Saturday saw the Lions 1st XV play their fourth league game of the season ahead of a bye weekend. On a wonderfully sunny and warm afternoon at Kings House Sports Ground, the Lions entertained H.A.C. (Honourable Artillery Company). They were aiming to cement their position at the top of the Regional 2 (Thames) League ahead of a well-earned rest weekend. However, H.A.C. were having none of it, their own season having had a mixed start and were in a fine mood to spoil the Lions’ start to the season.
The Lions started the brighter of the two teams, with H.A.C. making a number of unforced errors, but the Lions couldn’t capitalise on the visitors’ mistakes. Slowly H.A.C. got a grip of themselves and found a weak spot in the hosts’ defence. They managed to turn the Lions defence around a few times with some accurate kicking. Eventually the pressure paid off and H.A.C. went over for the opening try on 10 minutes, which was unconverted. Lions 0 H.A.C. 12
The Lions began to yield some pressure of their own, but try as they might, a combination of errors and a rigid H.A.C. defence meant that they weren’t able to turn that pressure into points. Indeed it was H.A.C. who got themselves on the score line again just before half-time, this time with a penalty, Finlay Hillicks having infringed. He was duly given a yellow card which the Lions under more pressure, one man down. Half-Time: Lions 0 H.A.C. 15
Five minutes into the second half, the Lions went further behind with another fine try from H.A.C. Lions 0 H.A.C. 20
Not long after, the Lions went down to thirteen when Lachie Lowick was shown a red card having supposedly struck the H.A.C. number 5 with a fist to the back of the head. It appeared to be a retaliation for the 5 having taken Lachie out in an off-the-ball incident that went unnoticed by the referee. Finlay Hillicks returned from the sin bin a few moments later and the Lions were back to fourteen. Being one player down seemed to Galvanise them into action, but the opposition defence was holding firm. On 65 minutes, the Lions finally went over for their only try of the game, scored by Mark Bright and well converted by Angus Clogg from close to the touchline.
To rub salt into the Lions’ wounds, H.A.C. went over for their bonus-point try with five minutes to play which was again converted. Full-Time Score: Lions 7 H.A.C. 27
Next up for the Lions is an away fixture against Belsize Park on Saturday 12th October, KO at 2:00pm.
