The Lions opened their season at home to Novos . Despite early morning rain , the game kicked off in perfect conditions , with Park attacking down the slope .
The Lions started brightly and certainly dominated the early exchanges . The pace of the game was frenetic but to be fair , both sides were trying their best to entertain the large crowd that had gathered at Preston Avenue . Despite their dominance , Park were unable to cross the Novos line and it was the visitors who opened the scoring on their first venture into Park territory . Great support play by backs and forwards caught out Park who were trying to catch their breath after the fast start . 0-7 .
Back came Park . Referee Manley awarded a penalty which was dispatched into the stewards front garden by Harrison . From the resulting line out , the Park forwards drove to the line , followed by a strong snap by Nairn producing good ball for Gilmour to set the backs away for winger Simm to score in the corner . 7-7 .
But back came Novos , well they scored , but it was only when they had intercepted a try scoring pass . Park had camped in the opposition 22 . After 12 phases , Gilmour sensed an overlap down the blindside . It was on , but the next pass from Philips was snatched from Park hands by the Novos scrum half on his 5m line and raced all the way to score . Special mention to Wilson who chased him all the way , forcing the resulting conversion to be attempted from the corner flag . 7-12 HT
Novos started the second half with a bang . Two tries took the score to 7-24 . Both tries highlighted the oppositions ability to keep the ball alive after a line break . Very effective , difficult to stop and fab to watch . However , Park weren't done . Despite the side being thrown together at the last minute , the 20 players wearing the shirt were giving C.O.R Turnbull reward for his efforts . Simm , would score his second try , try of the game . Novos , again under pressure in their 22 cleared to touch just outside . Park shortened their line , off the top ball to Casey who carried hard into the Novos midfield . Quick ball and classy handling from the backs allowed the winger to round his man and score in the corner . 12-22 . Pumped up by this score , Park were straight back on the attack . Lenahan , playing 12 on this occasion , was the next to score . The Canadian started the attack with a line break following a scrum . Park moved the ball wide left then back again wide right , Lenahan just getting up to his feet to take the pass and power over the covering 15 to cross the line . 17-24 . Try as they might , Park couldn't get the score to level the scores . Could've , should've won . Twice tackled into touch on the try line , and , more frustratingly , Mighty Jo Wilkinson was adjudged to be held up over the line . In fact Referee Manley distracted by the screams of pain from the attempted tackler , assumed that there had to be somebody under the sizeable Park prop , there wasn't it was all Joe !!
