catch and drive the visitors replied yet again keeping their lead. Then with Cranston doing an old fashioned props job and stealing one in the loose Garbutt broke clear to keep the scoreboard ticking over. The forwards took over again with Woodhouse marshalling the drive and Barry Magrath bellowing instructions from the line Youdale got his second of the day with a very impressive drive over. Blaydon were on the ropes as Dave Reay scored a well earned try having tackled well all game to bring us within ten points. The visitors finished by scoring another try with the last play of the game
Full Time Lions 49 Blaydon 66
Our usually solid defence out wide looked fragile in the first half but the reorganisation at half time seemed to shore it up. Blaydon got a shock today and thanks must go to Elgie who stepped up at the last minute, Coulle who came straight from work and Rob McCabe who came straight off night shift to play