The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Lions coach refusing to panic after another setback at home
Rugby - English Clubs Championship
Peterborough Lions head coach Darren Fox is refusing to press the panic button after another shock defeat in National League Division Three. The city side were pipped 3427 by Longton at Bretton Park onSaturdayandthatwasasecond successive home loss.
They also lost their opening fixture 21-20 to Derby and then drew 13-13 at Lichfield.
As a result they’re winless andfourthfrombottominthe table.
Buttherearenoalarmbells ringing in Fox’s ears.
“Of course I’m not happy,” he said, “but we could so easily be sitting near the top of the table with three wins under our belts.
“All of ourgameshavebeen very, very close so far and we’re certainly not a million miles offwherewewant to be.
“It is whatit is andtheplayers are what they are. We’ve just got to get our heads down and work hard in training in the week and then work hard for one another on a Saturday afternoon.
“The level we’re at is semiprofessional and you need to do morethantrain two nights a weekandplayonaSaturday. Mostsuccessfulplayersatthis level are putting in the work five nights a week. The new boys in the squad - especially those who have stepped up a level, needto buyintothatand if they do then I’m sure the results will come.
“We’re an established National League Three club now and one of the better teams in the league so of course opposing sides are going to fight harder and raise their game against us.
“We’ve got to be prepared for that. We can’t afford to stand still and just turn up expecting to beat teams like Longton.
“It’s sinking in and as long as we all stay positive I’m sure we’ll turn results round.”
The Lions once again - just as they did against Derby - stagedasecond-half fightback togetinawinningposition only to blow it in the closing moments.
Longton possessed two very tricky and two very fast wingers whocausedtheLions defence problems out wide and they were responsible for three of their side’s four tries.
The Lions also scored four tries to claim one bonus point and got another for losing by seven points or less.
Kaz Henderson (2), Sam Crooks and Pete Kolakowski were the Lions try-scorers.
The Lions are away on Saturday to Nuneaton. Lions lost thecorrespondingfixturelast season 23-12 but beat them179 in the return fixture at the Den.