MATCH REPORT: The Lions roar into action at last

Peterborough Lions celebrate their first win of the season. Photo: Mick Sutterby.

It’s been a traumatic start to the English Club Championship campaign for the city side with narrow defeats and results their performances didn’t deserve.

But all that was put to one side at Bretton Park yesterday (October 8) as the Lions roared into visitors Towcestrians from the start, surged into a half-time lead and controlled the second-half with impressive strength and game management skills.

The result was a 37-24 which included a bonus point from a five-try performance.

The Peterborough Lions are awarded a try against Towcester. Photo: Mick Sutterby.

“We’ve been playing catch-up rugby for most of the season,” Lions chairman Andy Moore stated. “But we started well in this game and,although Towcester kept catching us up on the scoreboard, we were generally in control.

“We saw the game out well in the second-half by making better decisions and taking points when they were on offer.”

Flanker Tom Gulland barged over for the opening Lions try on seven minutes with Will Carrington converting.

Towecestrians, a newly-promoted team who had lost just once all season, levelled within four minutes, but centre Nico Defeo was soon strolling over the try line to get Lions in front.

Nico Defeo touches down for Peterborough Lions against Towcestrians. Photo: Mick Sutterby.

That try went unconverted, but the visitors quickly responded with an unconverted try of their own for 12-12 after 20 minutes.

But when the Lions went in front for the third time through a try by winger Ryan Morris and a conversion by Carrington they stayed there.

From 19-12 at the break, Morris went over again and Carrington added the conversion before crossing for his own try.

Carrington also added two penalties which rendered two late tries and a conversion from the visitors irrelevant.

The win moved Lions two places up to 10th in a 14th-team league.