Nun’s winning run comes to an end in the East

The Nuns recent run of four league victories came to an end as they lost to Peterborough Lions 41-18 at Solstice Park. The final score might look like a comfortable win for the Lions but it was 22-13 on 74 minutes before a late flurry of tries pulled the hosts away.

The game kicked off in sunshine and good conditions under foot but with a stiff breeze heading down the pitch. The Nuns had this breeze at their backs but from the kick off Lions Tongan full back, Semisi Tei, showed what a dangerous runner he could be with a couple of long runs to gain territory for the host further up the pitch.

The first chance of the game came for the Nuns, following a break and then kick through by the Lions the ball was gathered on the Nuns 10m. Rory Vowles fed Jackson Hughes down the short side and after getting around the first line of defence he chipped the ball forwards. Hughes and Richard Johnston chased and were leading the race to the ball. As it bounced up Johnston tried to gather but knocked on with the try line at his mercy 10m out and the chance went.

The Nuns were having plenty of territory but possession was being shared however the Nuns were slipping off some tackles, which they hadn’t done recently, which was letting Lions make metres in their carries.

The first points of the day came on 16 minutes. From some Nuneaton pressure in the home 22m advantage was being played, the Nuns went through a number of phases tight to the try line and then spread the ball to the dangerous Ollie Kitto but couldn’t quite cross the line. The referee brought play back to the original offence and Rory Vowles put the ball between the posts for a 3-0 Nuns lead.

The lead only lasted 5 minutes though. Having been in the Lions half, Nuns gave up possession and then a penalty was awarded to the hosts. They kicked for the corner and after a catch and drive hooker Wes Cope crossed for an unconverted try, 5-3 to Lions after 21 minutes.

On 33 minutes, it was a similar tale with the Nuns conceding 2 penalties on the bounce which allowed the hosts to have another line out 15m out. The maul was stopped but after a number of phases across the pitch they finally slipped the ball out of a tackle and second row Crooks crossed for another unconverted try, 10-3.

The Nuns finally got themselves across the whitewash with the last play of the half. A penalty was kicked to touch for a line out just outside the 22m. With line out possession secured the ball was moved to midfield where a neat pass from Harry Garforth to Ollie Kitto saw him cut a diagonal line and round the defence for an excellent try in the corner. The conversion was missed and the half time score was 10-8 to the hosts.

The second half started and the Nuns knew that they needed to score next to give themselves the best opportunity. That try duly came on 47 minutes. From a penalty, the ball was kicked to the corner just inside the hosts 22m. The ball was won and then inched forward. When the ball was moved out number 8 Apo Satala through a huge pass out to Elliott Brown who repeated the act to put the ball in front of the speeding Hughes. From 25m out he rounded his man and then stood the full back up to cross in the corner for another excellent finish. Again, the try went unconverted but the Nuns led 13-10.

Perhaps a key moment of the game then happened on 51 minutes. Peterborough had the Nuns under pressure on their own line. When the ball was moved out Kitto went for an interception but couldn’t gather the ball. If he had taken it the chances of a try would have been very high but he didn’t and a scrum was given to the hosts. The Nuns managed to with stand the pressure and then turn the ball over to clear their lines.

On 55 minutes though, after a penalty was kicked to the corner a neat peel down the blindside allowed the home prop to dot down in the corner which was unconverted to put Lions back in the lead 15-13.

The Nuns had possession near the hosts 22m on 60 minutes but conceded 2 penalties and soon found themselves back in their 22m. From a line out catch and drive possession was moved infield and the home fly half through a dummy which put him under the posts for the first converted try of the game. 22-13 after 62 minutes.

The game was flowing with both teams looking to try and gain some control. The Nus pressed and then it was the Lions turn. After some pressure near the Nuns line the ball was knocked on under pressure. The Nuns had a scrum on their 5m, possession was won and as number 8 Apo Satala carried from the base his slipped pass was intercepted by the home fly half who crossed for his second try which he converted. 29-13 after 74 minutes.

Things went from bad to worse for the Nuns straight from the kick off. The kick was put out on the full and from the resulting centre field scrum the ball was moved out to the dangerous home full back Tei who galloped in from 30m out for a 6th home try which was again converted. 36-13 to Lions after 77 minutes.

The Nuns did manage to rally themselves and putting the hosts under pressure in their own 22m the ball was turned over and after a couple of phases a neat Vowles chip was gathered by Hughes for another try in the corner which was unconverted, 36-18 on 79 minutes.

It was the hosts though who had the final say. They had possession centre field just outside the Nuns 22m and the ball was moved out to the wing where their marauding Tongan number 8 Sioki Vaha collected the ball and dotted down in the corner. The kick was missed but the game was finished.

Final score 41-18 to Peterborough Lions. The hosts deserved the win but the Nuns will feel that a bounce of a ball and a little more accuracy and the game could have been a lot tighter.

Nuns: Ben Holmes, Daniel Oselton, Sam Greening, Matthew Gibbs, Thomas Aherne, Arron Turner, Todd Bullions, Apo Satala, Manasa Volaikisuva, Rory Vowles, Ollie Kitto, Harry Garforth, Elliott Brown, Jackson Hughes, Richard Johnston

Jon Pateman, Rudi Reid, Danny Southall