Hoppers Tamed By The Lions

For the second successive week, Hoppers secured a 4-try bonus point but lost a game thereby keeping Lions’ play-off challenge alive. And again it was a familiar story of handling errors, poor ball retention and missed tackles which gave the home backs the space and freedom to run in six tries.

Disappointed coach Dave Baldwin said: “A poor first half performance made it too easy for a good side and we gave away far too much possession. We improved in the second half and scored some nice tries but, again, mistakes meant that we did not sustain pressure. On the plus side, it lifted our confidence and the young players called in all did well.”

A Hoppers’ fumble from a high kick in the first minute set the scene and ace kicker Jon Boden kicked an easy penalty. Hoppers’ pack made some ground but lost possession and the league top try-scorer Gareth Collins left a number of would-be tacklers in his wake to run in from inside his own half after 11 minutes. Boden missed the conversion but added two more penalties after more Hoppers’ indiscretions.Hoppers at last got on to the scoreboard when Russell Flynn kicked a penalty on 29 minutes after a good run from wing Phil Baines but another midfield break allowed Collins to sprint in for his second and Boden added the extras. Tom Hughes then incurred the displeasure of the referee for a dubious sin-binning and the home pack took advantage by driving over lock Cheney and the kick gave the home side a healthy 28-3 lead at the break.

At the restart, a promising break from James Smith ended again in lost possession and a swift counter attack brought a try for former Hopper Gerhard Boshoff. But at last Hoppers’pack were able to hang on to the ball and a strong drive allowed Matt Hughes to squeeze in at the corner.

The momentum was halted as two more Collins’ breaks provided tries for replacements Spokes and Antionides and, facing a deficit of 37 points, Hoppers looked dead and buried. But, to their credit, they knuckled down and launched a belated fight back. A pin-point cross-kick from Tom Hughes was caught and touched down by the lively Baines whose break then produced a try for Cameron Berry, both converted by Flynn. Although Berry was then the second Hopper to see yellow, Tom Hughes’ determined break saw prop Mark Irving up in support to put Matt Hughes in to secure the bonus point with his second touchdown and Flynn’s kick was good.

So Hoppers won the second half 26-17 and will want to maintain this form as they host improving Nuneaton next Saturday.