It was a pleasant, mild, spring-like day, at TMDP Park, Blaby, for the visit of Tynedale, from Northumberland. The playing surface was in good condition, with drying conditions in the week. With Lions in 12th position in National League 2 North and Tynedale in 7th position, both sides were looking for a victory.
The first twenty minutes involved both sides testing out and probing their opposition.
On 23 minutes Tynedale’s Liam Checksfield followed through a Tynedale grubber kick, gathered the ball, attacked the Lions’ defence and worked the ball to his opposite side winger for Guy Pike to go over for the opening try of the game.
Lions came back into the game putting the pressure on Tynedale. On 33 minutes Lions’ winger Devon Constant took possession of the ball near the half-way line and produced an over 40 metre searing run to carve through the centre for a try by the posts, with Max Titchener adding the conversion.
In extra time in the first half the Lions pack worked well in a rolling maul to attack the Tynedale line, with prop Dan Ali driving over from short distance to score their second try, with Titchener again adding the extras.

Half Time: Leicester Lions 14 Tynedale 5

In the second half Lions continued their pressure. On 46 minutes Lions drove the ball down the right wing, for a smart switch of attack by moving the ball across to the left wing for Devon Constant to go over in his own inimitable style for Lions’ third try, with Titchener again adding the conversion, to take the score to 21-5.
Tynedale made a couple of replacements to strengthen their on-field team.
It took Tynedale little time to bring themselves back into the game. On 50 minutes their back-row, Will Montgomery, followed up a Tynedale kick through from their own half to go over for a try to close the gap, with Rob Parker adding the conversion, bringing the score to 21-12.
Tynedale again put Lions under pressure and with Montgomery again outpacing the Lions’ defence for his second try and the scoring gap was down to 21-17.
Lions had been having some excellent tight and mauling play throughout the game. On 62 minutes Lions returned to the attack with an effective rolling maul, where Oli Taylor drove over for Lions’ fourth try, taking the score to 26-17.
In the next ten minutes Tynedale had the opportunity for their winger, Morgan Passman, the league’s top try scorer, to show his pace with two finely taken winger’s tries. On 67 minutes Tynedale worked the ball out to Passman with space, who outpaced the Lions’ defence to go over for a try. On 71 minutes Lions kicked through, but the ball was taken back onto the attack by Tynedale, who again worked the ball out to Passman on the wing to go over for his second try, which brought Tynedale back into the lead at 26-27.
For the remaining game-time both Lions and Tynedale had opportunities. Lions’ pressure brought them close to the Tynedale line but a late drop goal attempt went wide of the posts.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 26 Tynedale 27

Nine tries in the game – four to Lions and five to Tynedale. An exciting flowing well contested game, appreciated by Lions’ largest crowd attendance of the season.
A good performance by Lions with some exciting back play, but when Tynedale brought on their replacements in the second half it strengthened their team to give them the advantage to obtain victory.

Lions' head coach, Andy Key, says, "It was a good to see the team committed to open running rugby and some successful tight play against good opposition. We have a young developing team and experience will give them the ability to hang onto positions where they have a significant lead.”

Following the game Leicester Lions were in twelfth position in the league table, with Tynedale in seventh position. A significant gap has opened between the bottom three teams, South Leicester, Macclesfield and Peterborough Lions, and the rest of the league.

Teams: Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Leicester Lions: Alex Wilcockson, Laurence Warren-West, Sam Benjamin, Tom Lawson, Devon Constant, Max Titchener, Alex Smit, Will Roberts, Oli Taylor, Dan Ali, Ollie Tapscott, Ed Sumpter, Ethan Godefroy, Jonny Murdoch, Dan Martin
Replacements: Ben Spokes, Curtis Weaver, Simon Johnson, Harry Key, Tom Aviss

Tynedale: Rob Parker, Guy Pike, Jon Burden, Will Miller, Liam Checksfield, Matty Outson, Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, Richard Elliott, David Batey, Liam Carmichael, Chris Wearmouth, Harry Snowdon, Graeme Dunn, Will Montgomery, Rob Farrar
Replacements: Gareth Black, Oscar Caudle, Ben Hutton, John Clarkson, Morgan Passman

For further details consult www.ncarugby.com