LIONS SQUARE THE LEDGER
The Lions defeated the West Sydney Pirates 21-18 in their round 8 re-match to square the ledger and move into the outright lead on the NSWGFL table.
The Lions received the opening kick-off but were unable to move the ball, punting to mid-field. They were soon back in business though after middle linebacker, Joe Lim, picked off a Dave Ward pass and returned it to the Pirates' 25 yard line. Fullback Chris Snagg ripped off a 17 yard run and Matt Croasdaile took the ball in from 4 yards out to open the scoring for the Lions. The PAT was tipped leaving the score at 6-0.
The Pirates then unveiled its power backfield to good effect, Fullback Ray Brown moving the chains on 4 straight carries before Pirates Quarterback Dave Ward completed a long pass down to the Lions' 9 yard line. The defence played tough to bring up 4th and Goal on the 1, but the Pirates punched the ball into the endzone to even the scores 6-6. Returning Lions linebacker, Nick Baldwin, got good pressure on the conversion attempt and the kick went wide.
The Lions started their next drive with good field position after the Pirates' kick-off went out of bounds. A long completion from Kiernan Dorney to Liam Erby put the ball on the 6 yard line, but two short runs and an incompletion brought up 4th and Goal on the 9 yard line. Coach Dunne went for the touchdown, but Croasdaile was stopped for only 3 yards on the play to force a turnover on downs in the red zone.
The Lions thought they had shut down the Pirates' next drive, only for the contain man to slip on a patch of wet astroturf and allow the punter to run for a first down and more on 4th and 13. However, consecutive sacks to Leigh Louey-Gung and Kurt Ostlund saw the Lions snuff out the Pirates threat and the teams go to the half locked at 6-6.
The defence continued its strong showing to start the second half, stopping the Pirates' offence within its first set of downs. The Lions then pieced together a nice drive, receiver Mac Shine and Running Back Matt Croasdaile making the yards and Chris Snagg getting the touchdown to reclaim the lead for the Lions. The PAT was good for a 13-6 lead.
The Pirates responded with a well balanced drive of their own. Ward mixed short passes to his receivers with brutal running from the Pirates Fullback before throwing a perfect fade pass from 11 yards for a touchdown. With the Pirates behind by 1 point, Head Coach Ian Taylor went for the 2 point conversion, but linebackers Joe Lim and Nick Baldwin made the stop on the running play to keep the Lions in the lead 13-12.
The Lions did not help themselves on their next drive with some uncharacteristic drops by their receivers. To make matters worse, a scrambling Ward found a receiver on an improvised stop and go pattern for a 46 yard touchdown on the Pirates' next possession. This time attempting to pass for 2 points, the Pirates again failed to convert, but had the lead 18-13.
It was time for someone to step up. On the ensuing kick-off, Chris Snagg fielded the ball on his 17 yard line, ran left then reversed his field and broke the return down the right sideline, being brought down just 5 yards short of pay dirt. But the job was still not done. Three running plays yielded minus 2 yards, leaving the Lions with a 4th and goal on the 7 yard line. Dorney pulled the trigger and Mac Shine held the crucial catch to put the Lions into the lead 19-18. Dorney and Shine then repeated the dose, hooking up on the 2 point conversion to extend the Lions' lead to 3 points.
The Pirates had their chance on the very next drive. After driving down to the Lions' 4 yard line, the Pirates were faced with 2nd and goal. Dave Ward faked the run left and threw back right only for Lions safety Leigh Louey-Gung to be in perfect position to take the interception. Ward must have been concerned as Louey-Gung had returned a similar interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the corresponding encounter in 2004. This time Louey-Gung barely held the ball for a touchback.
The Lions could not pick up a first down on its next possession and had to punt the ball away. The Pirates suffered the same fate when Lions cornerback Grenville Newbond broke up the third down pass attempt. The Lions again went three and out, giving the Pirates one last chance from its 35 yard line. The Pirates drove to the Lions' 31, where the defence made a stand. Pressure from Lim and Ryan Wonser forced a fumble (miraculously recovered by the Pirates) and two incompletions. On fourth down, Ward looked for his favourite receiver but failed to complete the pass, handing the ball over on downs. The Lions gratefully ran the game out to take the win.
With the Bondi Raiders scoring a shock win over UTS at Berkeley Sports Club, the Lions were now 6-1 and a win clear at the top of the table - and they had turned the tables on the Pirates.
Lions 21 def. Pirates 18
28 October 2006
UWS Hockey Fields, Kingswood
1Q SU: Croasdaile 4 yd TD run. Erby PAT blocked 6:0
2Q WSP: Brown 1 yd run. PAT missed 6:6
3Q SU: Snagg 1 yd TD run. Erby PAT 13:6
3Q WSP: # 11 yd TD pass. 2 pt run failed 13:12
3Q WSP: # 46 yd TD pass. 2 pt pass failed 13:18
4Q SU: Shine 7 yd TD pass. 2 pt pass to Shine 21:18