Lancers cash-in against HSBC with win in front of bumper crowd by Daniel Nolan

Burgess Park – 30 Mar Southwark Lancers coach Joe Brace credited his team with ‘probably
our most complete performance of the season against one of the league’s form sides’, as
they dominated to earn a 40-14 win against HSBC on Saturday. Speaking after the match,
Coach Brace noted the team’s resilience under early pressure: ‘Even though we went behind
early on I felt we were always in total control of the game and our defence was superb.
Our set piece was rock solid all day and the backline made plenty of breaks. This forced
HSBC to defend for long periods and have to play from deep to try and challenge us’.
The club put on an end of season festival for the match, with a BBQ and drinks enjoyed by a
bumper crowd, and complemented by a hot spring afternoon.

Lancers’ Aaron Redgrave kicked off the scoring early with the first of many well-executed
penalty kicks, before HSBC forced their way back up to the Lancers line to nip the ball over
for a try at the ruck’s blind side for a 3-7 lead.

Lancers responded with determination, earning a penalty to kick for the corner and put
themselves over the try line, followed up shortly by another penalty kick, and a try for Sam
Porter for a dominant 18-7 lead - having been down only 15 minutes earlier.

Southwark saw themselves into the half with a display of confident passing and good
handling, with notable runs from the back line by Peter Horan - driving their way to the
HSBC line to have a try held up, before sending through another penalty kick for a 21-7 lead.

A strong defensive effort held up an HSBC try just before the half, returning after the break
to put down a crazy try – Lancers prop Owain James ripping the ball from the HSBC ruck
right on the opponent’s line for another try and a well-earned 26-7 score-line.

Lancers increasingly looked to their back line for points, as No.14 Dave Glanville stormed
over the line for a solo try at the 50-minute mark; earning a turnover on the return, and two
more converted penalties for Redgrave to bring the game to a 37-7 lead.

Though HSBC were able to come back with a late try against the run of play, a final
Southwark try courtesy of a Jonny Adams break capped an impressive 40-14 score-line.
Looking to the end of the season, Coach Brace said: ‘We are looking forward to a great
game down at Cranbrook next week, with 3rd place and a cup final up for grabs for the
winner’