Lions take on Mowden at Campus

BILLINGHAM LIONS V MOWDEN PARK SECONDS ?

Playing next to the thirds the Lions kicked off about ten minutes before them. It was fairly plain that the visiting side did not have a first team game with some familiar faces amongst the opposition. Danny Robinson showed he is still a very capable prop despite not being able to train regularly and along with McCabe and Wallace gave short shift to the opposing front row. The lineout was once again dominated by Tennant feeding Sayers off the top and doing some good work in the open with his boiler house partner Mark Fernie. Guz was doing what Guz does and last weeks man of the match (for Stockton) Burgum and Dan Westall were like angry wasps hitting the oppositions attack at every opportunity. Mowden backs however caused the damage with a couple of missed tackles they moved quickly into a twelve point lead. Then late in the half a blow to our defences when Ker who had tackled ferociously took a knock to the neck and had to leave the field to be replaced by Keenan. A further unconverted try added to their points total as half time came and went. After the turn around Mowden scored a further four tries scoring forty five unanswered points. Then Danny Robbo took a ball and ran over or through four Park defenders to flip it to Wallace wider out. He ran straight into a Mowden prop out wide and brushed him aside like an annoying fly being swatted, with three tacklers hanging of him as he hit the ground he popped to Shepherd with a lot still to do. Showing a clean pair of heels he jinked his way over to open our account with Armstrong converting. Westall was replaced by the experienced Davies in the back row as brother Matty tried to break the Mowden line. Screen and Hopley both showed a great deal of ambition coming inside and going out with some good runs which against less experienced (real second teamers) and in conditions suited to their speed play would surely have reaped rewards. Sanderson was thrown into the mix and really should have been awarded a penalty when a swinging arm stopped him short. With the final throw of the dice in scoring terms Guz picked up at the back of a ruck and scored a trademark try the final whistle went and a battered Lions team left to return to the club house knowing that a couple of missed tackles and things may have been so much closer. The off field debate continues.
BILLINGHAM LIONS 12 MOWDEN PARK 45