New Brighton Rookies on Steep Learning Curve

It is a widely held belief in the North that the Powergen League Midlands 1 is not as strong as its equivalent league in North 1, but on Saturday in boiling temperatures of late summer the Midlands 1 Champions Leicester Lions showed themselves unexpectedly competent and able to deal out a few lessons to the totally rebuilt and largely inexperienced New Brighton XV.

With both first choice props from last season having moved on and two more unavailable the newly signed youngster Sean Smith made the start and quickly found himself in trouble against the New Zealander, Frazer Danders, and had to leave the field after 20 minutes. His replacement, the vastly experienced Kevin Pollard, veteran of over 40 seasons and aguably the oldest player ever to take the field in a National League encounter, who had already covered for Chris Naylor - yellow carded after 10 minutes - defied his years and soldiered on for the whole of the rest of the game. Non the less the lack of strength in the front row was a significant if not the only factor in this defeat. The pack which had looked so good against Caldy the previous Saturday struggled to gain possession even on their own set pieces, being pushed in the tight and too often losing the ball on their own throw in the lineout.

Leicester Lions were leading by 27 points to nil at half time. A penalty after 10 minutes by Dan Yuill after the Chris Naylor incident was followed by a try by flyhalf Simon Francis. Dan Yuill converted and then a further penalty goal followed by the conversion of tries from each wing Mark Fitzgerald and Gareth Collins made up the points. New Brighton after a missed penalty on two minutes scorned kickable penalties for the rest of the half for kicks to the corner for the lineout catch and drive option. Three attempts failed despite crossing the line but being unable to ground the ball to the referees satisfaction.

Although under tremendous pressure and the scores mounting New Brighton did not allow the heads to drop. The magnificent Katilimoni Tui'pulotu with captain Jon Sewell sheperded the pack and the defence from centre Wayne Clayton and Richard Halpin was solid. Early in the second half the Blues managed to find a little room and stabbing runs from Stephen Dean and Ian Murray gave the travelling fans something to cheer. On 55 minutes one jinking run in broken play was rewarded by a try scored and converted by Stephen Dean which opened the Blues account. A penalty to Leicester Lions five minutes later and a wingers try from moving the ball wide from a set scrum, also converted opened up the gap to 30 points for the home side with only 10 minutes left on the clock. Katilimoni Tui'pulotu scored an unconverted try after breaking from the base of the scrum on seventy five minutes and Chris Naylor rounded off the scoring with a try from the only successful lineout catch and drive on the final whistle. Stephen Dean added the extras to give the Blues a respectable, and at one time seemingly unlikely, 19 points.

This is a new side and some players hardly know each other, a number had never ever played at this level and others were faced with taking responsibility with little experience. The experienced players Jon Sewell, Katilimoni Tui'pulotu, Alan Hesketh, Stephen Dean and Ian Murray guided and held the team together. The rest responded wholeheartedly, kept their heads and what could have been a rout was limited to an honourable defeat. This team has lots of potential for improvement, above anything else they want to succeed and this match will have instilled some steel. So watch this space.

NEXT GAME:
- NUNEATON-
NUNEATON 10th September 2005. K.O.3.00 p.m.

NEXT HOME GAME:
- RUGBY LIONS-
"HARTSFIELD" 24th September 2005. K.O.3.00 p.m.