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Wharfedale 34 Leicester Lions 30 - Saturday 3rd November 2018 - Match Report

Wharfedale 34 Leicester Lions 30 - Saturday 3rd November 2018 - Match Report

Michael Howkins4 Nov 2018 - 16:42
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Lions' late second half comeback leaves Wharfedale struggling to hold on at the end

Wharfedale 34 Leicester Lions 30
Saturday 3rd November 2018
Lions’ late second half comeback leaves Wharfedale struggling to hold on at the end

League Points 5-2

Wharfedale 34: Tries: Jack Blakeney-Edwards (24), Phil Woodhead (48), Rhys Lovegrove (53), Penalty Try (71); Conversions: Jack Blakeney-Edwards (24, 49, 54); Penalties: Jack Blakeney-Edwards (11, 20);
Leicester Lions 30: Tries: Jonny Murdoch (6), Devon Constant (56, 76), Alex Wilcockson (59), Max Titchener (66); Conversions: Max Titchener (60); Penalties: Harry Key (30);

Wharfedale RUFC is situated in the village of Threshfield, close to Grassington, on the River Wharfe, in the Yorkshire Dales. It has a picturesquely situated ground with the slopes of Whardedale on both sides on the River Wharfe. The late autumn colour of the leaves on the trees enhanced the scenic beauty of the ground.
Dale has been having a good season with a top third position in the league. After a late comeback at Macclesfield last week Lions were keen to make an early impression on the game.

Lions were quick to open their scoring with some smart passing and back-row Jonny Murdoch going over for a try on 6 minutes.
Dale came back with two penalties by their fly-half Jack Blakeney-Edwards. On 24 minutes he also worked his way through the Lions defence for a try, which he converted, making the score 13-5.
On 30 minutes Harry Key scored a penalty for Lions to close the gap to 13-8.
A well balanced first half, with Dale just about having the upper hand.

Half Time: Wharfedale 13 Leicester Lions 8

It did not take Dale long to open their scoring in the second half when scrum-half Phil Woodhead worked his way through the Lions’ defence to score a try on 48 minutes, with Blakeney-Edwards adding the conversion.
Dale soon added another try with a run by their centre, Rhys Lovegrove, who went over for a try on 53 minutes, with Blakeney-Edwards again adding the conversion and opening the score out to 27-8.
Like last week, at this time Lions started a comeback. In quick succession Lions backs scored two tries making holes in the Dale defence. Devon Constant drove over in his own inimitable style on 56 minutes, with Alex Wilcockson adding another try with an exciting run on 59 minutes. Max Titchener added a conversion to take the score to 27-20 at the start of the last quarter.
Dale’s James Tyson was yellow carded on 62 minutes for foul play.
Lions again upped their backs’ pressure when Titchener went over for Lions’ fourth try on 66 minutes, closing the score to 27-25.
Dale returned putting Lions line under pressure with their forward drive leading to them scoring a penalty try on 71 minutes, to score their fourth try and re-open the score to 34-25.
Lions’ Will Roberts was yellowed carded for a technical offence on 71 minutes.
Lions returned to putting Dale under pressure and on 76 minutes Constant added his second try to narrow the gap to 34-30.
In spite of Lions putting Dale under pressure, Dale managed to hold out to take the victory in a well contested game.

Full Time: Wharfedale 34 Leicester Lions 30

This was a game in which Dale had the better of the middle sections. Lions produced a gripping come-back in the final twenty–five minutes. Dale held out in the end to take the victory. Four tries to Wharfedale, five tries to Lions, in an exciting nine try game.

Leicester Lions welcomes Samson Ma’asi to the club. Samson made his debut today, coming on as a front-row replacement in the second half.

Following the game Wharfedale were in 6th position in National League 2 North and Leicester Lions in 13th position.

Lions’ head coach, Andy Key, “The middle section of the game was obviously disappointing, but Lions showed a good amount of resolve in coming back to press Wharfedale towards the end of the game. It was most pleasing to see how the team put Wharfedale under pressure and nearly sneaked a victory”.

Teams – order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Wharfedale: Will Edwards, Rian Hamilton, Harry Bullough, Rhys Lovegrove, Oliver Cicognini, Jack Blakeney-Edwards, Phil Woodhead, Joe Altham, Dan Stockdale, Reece Ward, George Hedgley, Ben Leacock, Ken Houghton, James Tyson, Josh Burridge Replacements: Jack Hirst, George Martin, Kieran Frost, Ben Blackwell, Tom Mann
Leicester Lions: Alex Wilcockson, Sam Benjamin, Devon Constant, Max Titchener, Aaron Martin, Harry Key, Tom Aviss, Will Roberts, Ross Herbert, Demo Gonsalves, Ollie Tapscott, Ed Sumpter, Ethan Godefroy, Jonny Murdoch, Laurence Warren-West Replacements: Samson Ma’asi, George Taylor-Walker, Simon Johnson, Josh Leonard

For further details consult www.ncarugby.org

Mike Howkins, Press Officer and Fourth Official Leicester Lions RFC

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