Lions up to fourth

Lions running rugby proves too much for Hellingly to handle despite conditions.

In poor conditions Horsham Lions won a tough match coming out 34-12 winners versus an experienced Hellingly side. Through rain and strong winds the match was a stop start affair affected by poor handling conditions.

The match was opened with the Hellingly forwards being unable to deal with the kick off from Horsham who were able to retain possession and push Hellingly’s defence back but were unable to capitalise on their position through poor handling. This would be the tale of the first half with both sides missing chances to gain territory and to score. The first side to score was Hellingly showing their power with a good scrum with the number 8 powering his way over for the score in the corner.

With the try unconverted the Lions responded with a number of phases with strong pushes forward by their forwards ending in Andy Carvell, returning to actions after a number of years out to dive over a ruck underneath the post to score Horsham’s first try, the conversion was missed. After this the Lions pushed harder for the second score and it was through a brilliant individual run by Sam Shepherd who scored in the corner but missed the conversion.

With the score at half time being 10-5 with the Lions in pole position and Hellingly showing signs of fatigue, Horsham decided to pick up the pace in the second despite going uphill. The second half started with a blazing score from Shepherd scoring a try with a powerful run from the base of a ruck and this time being successful with the conversion. This put the Lions lead to 17-5 and now on the front foot pushed on with another try from a strong maul by the pack with flanker Scott Price bursting off to score the try, putting the score to 22-5.

After that score Price added another but this time showed his running skill with a long range effort with the try converted by Shepherd this time, the score moving to 29-5. The final try was a fantastic show of pace and handling by the Lions with Colt George Palmer racing over to score under the post with Jerry Downey (for some reason taking the conversion) missing in front of the post. In last minutes Hellingly put their second try of the game on the score card with a converted effort in the corner giving Lions a 32 – 12 victory.

Manager Andy Layzell stated that this was a tough test, ‘Hellingly was a tough nut to crack, an experienced team with strength and power up front and the weather conditions in the first half played into their hands, but the Lions superior handling, pace and stamina told in the end with the Lions running in 6 trys. There were some outstanding performances across the team, Andy Carvell on his first match back after a number of years out of the game was outstanding, George Palmer playing up with the Lions for the second time showed an aptitude worthy of investment, but my man of the match was Sam Shepherd for his all round game and influence on the game that proved the difference for us today’.

The Lions next match is on 14th November against Seaford 1st away.