News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Sheffield Tigers 21 Leicester Lions 18 - Saturday 9th March 2019 - Match Report

Sheffield Tigers 21 Leicester Lions 18 - Saturday 9th March 2019 - Match Report

Michael Howkins11 Mar 2019 - 13:21
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.lionsrfc.co.uk/new

Lions pipped at the post by Tigers

Sheffield Tigers 21 Leicester Lions 18

Saturday 9th March 2019

Lions pipped at the post by Tigers

League Points 4-1

Sheffield Tigers 21: Tries: Ed Simmons (17), James Broadley (36), Sam Johnson (77); Conversions: Mark Ireland (18, 37, 78);
Leicester Lions 18: Tries: Ben Spokes (12), Alex Wilcockson (53), Dan Ali (70); Penalties: Harry Key (48);

It was a cold and breezy afternoon for the visit of Leicester Lions to Sheffield Tigers at Dore Moor. Overnight and early morning rain had left surface water on the pitch. There was a stiff wind mainly across the pitch, with it being behind Tigers in the first half, while Lions had this advantage in the second half.
Both teams could have done with points to keep open a respectable gap between them and the bottom three relegation zone, so a well contested game was expected.
Playing into the wind Lions made an enterprising start putting Tigers under pressure. On 12 minutes Lions pressure started to tell when Alex Smit found a hole in the Tigers’ defence and ran through, slipping the ball to Lions’ prop, Ben Spokes, who drove over the line for a try to open the scoring.
It was not long before Tigers were on the come-back trail. On 17 minutes an erratic over long pass by Lions got caught by the wind and Tigers took command of the possession. Their forwards had a series of drives which led to their prop, Ed Simmons, going over in tight play for a try, converted by Mark Ireland, which made the score 7-5.
Lions defended well and it looked like Lions might hold the score at 7-5 to see out the first half, but on 37 minutes a poor pass by Lions allowed Tigers to regain possession. They made the best of their opportunity driving through for a try by their centre, James Broadley, converted by Ireland, to make the half-time score 14-5.
A disappointing score from Lions’ point of view, but Lions were still looking forward to having the wind at their backs in the second half.

Half Time: Sheffield Tigers 14 Leicester Lions 5

In the second half Lions started well putting Tigers under pressure. On 48 minutes Tigers offended, conceded a penalty, which was scored by Lions’ Harry Key.
Soon after Lions were again putting Tigers under pressure. Driving pressure by Lions pinned Tigers back on their try line. Lions drove forward but the ball was held up. On 53 minutes Lions took the ensuing scrum game, skilfully slipped the ball out to full-back Alex Wilcockson, who floated over for the try, which took the score to 14-13.
On 70 minutes Lions drove forward, taking a line-out, which converted to a maul, with Lions driving over with their prop, Dan Ali, going over for a try, to take Lions back into the lead at 14-18.
It started to look like Lions would make further progress from their come-back, but Tigers were not a team to give up easily. They had a few good forward drives against the wind.
On 77 minutes Tigers drove Lions back with powerful forward play. Their pressure continued with some committed forward play allowing their replacement, Sam Johnson, to go over for the winning try, with Ireland adding the conversion, making the score 21-18.
With little time left neither side had much of an opportunity to add anything to the score.

Full Time: Sheffield Tigers 21 Leicester Lions 18

A good start by Lions and come-back allowing Lions to regain the lead in the second half. There was some careless passing by Lions, but some excellent resolution by Tigers brought them back into the game for a win. The water on the pitch and the wind made it an afternoon for possible errors.

An evenly contested game, with three tries apiece. Both sides had opportunities to win the game, but committed effort by Tigers gave them victory in the end.
Lions’ head coach, Andy Key, said, “We were expecting a committed opposition in Sheffield Tigers. Lions played well, but they gave us a tough game, with Tigers coming through at the end of the match.”

Following the game Leicester Lions were in twelfth position in National League 2 North on 59 points, Sheffield Tigers in thirteenth position on 53 points, with South Leicester in fourteenth position on 38 points in the relegation group.

Teams – Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Sheffield Tigers: Rob Davidson, Greg Mellor, James Broadley, Tom Hart, Henri Packard, Mark Ireland, Matt Dowdeswell, Jed McDonald, Tom Coates, Ed Simmons, Alan Symcox, Ashley Holland, Tom Taylor-Dawes, William Wallace, Frank Wragg
Replacements: Sam Johnson, William Archer, Lee Orton, Kain Rix, Joe Duffy

Leicester Lions: Alex Wilcockson, Laurence Warren-West, Sam Benjamin, Harry Key, Devon Constant, Max Titchener, Alex Smit, Ben Spokes, Oli Taylor, Dan Ali, Ollie Tapscott, Ed Sumpter, Ethan Godefroy, Jonny Murdoch, Dan Martin
Replacements: George Taylor-Walker, Demo Gonsalves, Simon Johnson, Henri Lavin, Ollie Campbell

For further details consult www.ncarugby.com

Further reading