This was Paphos Tigers last league match of the season, and having won 6 and lost 3 they wanted to go out with a win to help keep them top of the table and possible league champions.
Dhekelia Lions however had other plans as they have been pushing the Tigers very hard all season and beat a depleted Tigers side in Jan by 29 points to 7 and had no intention of rolling over without a fight.
Even the heavens decided to add to the fun, having deposited 4 hours of rain prior to the match , it relented just in time for the kick off so the big match started.
First blood went to the Lions when Tiger Ginge "The Spring's" knee didn't recoil to well and he had to leave the game early, and 2 early penalties to the Lions were missed, and a quick tap penalty taken by the Tigers was knocked on with the line begging. The tension was mounting and silly penalties were given away by both teams but no score was forthcoming. Even when a line out comfortably won by "AJ" Pugh of the Tigers was turned into a rolling maul and driven over the line, the Lions defended superbly and managed to prevent them from touching down, much to the consternation of the crowd. The Lions missed with a drop goal attempt leaving the score nil all at half time..
So the second half kicks off and the Lions big No8 is playing really well, a driving force in all rucks and killing a lot of good ball and frustrating the Tiger attacks, but a silly punch thrown by the Lions results in a yellow card and 10 minute sin bin for their player.
The Tigers are determined to take advantage of this situation and a couple of minutes later, after some excellent inter play between forwards and backs Tiger Captain Matt Lowe scored under the posts, and this try converted by Jack Bilton took them into a 7 points to nil lead. The Tigers narrowly miss a penalty shortly afterwards but good pressure on the Lions 5 metre line gives up a scrum easily won by the Tigers but the ball is too slow coming out along the line and the opportunity to score is missed.
This match is end to end and pressure is now on the Paphos Tigers as a big scrum near their try line is won and picked up by the Lions and their big No8 is held up, twice, and a penalty to Tigers relieves the pressure. Dhekelia Lions are determined to get back into this game and ratchet up the pressure even more in the dying minutes of the match and some great defence by the Tigers keeps them out until the last minute when the Tigers concentration briefly lapsed and Dhekelia Lions broke from a line out to score under the posts, which is duly converted, followed by the referee blowing for full time.
Final score Paphos Tigers 7 Dhekelia Lions 7.
Paphos Tigers are still top of the league but other sides have some games in hand (but only a week to play them) so we shall have to wait to see if the Tigers have retained the League Title which they won last year.
Nigel Jarvis PTRFC are sponsored by M1 Lux, Horizon group &
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