Men A (7) 14 v (5) 41 Danbury A

Scoring: Penalty Try, Tim; 1 conv - McKee, 1 conv Tim.

Man of the Match: Jerry Grey

LINE-UP: coming soon...

In brief:

This is our only warm-up match before the fall league season, and it's a first chance for some new Lions to show their skills. The weather is way too hot to be comfortable. Because of a lack of numbers, the teams agree to play three periods. Later, they decide to add a shortened second game as well after all.

First match:
Before the game, Lions veteran and captain Justin Flowers tells the Lions: "Keep it simple. If it's not going well at any point, it's because they are out-simpling us." Coach Mike Barry reiterates the call for "simple shit." Danbury scores a try first, but misses the conversion.

About 15 minutes into the match, the Lions get awarded a penalty try after pressuring Danbury close to the try line. Fly-half Andy McKee converts. (Lions 7-Danbury 5).

It's a fairly messy affair out there now, with both sides repeatedly losing possession. In one shock moment, our new Aussie scrum half sensation Paull "Youngy" Young gets hit on his head and neck in a suplex-style tackle by a Danbury player. But Lions and Aussies are tough, so Youngy just shrugs this off and continues.

Danbury next scores a penalty and then a try plus conversion to end the first period with a 15-7 lead.

First period coach and captain summary: our lineouts are not working, we must settle it down (we must stop popping the ball loosely), forwards should focus on running straight and going forward (otherwise, we don't give the backs good ball).

Second period:

Some early hits and injuries for the Lions as Rick Allison rolls his ankle, and Tyler bleeds from the nose and ends up on the sideline with a tambon in his nose. He promises to talk about this for months.

Danbury then scores two tries and conversions.

The second period ends with a 29-7 lead for Danbury. Second period coach and captain summary: Mike says we are so tired because we are not playing a controlled game. The last 20 minutes are the most important. Prove that you want it!

Third period:

A Danbury player drops the ball metres before the try line without having any Lions left in front of him. Then, Danbury scores a try (conversion is missed), but the Lions respond with a try by Youngy's visiting friend Tim (another Aussie) and a conversion. Unfortunately, Danbury responds with the same.

At the end, the (imaginary) scoreboard reads: Danbury 41 - Lions 14

Coach match summary: Mike sums things up this way: "We have the personal, the talent, the fitness. We need the control." The Lions backs were excellent, he says and lauds the hard work shown by three forwards - Red, Creighton Deasy and Carl "T$" Trezza. The man of the match vote turns into a neck-and-neck race between T$ and Red, who ends up winning narrowly.

Second game:

Danbury start off the scoring with 7 points, but the Lions hit back as new French back Clement runs in the ball. The sideline is buzzing with excitement as Lions veteran Goon lines up the conversion. Sideline comment from Bryan Gubser: "Somewhere in a pub in Brooklyn, (former Lions coach) Shay (Fitzpatrick) is choking on his beer." Goon misses - probably just narrowly.

Next, Danbury scores 7, but the Lions again answer as Tyler scores the try, and Goon makes his second conversion attempt. Unfortunately, the ref whistles for the end of the match soon thereafter.

Final score: Lions 12 - Danbury 14

Drink-up notes:
Cousin Larry's is steaming hot.
Hmmm, anyone remember if we have ever had coffee cake with pasta as post-match food before?
Red drinks the Car Bomb (or whatever that drink was supposed to be) way too fast for the Danbury man of the match. Good work, mate!!

Coaches Awards:
1) Carl Trezza
2) Creighton Deisy
3) Jerry Grey