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Lions made to pay for slow start‏

Thursday 26th November 2009

France A 36

Great Britain Community Lions 20

 

From Tom Hoyle at Stade de la Tine

 

The Great Britain Community Lions were edged out by France A where their slow start and two sin-binnings cost them any hope of victory in St Cyprien.

 

The French raced out of the blocks and crossed for two tries in the first 13 minutes, before the Lions finally woke up and responded with a try by Wayne Leyland following three repeat sets in their host’s final quarter.

 

Despite going into the game full of confidence, The Community Lions were soon on the back foot with the speed of the French side causing them major problems from the off.

 

However, despite the two early setbacks the Lions never gave up and were finally rewarded when Ince Rose Bridge centre Leyland went over for his try.

 

As the game past the half hour the Lions lost Steve Atkinson – who had been a stand out performer - to the sin-bin for a high tackle.

 

With time running out before the break the French used their numerical advantage to cross for a vital try as substitute Nabil Djablout touched down out wide after some great handling to open up an 18-6 half-time lead.

 

The first score of the second half was always going to be crucial and it was Great Britain who went over to put the game back in the balance when Carl Roden burrowed his way over from close range.

 

The visitors were visibly boosted and looked set to carry on their revival until France stand-off Tony Gigot stepped his way over to re-establish his team’s lead.

 

A further opportunist try from home winger Andrei Olani further increased the French advantage as he caught a deflected kick and raced home from 60 metres out.

 

However, to their credit the Lions deserve a huge amount of respect for their never-say-die attitude.

 

The impressive Gavin Corfield gave Great Britain hope on the hour when he hit a great line to race over and just minutes later a deft grubber kick from Jordan Precious was pounced on by the alert Chris Walker to bring the Lions back to within 14 points at 30-16.

 

As the contest entered the last 10 minutes perhaps the night’s biggest decision was made when Roden was harshly adjudged to have interfered at the play-the-ball and was dispatched to the sin-bin.

 

With the tourists down to 12 men for the second time in the game France knew this was going to be their opportunity and so it proved as second row Yohan Tisseyre crashed over to seal the win.

 

“Overall I’m pleased with our performance,” said Lions coach Jimmy Taylor. “Perhaps we could of done with some more time together but I have to complement France A as they were superb.

 

“I’d like to thank all the players and staff for a great few days and despite coming off second best tonight we can move forward with confidence and look forward to the return test in March over in England.”

 

 

Teams

 

France

1 Nicolas De Martini (Villeneuve)

2 Olivier Arnauld (Avignon)

3 Matthias Pala (UTC)

4 Florian Quintilla (Lezignan)

5 Andrei Olani (Toulouse)

6 Tony Gigot (UTC)

7 William Barthaux (UTC)

8 Mickael Simon (UTC)

9 Sylvain Teixido (Limoux)

10 Joric Caghan (Avignon)

11 Yohan Tisseyre (Toulouse)

12 Joris Clement (Avignon)

13 Mickael Tribillac (Lezignan)

Interchange

14 Amar Sabrai (Carcassonne)

15 Nabil Djablout (Villeneuve)

16 Savy Masselot (Villeneuve)

17 Thibault Ancely (Lezignan)

 

Tries: Olani (5, 58), Caghan (13), Djablout (30), Gigot (48), Tisseyre (74); Goals: G Barthaux (6).

 

GB

1 Paul Pendlebury (Wigan St Judes)

2 Chris Walker (Oulton Raiders)

3 Gavin Corfield (Wigan St Judes)

4 Wayne Leyland (Ince Rose Bridge)

5 Rudie Van de Merwe (St Albans Centurions)

6 Jordan Precious (Skirlaugh)

7 Tony Baker (Ince Rose Bridge)

8 Lee Brown (East Hull)

9 Jimmy Bardgett (RAF)

10 Matthew Evans (Telford Raiders)

11 Sean Wildbore (Skirlaugh)

12 Steve Atkinson (Skirlaugh)

13 Gary Middlehurst (Leigh East)

Interchange

14 Carl Roden (Ince Rose Bridge)

15 Andrew Lake (St Albans Centurions)

16 Mathew Bower (Skirlaugh)

17 Scott Winstanley (Ince Rose Bridge)

 

Tries: Leyland (16), Roden (45), Corfield (60), Walker (63); Goals: Precious (2)

 

Men of the Match

France: Sylvain Teixido

GB: Gavin Corfield

 

Half-time

18-6

 

Penalties

France: 12

GB: 15

 

Sin-bin

GB: Atkinson (27), Roden (69)

 

Attendance

300 (est)