Lions 1XV
Matches
Sat 29 Jan 2022  ·  Midlands 1 East
Old Northamptonians
26
24
Peterborough Lions RFC
Lions 1XV
ON’s away.  MIDS 1 East

ON’s away. MIDS 1 East

Alisdair MacDonald1 Feb 2022 - 13:49
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Just ran out of time.

Spirited Peterborough Lions fall to a narrow defeat in Northampton

It was a familiar tale of woe for Peterborough Lions as a depleted side were pipped 26-24 in their Midlands Division One East match at Old Northamptonians on Saturday (January 29).
By Alan Swann Peterborough Telegraph (Top local newspaper)
Monday, 31st January 2022, 10:25 am

And yet chairman Andy Moore was smiling at the end of the game after his Lions roared back from a 13-point half-time deficit to come close to snatching a draw.

“It was pleasing to see us come back and get so close against all the odds,” Moore said. “We never gave up which which stands us in good stead for two big games coming up.”

Lions host runaway leaders Bedford Athletic next Saturday (February 5) before city rivals Peterborough RUFC are at Bretton Park on Febriary 12.

They will meet a committed and spirited Lions outfit based on the evidence of their efforts at ONs.

The city side travelled with just 15 available players and were forced to play into a strong wind in the first-half, holding out gamely until conceding two converted tries late in the half to trail 23-3 at the break. Will Carrington slotted a penalty for the Lions’ points.

But head coach Josh Walker rallied his 14 teammates, the travelling Lions massive came out of their hiding places, the chairman stopped reading his favourite novel ‘How to win friends and enemies’ and the Lions began to roar.

It was now ONs turn to defend, and for Carrington to show Lions the way by scoring a try after hard yards by a resurgant pack. Carringtonalso converted to make it 23-10 before full back Roko Davui intercepted a pass to claim a try that Carrington also converted. A home penalty made it 26-17, but up popped Davui to intercept again to score under the posts. Carrington’s conversion made it a two-point game.

But the last five minutes was an anticlimax for Lions as they conceded four penalties while the ONs cleverly kept the ball within their front eight, not kicking or passing anything, denying the Lions any chance of gaining possession to win the game.

ON’s REPORT . Taken from their Pitchero site.

ONS JUST

BY MICHAEL PARSONS
Old Northamptonians 26-24 Peterborough Lions

For the second successive Saturday the ONs’ supporters had to endure an anxious finale to the match but this week it was the ONs who managed to secure the two point victory.
They led 23-3 at half time but two early converted scores from Lions after the break reduced the deficit to just six points.A Joe Heslop penalty as the game entered the final quarter made it 26-17 but an interception try and successful conversion set up the tense finish.

Kieran O’Connor came in at full back,Mike Bellamy on one wing,Diogo Pina on the other,Ben Rivans at centre and Lewis Barker at scrum half.In the pack Will Cave started at hooker,Toby Wallace moved from the second row to prop,Guy Holt replacing him and Ethan Wright joined Luke Bond and Brandon Tacticos in the back row.The substitutes were Craig Stewart,Archie Buglass and Jed Jenkins.

The ONs kicked off playing down the Billing Road slope with the advantage of the strong gusting wind and took an immediate lead with a Ben Rivans’ penalty and he added a second minutes later before pushing another attempt just wide on 15 minutes.Joe Heslop quickly took a kick on half way, made ground,found Guy Holt in support,the lock was stopped just short but Lions infringed at the breakdown and Rivans was again successful from the tee.A Will Carrington penalty put the Lions on the scoreboard before a Josh Bull break moved the ONs deep into opposition territory and Rivans finished in the corner and judged the wind to perfection to land the conversion from wide out.Bull left the field injured and after his try hat trick last Saturday and bright start today the ONs had lost a major attacking force.The home side were held up over the line but ran the goal line drop out back and when Lions again conceded a penalty Holt quickly took the kick and ploughed over.Rivans converted and the half ended with consecutive penalties taking Lions close but strong ONs defence managed to force the resulting line out drive into touch and they led 23-3.

This lead was quickly reduced on resumption with two converted Lions’ tries in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.The first came from close range after some poor tackling by the ONs and the second when the ONs spilled a pass on half way which was grabbed by Lions centre Roko Davni who strolled in unopposed.A Rivans’ injury forced the ONs into a reorganisation with back rower Luke Bond moving to the wing and Mike Bellamy to centre but it was ONs who scored next with a Heslop penalty as the game entered the final quarter.The ONs looked to have withstood the Lions fight back but with minutes left,as they attacked in the Lions 22, a loose pass was intercepted by Davni and he raced in.Carrington’s conversion made the score 26-24 and it took a superb Lewis Barker tackle to halt another Lions’ break out.A penalty at the breakdown gave the ONs some respite and they managed to retain possession and run down the clock for their hard won victory.

ONs:Kieran O’Connor,Mike Bellamy,Josh Bull,Ben Rivans,Diogo Pina,Joe Heslop,Lewis Barker,Ethan Wright,Brandon Tacticos,Luke Bond,Guy Holt,Sam Howes,Toby Wallace,Will Cave,Dan Hughes.

Replacements:Craig Stewart,Archie Buglass,Jed Jenkins.

Player of the Match:Lewis Barker

The ONs now have two weeks off before meeting Towcestrians on February 19th with a 2.15 kick off

Match details

Match date

Sat 29 Jan 2022

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

Midlands 1 East

League position

7
Old Northamptonians
10
Peterborough Lions
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - Moore Steel Developments
1st XV & Club Sponsor - P J Care
Club Sponsor - MPB Structures
Supplements Provider - Muscle Finesse
Sponsor - Salesstrong
Sponsor - Planet Dryer
Peterborough Lions Development  - Augean Plc
Development of the Club - Mick George Limited
Player and Club Sponsorship - XL Scaffolding
Architectural Matalwork - Darke Tech
Peterborough's Premier Entertainment Venue - Solstice
All your tyre and exhaust needs - Oundle Tyres
Gary Barnard  - Key Financial Partnership
Club Photographer - Mick Sutterby Photography
shirt sponsor - Fire Safe & Sound