Isak Styll Stadium, Vanderbiljpark

31 July 2010

Great Britain Community Lions completed their tour of South Africa tour with a resounding 36-6 victory over a very determined and South African Rhinos side.

First on the score sheet for Great Britain was winger Joe Budd from a scrum inside the South African 25 metre area scrum half Tony Baker went blind and found his winger Joe Budd who scored in the corner, from the touch line Jordan Precious kicked the conversion attempt.

Twelve minutes later and on the last tackle the South African scrum half Andre Loader spotted a gap in the Great Britain defence and with poor marking he went under the posts to give Pieter V/d Nest the opportunity to level the scores.

Four minutes later Great Britain were back in front, from a tap penalty for a high tackle on prop forward Scott Winstanley, the ball went to Tony Baker and from five metres from the try line he released the ball to second row Mark Holmes to score by the posts. Jordan Precious kicked the conversion.

With ten minutes of the half remaining Great Britain increased their score when they capitalized on a South African error and, from the resulting scrum the ball went through no less than four pair of hands to give Chris Walker the easiest of touchdowns. From the touchline Jordan Precious added the extras.

Two minutes later Great Britain went further ahead. From the restart man of the match Scott Winstanley went on a 30 metre run passed the ball inside to Garry Middlehurst who slipped the ball to Tony Baker to score under the posts. In form kicker Jordan precious increased the Lions half time lead to 24-6.

Ten minutes into the second half and from a tap penalty Great Britain let the ball go to the middle of the park were Gary Middlehurst was waiting he then stepped the full back to score under the posts. Jordan Precious kicked the conversions to give Great Britain a 30-6 advantage.

Great Britain sealed a memorable victory with their final try of the match a minute later.

From deep in the Great Britain half a break from the Great Britain substitute Matt Bower was well backed up by Captain Sean Wildbore and with only the full back to beat passed to Tony Baker who scored under the posts. Jordan Precious completed a 100% kicking rate.

(Test Match Preview)

It is the eve of the inaugural test match between the Great Britain Community Lions and the South African Rhinos, I managed to catch up with the Head Coach, Team Manager and Captain of the Great Britain Community Lions and get their takes on the tour and how they perceive the Test Match.

Team Manager Jimmy Aspinall commented that the tour has been a massive success in more ways than one.  The objectives to visit South Africa and play a high calibre of opposition, promote the game of Rugby League and provide a performance pathway for British Amatuer players have certainly been achieved.

Head Coach, Jimmy Taylor stated, “The physical attributes, enthusiasm and desire of the South African players is very high.  As Gary Schofield added, (in a radio interview on IFM) with some game awareness they will be able to compete on the full international circuit and their aim of securing a spot in the 2013 World Cup is definitely one I feel they can achieve.  I hope the tour has helped them to develop and given them the building blocks for a strong and vibrant future.”

In a radio interview with Jimmy Aspinall, Jimmy Taylor and tour captain Sean Wildbore the promotion of the sport and ticket sales testify that there is a real zest and appetite for the game and in excess of 2,000 tickets have been sold for the Test on Saturday 31^st July 2010 at Vaal University.

Captain Sean Wildbore commented, “I was lucky enough to tour Australia in 2008 as a player but to do it again this year as Captain is a massive honour.  The lads have been very professional in all they have done from training, eating the right foods and conducting themselves in an appropriate manner when taking in the cultural aspects of the tour.  We are all focussed now towards the test and are looking forward to a tough and physical encounter and are under no illusions that it will be anything other than a test!!!”

Finally I caught up with Jimmy Aspinall whom has been extremely busy ensuring that every single thing the team has needed or wanted has been catered for and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all the lads the thank him!!!  Jimmy added, “The tour has been a roaring success and I hope we have helped South Africa in a way that mirrors the level of hospitality we have been shown for the duration of the tour.  Dave Van Reenen (SARL President) has been fantastic and always on hand to offer assistance and without him the tour wouldn’t have been the success it has been.  Next up for us is the test, I’m sure Jimmy and the boys are raring to go!”

All that leaves now is for the final training session and team announcement that will be made at 11:00am, next stop is Vaal University and the challenge of the South African Rhinos, boy oh boy it will be a Test is every aspect of the word!!!

Team Announced at 11:00am

1. Paul Pendlebury, 2. Chris Walker, 3. Gavin Corfield, 5. Wayne Leyland, 15. Joe Budd, 6. Jordan Precious, 7. Tony Baker, 8. Lee Brown, 14. Anthony Atherton, 10. Scott Winstanley, 11. Sean Wildbore (C), 20. Mark Holmes, 13. Gary Middlehurst.  SUBS 16. Ryan Smith, 12. Kevin Thompson, 18. David Dunwell, 19. Matt Bowers

The reserve was a great experience and the chance of a life time mixing with lions cubs, taking in a mini safari and enjoying some more South African hospitality.  It was great to hold and mingle with lion cubs and we got the opportunity for some great photo opportunities!!!

TUKS Stadium, Pretoria

27 July 2010

Great Britain community lions continued their South African tour with a second victory against the South African students winning 70-0.

With only four minutes on the clock a surging run from prop Scott Winstanley opened up the South African defence and with a long pass from Jordan Precious resulted in a try for winger Chris Walker.

With Great Britain pressing hard for a second try, an inside pass from stand off Jordan Precious found Gary Middlehurst who raced twenty five metres to score under the posts. Jordan Precious added the extras.

On fourteen minutes quick hands from one side of the field to the other resulted in a try for Mark Holmes.

Three minutes later Great Britain increased their lead to 18-0, with Tony Baker dominating the middle of the park at just the right moment he released the ball to loose forward Gary Middlehurst enabling him to score his second try.

Six minutes later a high kick from Jordan Precious was completely misjudged by the South African full back which gave winger Chris Walker the opportunity to touch down for the second time in the match.

Half way through the second half Great Britain went further ahead with a try from Steve Atkinson

Six minutes later Atkinson crossed the line again after a great inside pass from Jordan Precious who also kicked the conversion to give Great Britain a 32-0 half time lead.

Eight minutes into the second half Great Britain were on the score sheet again after Matt Bowers touched down after receiving a ball from fifteen metres from the try line, Jordan Precious kicked the easy conversion attempt.

From the restart the ball went wide to centre Carl Redford who raced half the length of the field to score in the corner.

Two minutes later man of the match Paul Pendlebury was on the score sheet after a smart kick from Anthony Atherton deep into the South African goal area completely out foxed the South African defence, Mark Holmes kicked the conversion attempt.

Four minutes later, from the half way line a deep kick from Tony Baker saw stand off Jordan Precious out pace the South African defence and gather the ball and slide over the try line.

With Great Britain throwing the ball about with great confidence a pass from Tony Baker found his winger Joe Budd who scored out wide, once again Mark Holmes kicked the conversion.

On sixty six minutes prop forward Scott Winstanley was on the score sheet after barging his way over the try line from fifteen metres out, this time it was Jordan Precious who kicked the extras.

With only five minutes of the match remaining a David Dunwell try was the final try of the match after, he received a pass from Ryan Smith to score from twenty metres out, and Jordan Precious brought the final score to 70-0.

Monday saw us take in an early morning gym session at Virgin Fitness Centre followed by a river boat cruise. The River Vaal is home to some majestic houses and fantastic sites.

The cruise was followed by the customary Lancashire v Yorkshire cricket match with the Red Rose coming out on top!!! Yorkshire captain Sean Wildbore won the toss and elected to bowl. Wayne Leyland and Anthony Atherton had great knocks of 34 and 31 respectively. With Joe Budd the pick of the bowlers. Lancashire set a target of 95 for Yorkshire to chase.

The Lancashire bowlers tore into the top order and only Joe Budd’s 35 offering any resistance. Atherton and Carl Redford excelled in the field with Paul Pendlebury and Tony Baker the pick off the bowlers. Yorkshire all out for 70 saw the trophy once again heading west to the Red Rose County!!!

It is a toss up between Scott Winstanley and Carl Redford who is the best dancer and the Care Bear Squad (Browny, Hunty, Scott and DD) have been clamping down on any sort of mischief within the camp!!!

Chris “ONE SHOT” Walker enjoyed a day of big game hunting with Gavdog, Johndog and Jimmy “1000 VOLTS” Aspinall (Jimmy will give all information if asked!!!) … The rest of us enjoyed a days of adventure golf at Emerald City, Matty Bower proving to be a bit of a closet Tiger Woods.

Back to normality tomorrow with an early morning gym session followed by a riverboat cruise.  Training again on Tuesday and countdown to our next game on Wednesday.

Thanks for the kind comments, they are getting through and give to boys a genuine feeling that everyone back home is backing us!!!

With only two minutes on the clock a break from scrum half tony baker was backed up and finished off with a try for loose forward Gary Middlehurst.

Four minutes later Great Britain was on the score sheet again when a long pass from Baker found winger Joe Budd who touched down out wide.

On fifteen minutes a break from Paul Pendlebury was well backed up by winger Chris Walker who raced forty meters to score under the posts, Jordan Precious kicked the easy conversion attempt.

Eight minutes later South Africa was on the score sheet with a try from Dean Kramer when he dove over the try line from two metres out. Johan Fritz kicked the extra two points on offer.

A minute later Great Britain responded with a Gavin Corfield try after receiving a pass from full back Paul Pendlebury. Once again Jordan Precious kicked the conversion.

With only three minutes of the half remaining a lack of concentration allowed South Africa score arty through Christian Doziv to give a half time 20-10 advantage to Great Britain.

 Five minutes into the second half South Africa scored another try when poor defence enabled Lucas Pruis to score by the posts, which he kicked his own conversion.

Two minutes later Great Britain responded with a Matty Bower try, who rounded the South African full back to score behind the posts; Tony Baker kicked the conversion attempt.

Four minutes later South Africa was on the score sheet again when winger Wayne Burger somehow managed to scramble over the line after what seemed a dubious movement, Dean Kramer kicked the conversion to bring South Africa within four points of Great Britain.

On sixty minutes Dave Dunwell went on a thirty metre sprint and at just the right moment passed inside to Anthony Atherton who scored under the posts, which gave Tony Baker the easiest of conversions.

Five minutes later quick hands along the Great Britain line of attack completely caught out the South African defence which gave winger Joe Budd the opportunity to score in the corner

In the dying seconds Great Britain secured victory with their final try of the match. A kick through by winger Chris Walker was fumbled by the South African full back first to react was Anthony Atherton who only had to ground the ball. Anthony Atherton also kicked the conversion.

South Africa.

Henry Wiggins.

Morney Verwey.

Lee Langenhoven.

Christian Doziv.

Lucas Pruis.

Hanness Englebrett.

Gideon Fick.

Wouter jan wyk.

Marcelle Slabbert.

Wally Page.

Allen Kasselmen.

Robbie Oostvizen.

Gerry Glendall.

Great Britain.

Paul Pendlebury

Chris Walker.

Gavin Corfield

Joe Budd.

Wayne Leyland.

Jordan Precious.

Tony Baker.

Lee Brown.

Jimmy bardgett.

 Scott Winstanley.

Sean Wildbore.

Kevin Thompson.

Garry Middlehurst.

Anthony Atherton.

Ryan Smith.

Steve Atkinson.

David Dunwell.

Matt Bower.

Mark holmes.

 Paul Hunt.

Andy Lake.                                                                                                                

ALL SQUAD TO PLAY - Game Kick Off 3:00pm Local Time (2:00pm BST)

Today we have visited Vaal University for official tour photographs and have a further training session this afternoon. The evening will be spent taking in some local culture and viewing local teams playing.

Chris Walker is topping the fines table with 100 Rand so far, closely followed by Anthony Atherton, Jimmy Aspinall and Paul Hunt!!!

Well thats me over and out … Next stop Munich Airport then Jo’Burg here we come!!!!