WA Chairman’s XIII 24 def England Lions 22
By PETER ROWE
“Too close to call” was WA Chairman’s XIII coach John Hough’s prediction 48 hours before kickoff and he was proven correct as his team hung on for a thrilling 24-22 victory over the England Lions in the opening match of their three-game tour at Charles Riley Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Hough’s side had fought their way back into the game late in the second half after the Lions had turned around an 18-6 deficit to lead with 12 minutes on the clock.
And the Lions could have snatched victory in the last minute only for a sweeping move down their right edge to be called back for a forward pass.
“It is what it is,” a disappointed Lions coach Paul Couch said.
“I think we were average today compared to what we can do. There’s a reason why this is called a warm-up game and it’s given me a good idea as I look at what my Test side for next week will look like.”
It was a tough call to take for the Lions, who had shown they could match their opponents, after a sluggish start to the game.
Off the back of a big 60-metre run from fullback Kainoa Gudgeon the hosts were first to cross after six minutes with Joel Irvine taking a short kick from halfback Tamaho Teirney to find the whitewash.
The Lions, with little early possession regrouped and three minutes later found the try line themselves as backrower Jamie Tracey opened their account.
The conversion from Cumbrian Dom Weir edge them in front but the lead only lasted seven minutes before Fremantle Roosters winger Kaelin Heremaia-Phillips found space down the left edge to exploit. His run set up Teirney, who outstepped his opponent to score.
WA, with their players wearing their club shorts and socks, began to dominate play and they extended their lead as Te Toa Parkinson was on the end of a sweeping move across field to score in the corner.
Through the middle the Lions looked solid in defence, effectively slowing the ruck, but were undone out wide and had to adjust to stay in the game.
Forced to kick inside their own ten metre line, WA capitalised again when Willagee’s Robbie Smith, who was a handful all afternoon, produced a moment of magic to kick, chase and score a superb individual try.
Teirney’s kick extended the lead, but for the next 40-odd minutes they had to defend as the Lions, with more possession, began to exert pressure.
Two minutes before the halftime siren, the tourists found the try line when fullback Craig McShane dived over to close the gap.
Halfback Danny Rowse kicked the extras as both sides went to the sheds with everything to play for.
“We spoke at the break about that late try and that they (Lions) had the momentum, and so it proved to be,” coach Hough said.
Lions coach Paul Couch also spoke to his side about what was expected and adjusted to take into account what the WA side had shown.
“We had a good chat at halftime and put it right and came out and looked good,” he said.
“We only had six or seven good sets in the game and scored four tries, so it shows we can play.
“We couldn’t get out of our own half in the first half – a bit disappointing but we’ll regroup and be ready for Thursday.”
Wiithin five minutes of the restart fullback Craig McShane found space to exploit and an inside pass to supporting winger Lewis Price, saw the Lock Lane winger cross.
Rowse kicked the two-pointer and the game was all locked up.
A penalty conceded by Rockingham’s Keelyn Tuuta-Edwards gave the Lions good possession minutes later and a good combination saw centre Leon Crellin crash over down the right edge to take the lead.
Rowse missed the conversion from the touchline as both sides engaged in a 30-minute arm wrestle.
Led by the impressive skipper Chris Siddons the Lions pushed up the middle but failed to score again as the WA Chairman’s XIII struggled to get combinations working.
Using their unlimited interchange on a warm afternoon, both sides looked for fresh impetus, back and forth with few opportunities offered before Gudgeon stepped into the line, picked up a messy pass and saw daylight to run for the line.
With ten minutes left the Lions had their chances, had a try called back for a forward pass and kept knocking before, with barely a minute left, Crellin’s run and pass to Connor Parkinson was called back for another forward pass as WA emerged winners.
“As you can tell by my voice I’m not too happy about the result,” Couch said afterwards. “I learned a few things for myself and about the team so come Thursday it will be a different team with a different attitude.”
Hough was pleased with his side’s performance.
“As we said during the week, it was always going to be too close to call,” he said.
“And it was a great performance really proud of the effort. Fatigue played its part late on but we managed to stay in the grind and hang on.
“A couple of individual efforts – Robbie Smith, Kainoa Gudgeon and Bowman Stein was very good when he came on.”
Watched by a relaxing WA State side on the sidelines, Thursday’s first Test looks an intriguing prospect – another game too close to call.
