A return to league action at home to a tougher Lakenham Union 2s.

 

 

 

Due to their 1st XV folding before Christmas, this side was a lot stronger then the 2s we beat earlier in the season.

 

 

 

Having a squad of 21 players on Thursday evening, the Lions only had 17 on the day, making a tough game all the  tougher.

 

 

 

LU took an early lead before the Lions pulled a converted try back (try = Alfie B, con’ = Lewis K).

 

 

 

LU had a player yellow carded, and the Lions kept the pressure on LU but were unable to score, Lakenham finished the half with a commanding lead.

 

 

 

Half time Lions 7 – 36 LU.

 

 

 

After a stern talking to from Bails senior and a shuffle of players, the Lions stepped up and got back into the game with tries from Pat G and 2 from Oli Y, plus another yellow card to an LU player, it wasn’t enough.

 

 

 

The game finished Norwich Lions 26 – 50 Lakenham Union 2s.

 

 

 

Graham Furness' report on the game...

 

Norwich kicked off proceedings and immediately come under pressure. A slick passing move wrong footed Norwich and Union scored and converted. 0 – 7. Norwich had little possession for much of the half, as Union scored again out wide, after some missed tackles, 0 – 12 .

 

Norwich finally put a few passes together and Alfie Barnes went over with Lewis Kenworthy converting. 7 – 12. It seemed for the next 20 minutes that Norwich went to sleep, resulting in Union scoring 4 quick fire tries , 2 converted. All these tries being run in down the same channel. Norwich snapped back to life and put constant pressure on the Union line for the last 5 minutes of the half, Union giving away many penalties but they just couldn’t get the ball over the line. 

 

Half Time 7 – 36

 

The Norwich coaches had obviously had a word at half time and Norwich came flying out the blocks. They spent the first 5 minutes of the half camped on the Union line as before but yet again despite many penalties couldn’t get over the line. A penalty conceded by Norwich allowed Union to clear.

 

Norwich attacked again and a good break and pass by Charlie Proffit to Patryk G saw him go past 3 defenders to score out wide, No conversion. 12 – 36 Norwich were attacking at will now and Ollie Youngs broke from a pack of players to score near the posts. Kenworthy with the conversion. 

 

 19 – 36

 

Union, to their credit, defended well throughout the game and some last ditch try saving tackles kept the Norwich score down. Oli Youngs  again from a pack of players, picked up on a loose ball and scored again under the posts. Lewis K again converts. 26 – 36.

 

Had Norwich got the next score, the game could of become very interesting. However some excellent team play saw Union pass their way through Norwich’s lines to score and convert. 26 – 43

 

Nearing the end of the game a clever grubber kick from former Norwich player and then first team coach, Jay O’Brien caught a Norwich player offside . Union took it quickly and eventually scored .

 

26 – 50   Full Time

 

Apart from that 20 minute period in the first half Norwich gave their opponents a good game. Fiercely  contested throughout so we can hold our heads high. This was a team that until a month before Christmas was 2 leagues higher than ourselves.

 

The fact that they’re a first team, the fact that the whole Lakenham Union team train weekly together as a squad was the difference today. They passed with a confidence knowing they had support with them. They were slightly savvier when not in possession, pressing the ball and waiting for mistakes.

 

Take nothing away from the Norwich lads who competed well the whole game, it just wasn’t our day.

 

Man of the Match : Tyler Westgate

 

Team (in number order 1-15)

 

Dom M-S, Oli Youngs, Reuben Smy, Tyler Westgate, Ollie Whipp, Newton Spinks, Mak Dorsett, Luke Furness, Charlie Proffit, Lewis Kenworthy, Steele Keeble, Lewis Tomlinson, Llywelyn Bailey, Alfie Barnes, Joe Bisset.

Subs: (all used ) Joel Thomas, Patryk G, James Worsfold

 

Graham Furness