Sils Slaughter Sleeping Lions In Their Own Den

Lion was on the menu again this week, as Sils faced M2W (North) table-topping outfit Stourbridge in the Intermediate Cup. At first it appeared a tough draw for Round 3, but amidst differing reports on how strong a team Stourbridge had fielded, there was little resistance from the home side as Sils piled on the points. In Olly Beech’s absence, the experienced Tom Manise led the team to their biggest winning margin so far this season with 10 tries, 6 conversions and one penalty.

Sils started strongly and never looked back. Early tries for Fred Howard, Ollie Trace, Matt Lee and Jack Hobbs were keeping Ben Crowe busy on kicking duty, and after only 20 minutes with the score at 24-0, it was fast becoming clear that unless Stourbridge were planning on fielding their National 2 side for the second half, Sils weren’t going to be caused much trouble. Even the occasional problem area of the scrum was working in Sils’ favour, as the powerhouse front 5 put Lions in reverse. The well-oiled lineout continued to deliver decent front-foot ball for the backs, as Harry Pick sent Ollie Trace busting through the middle before spinning it wide.

Stourbridge did respond with their only points of the match as they broke from a penalty taken quickly and a kick ahead was re-gathered. When a lone Stourbridge prop received the ball in midfield the scrambling Sils defence looked certain to wrap him up, but he managed to fling an absolute humdinger for the wing to run in. The “attitude” which impressed captain Manise all day was typified by Jack Hobbs, who charged down the conversion attempt.

Unfortunately for Lions, the floodgates were already wide open. Fred Howard grabbed a second just before half time before Matt Lee followed suit on 48 minutes. As Crowe’s kicking tee made its way back and forth, Coach Taylor had began to rotate the team, with Tim Trace, Harry Pick and Matt Lee making way for James ‘Jimmer’ Hibbard, Stu Clarke and – yes, you are hearing this right – Harry Law. Welcome back, Harry.

Pete Nicholls got in on the act on 59 minutes, before Stu Clarke dashed all the way in from a scrum strike move, leaving Lions floundering. Hobbs added another to his ever-growing tally for the season. Crowe converted all. Nick Elliott was the last to cross the whitewash just 5 minutes from time.

Perhaps most impressive about the performance was that as the result became more and more of a formality, Sils showed no mercy in continuing to execute their game plan, using the wounded Lions as cannon fodder for the patterns of play they will certainly need next weekend.

Sils host Spartans, who travel back to Solihull having narrowly beaten neighbours Camp Hill in the cup this weekend. Another mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash is in store, as the teams contend for 2nd spot behind Rugby Lions.