Elks Push Lions Close

The Lions kicked off with the slope but it was the Elks who started the better with Alex Ayres making good ground in midfield. Joel Haigh judged a kick ahead to perfection and the Lions were forced to touchdown in goal giving the Elks a 5 metre scrum. The ball was struck clean and moved left to Ayres who crashed through to score, Haigh added the extras to make it 7-0 after 10 minutes.

The Lions came back strong and following an Elks penalty they moved the ball left and looked to have scored only for play to be brought back for a forward pass.

Haigh cleared from the scrum and Lions knocked on at the line out, they disrupted the Elks scrum and were awarded a penalty which was kicked to make it 7-3 after 19 minutes.

Lions knocked on from the kick off and Elks took full advantage moving the ball quickly right and Isaac Taylor then conjured up a great run evading 2 tackles and scoring in the corner. Haigh missed the conversion to make it 12-3 after 22 minutes.

Lions came back strong down the hill but the Elks line speed and tackling stood firm. Lions launched another attack but the ball was stolen by Adam Corcoran, the move was carried on by Greg Taylor and Jake Lamb taking play into the Lions 22, the Lions were penalised for side entry at the ruck and Haigh kicked the 3 points to make it 15-3 after 34 minutes.

The Lions came again at the Elks but the tackling was still strong, forcing mistakes. Lions were putting huge pressure on the Elks scrum and forced a knock on and they attacked from the scrum resulting in a penalty against the Elks. Lions went quick from the penalty and moved the ball left to score in the corner, the conversion fell short making it 15-8 after 38 minutes.

Lions finished the half strong forcing mistakes from the Elks who were caught off side and they kicked the penalty on the stroke of half time to make it 15-11 after a great half of rugby.

Ryan Mills came on for Dean Chapman. Elks started the second half well and had good territory, the ball was moved left and Jacob Heath spotted forwards lined up in front of him and turned on the speed to run round them and score in the left corner after 48 minutes, unconverted to make it 20-11.

This seemed to spur the Lions into action and they played their best rugby of the game, the Elks were struggling to stem the flow of attacks and conceded several penalties, this inevitably brought about the first yellow card for Marc Moore after 52 minutes.

The Lions were clinical with the man extra and took full advantage scoring tries on 53 and 57 minutes, both converted to make it 20-25. The Lions were playing with confidence now and their support play was excellent, following several forward drives they forced their way over on 62 minutes, with the conversion scored it made it 20-32.

Elks were struggling to keep the attacks at bay and conceded further penalties, this resulted in another yellow card on 67 minutes with Simon Bennett singled out by the referee.

Credit to the Elks as they came back looking to get something out the game, following a line out steal from Tom Holland, Greg Taylor made a great break taking play into the Lions 22, unfortunately the Elks were penalised at the ensuing breakdown.

The Lions cleared and were soon on the attack where the Elks were penalised in their 22 and the Lions opted for the kick at goal, this was struck cleanly to make it 20-35 after 78 minutes.

Elks tried in vain to get the fourth try but the Lions defence stood form. Full Time 20-35.

Despite the loss this was a much improved performance from the Elks, with the forwards in particular putting in a great shift. The Elks will feel a little unlucky after putting so much into the game and coming away with nothing. Discipline was the key to the game as the Lions only got on top when the Elks were down to 14. On a positive note, taking this performance into the next few weeks will surely bring about a return to winning ways.

There were big efforts from all the team but with the forwards playing much better the Man of the Match goes to a forward and that was Simon Bennett who ran and tackled strong all game ( apart from his 10 minute rest!)

Next week sees Kettering visit the Stute with a VP lunch and wreath laying ceremony before the game. Kick Off 2.15.