Rugby Lions 48 Broadstreet 14

Rugby Lions produced league win number 13 in a row to complete the first half of their season top and out on their own 12 points clear of their nearest rivals in SSE National 3 Midlands and, in the view of Lions’ ever-growing supporters, We Believe they are on course for promotion.

But Broadstreet, despite their lowly league position, played a full part in the game and refused to allow Rugby to dominate proceedings as they had a week earlier at Dudley Kingswinford.

On a cold Christmas shopping day which didn’t put off a big crowd, the pitch surface didn’t encourage running rugby but Lions had the boost of an early run of penalties and a yellow card for Street prop Ben Dawes for bringing a player down in a lineout.

And Lions took full advantage to score two early tries.

First, Ben Gollings made a rapid break and was never going to be caught, Leigh Hinton converting for 7-0 on 9 minutes.

Then Ade Hales’ trademark run down his left flank produced a score wide out with Hinton’s kick this time hitting a post.

But Broadstreet, now coached by former Lion Richard Siviter and featuring Rugby players from last season, Ian Renard and Todd Freemantle, hit back when fly half Scott Harman scored and also converted his try for 12-7 coming up to the half hour mark.

Lions dominated territory but lacked the cutting edge to add to their score so it looked like a tight game going into half time.

However, instead, in added time, a big drive by the Lions pack allowed Ben Buxton touch down, Hinton converting to stretch Rugby’s lead to a more comfortable 19-7.

 

On the restart, Lions attacked again and Hinton’s penalty made the score 22-7.

Ben Buxton appeared to suffer a shoulder injury and was replaced soon after by Dan Oselton.

A high tackle gave Lions a penalty and from the subsequent lineout, Gollings and Nigel Mukarati combined to send in Andy Vilk for the bonus-point fourth try, Hinton again converting for 29-7 on 52 minutes.

Rugby profited a second time from an attacking lineout to create a try for Nick Adams before Gollings and Peter Wackett combined for Hinton to score, converting his own try for the scoreboard to move on to 41-7.

The last quarter looked a difficult prospect for Broadstreet now but, typical of their attitude throughout the game, they stuck to their job and in fact scored their second try through scrum half Nick Thatcher with Harman converting for 41-14 on 66 minutes.

Rugby sent their supporters home happy, possibly via the club shop selling the new Lions motif away shirts for the first time, when Dan Needham completed a move inspired by Harry Ellis’ run with Hinton inevitably converting to end the scoring at 48-14 on 75 minutes.

Rugby Lions: Hinton, Brown, Wackett, Vilk, Hales, Gollings, Needham, Buxton, Pearl, Adams, Raven, Wright, Tait, Brock, Mukarati. Reps: Osleton, Carney, Ellis