News Archive

 

CARDIFF WEEKEND

 

London Lions first outing in the Coloplast League was to Penarth Leisure Centre in Cardiff. Unfortunately, due to numbers the Scottish/Newcastle team had to pull out and the Marauders were bringing a weakened squad. This lead to all the games taking place on a single day.

First up the Lions faced up against the Marauders, agreeing to play a weakened line-up to match point for point. Lions lead by Steve Palmer also contained the up and coming Steve Brown, debutant Lucy Robinson and club secretary Neil Roffey. Marauders had experience in Graham Kamaly and Darren Matthews with the speedy pairing of Neville Burrell and Nat Mcgloin.

An intriguing game ebbed and flowed as both teams defended excellently but struggled with offence…….you try six picking chairs on court! Marauders extra pace helped them to take a three point lead into half-time. Lions held off pushing the panic button and rallied in the third with some great driving from Brown but Mcgloin’s excellent conversion rate as third man (or woman) kept the Midlanders in front.

Finally London called time early in the fourth, subbing in extra points just long enough to secure the result before restoring equal-point lines. Lions held their slender lead and capitalised on the tiring Marauders to run out victors by five points.

Next up Marauders played again, catching home team “Pirates” napping despite their weakened team. Eventually the Pirates got their act together using the superior function and passing ability available to them to overwhelm the Marauders.

Lion’s next game was against the hosts. Again we fielded a slightly weak start-line of Ross Morrison, Steve Brown, Steve Palmer and Neil Roffey. Early on the team failed to gel, letting the long ball combination of Dave Rhodes and Dave Antony cut through their press. After as slight adjustment our offence began to fire and we started to exert pressure on the Welsh.

We had a comfy lead through the second and third quarters and were able to give plenty of court time to Lucy Robinson who seemed well at ease in her first competitive league outing. Everyone stayed fresh thanks to our substitutions and we finished up winning by a double digit margin.

The final game of the day saw a re-match of the opener with a difference. Lion’s member Andy Barrow agreed to turn out for the Marauders so both teams could play a more competitive game. The first quarter played out fairly even with both teams running their five-point lines again. Then, after subs the Marauders took a slight lead before the Lions pegged them back.

After half-time both teams were trading goals in a fast-paced hard-hitting game before the Marauders edged away to take the win on paper. However the result ultimately went with the Lions because of the game being forfeit due to Barrow’s appearance for the Marauders.

Many thanks to all the officials and leisure centre staff that made the day possibly, especially Mr and Mrs Vowles for their fantastic spread at lunchtime.

Andy Barrow

 

 

 

 

London Wheelchair Rugby Club would like to thank Harlequins Rugby League Club for helping to raise funds of £207.00 at their last home match of the season in the Super League 2007/08 against Salford City Reds Rugby League Club. 
The funds from the day will go towards new wheelchair rugby chairs for newly spinal injured adults or children wishing to join the club and take apart in the sport of wheelchair rugby.