Match report vs Swan Suburbs (31 March)

After learning a number of lessons about themselves against Mandurah last week and Joondalup the week before, the team was determined to put those lessons into practice this week.

The Lions dominated most of the early exchanges and after a period of sustained pressure in the opponent’s half, centre Jerome Pehi pounced on a loose ball in the 3rd minute and crashed over next to the uprights. The try was converted by Thomas Job. Ten minutes later, after a well worked backline move, fullback Thomas Job scored to take the score to 12-0 to the Lions. Not long after that, half-back Michael Clifton sniped through a gap at the base of a ruck, close to the opposition line, to touch down. The conversion was unsuccessful (17-0 to the Lions). For the next fifteen minutes play see-sawed across the park, with neither side being able to dominate until in the 34th minute, Swan Suburbs scored and converted, to take the score to 17-7, which was the halftime score. The Lions came out firing in the second half, with Scott McDuffus scoring another well worked try in the 43rd minute (22-7). This was followed up with another Jerome Pehi try (27-7) in the 55th minute. In the second half, Swan Suburbs changed tactics and played a more direct game, which challenged the Lions defence. However, the defence held and the Lions were able to once again dominate proceedings when 8th man, Sam Wehi, crashed over from close range in the 61st minute (32-7). This try was converted by Ray Nell (34-7). Swan Suburbs, however, did strike back in the 71st and 78th minute to score two tries, one of which was converted, to take the score to 34-17 to the Lions, which was the final score.

The Lions players must e congratulated on this performance where a number of improvements have been made and some good foundations have been put in place for their competition fixtures which start on the 21st April against Arks down in Armadale. We wish the squad well in their endeavours in the weeks to come