Featherstone Lions vs Hemel Stags
Lions 58 - Stags 01
Stephen Marshall, Kieron Dixon, Mustafa Ali, Courtney Watson, George Stevens, Cameron Furlong, Jack Kavanagh, Erik Grimley, Tom Grange, Warren Grange, Callum Hurley, Connor Boyd-Barnes, Wes Read.
After a much interrupted program of matches that has been very badly affected by snow and cold pitch conditions, the Stags were again on the road (as usual the M1) for a local derby against Featherstone Lions in South Yorkshire! Featherstone are currently riding high at the top of this very competitive league, whilst the only Southern based Rugby League club, Hemel Stags, continue to demonstrate their basic strength by propping up the entire league from below.
This season for the Stags has been affected consistently by a lack of fit and available players and unfortunately this week was the same, with only a bare team of 13 players, (offering no cover for substitutes or match injuries). The Stags showed good heart and team commitment, with some highly commendable individual performances, but the flow of the match and the scoring was mainly “one way traffic”. The match started with a series of basic handling errors on both sides, but only Featherstone were able to capitalise upon these opportunities and turned their chances into solid points. For the vast majority of the time throughout the contest the match was conducted with fairness and good nature . The single point awarded to the Stags side came by way of a drop goal, with just a hint of assistance from the referee who perhaps wished to reward the southern team for their best efforts.
Unfortunately Stags spent most of their time defending and although this was at times very impressive, it does not score any points. Featherstone Lions showed exactly why they are at the top of the table and demonstrated their superiority on every level, with some truly inspiring rugby.
Paul Marshall
Hemel Stags.
Hemel Man of the Match: Wes Read