bracknell v Bournemouth 38 - 14

In a challenging match against Bracknell, the Lions took the field with a lineup featuring several changes due to player injuries and availability. Despite this, the Lions demonstrated commendable depth and showcased a squad full of promising young talent. The day got off to a delayed start, with the Lions facing a 30-minute kickoff delay due to a serious accident closing roads on route, which ended with the journey to Bracknell taking 4hours. This resulted in a shortened warm-up session, not ideal with a young squad in the heat.

The early minutes saw Bracknell seize control, taking the game to the Lions they capitalized, taking the lead 7-0. Despite a valiant effort, the Lions struggled to gain traction, facing strong opposition in both the scrum and defence. Bracknell’s dominance was evident as they orchestrated their plays effectively, culminating in another try and successful conversion, extending their lead to 14-0.

As the first half progressed, the Lions found themselves under constant pressure from Bracknell’s relentless attack. A well-executed play widened the gap to 19-0 in Bracknell’s favour. However, a glimmer of hope emerged as debutant Connor Moore stepped onto the field, injecting fresh energy into the Lions’ lineup.

The Lions exhibited a resurgence, with a more robust scrum and gaining ground towards Bracknell’s territory. Persistence paid off, resulting in a try by Adam Higgins, expertly converted by Hancox, narrowing the scoreline to 19-7. Nevertheless, Bracknell swiftly secured a bonus point with their fourth try, bringing the score to 26-7. Before half time whistle blew Bracknell extended this lead to 33-7. The Lions had work to do all over the pitch,

The second half saw an improved performance from the Lions, with moments of promising play. However, the squad grappled with maintaining possession, leading to a series of turnovers. Despite their best efforts, the Lions faced difficulties in executing their set pieces, allowing Bracknell to maintain their defensive stance.

As the match wore on, the Lions continued to battle, displaying commendable resilience. Anthony Fitch standing out with several line breaks. A breakthrough came with support the Lions inched forward and eventually over the line earning a hard fought, converted by Hancox, narrowing the deficit to 33-14. Yet, the Lions faced persistent challenges in maintaining possession from kick-offs and struggled with lineouts and scrums, hindering their momentum.

The match concluded with Bracknell securing a final try due to a very lucky bounce of the ball, leaving the Lions with a 38-14 scoreline. The damage was all done in the first half, with the Lions more than holding their own in the second half.

Despite the setbacks, there were notable positives to be gleaned from the match. The young Lions squad, featuring many debutants and players in their early games, demonstrated promise for the future. With more experience, this group holds the potential for even greater achievements down the line.

After playing only two matches, the Lions find themselves in 10th place in the league standings, but same points as Camberley in 5^th.

Looking ahead, the team is gearing up to face the newly promoted Marlborough next week. There is optimism within the camp as several key players, previously unavailable for selection, are expected to return to action.

Additionally, it’s an exciting week for the Nomads and Wanderers as league matches make their return. However, due to ongoing challenges with changing facilities at Chapel Gate, both teams will experience some fixture changes. Rest assured, we’ll keep everyone informed about these updates throughout the week.