Broadstreet v Leicester Lions

Broadstreet 14: Tries: Liam Hills (30 min), Penalty Try (40+ min); Conversions: Lee Chapman (30 min, 40+ min)

Leicester Lions 36: Tries: Oli Taylor (6 min), John Murdoch (15 min), John Hargreaves (39 min), Steve Allen (47 min), Matt Tuckey (49 min), Ben Spokes (60 min); Conversions: Jon Boden (6 min, 15 min, 49 min);

Lions were looking to repeat last week’s success against Preston Grasshoppers.

It was a sunny April afternoon for Lions’ short trip from Blaby to Broadstreet’s ground in the outskirts of Coventry. The game started in bright sunshine, with a nip in the air, and a breeze down the pitch which Broadstreet had the use of in the first half. The pitch surface was firm, but slightly greasy on top.

The game started with Lions putting Broadstreet under pressure.

On 6 mins Lions took the ball at their lineout close to the Broadstreet line, controlled the ensuing maul and hooker Oli Taylor drove over for a try, converted by Jon Boden.

Lions were still in control and scythed their way through the middle in open running play for flanker John Murdoch to drive over to add their second try, again converted by Jon Boden.

Fifteen minutes gone and the score was 0-14 to Lions.

Broadstreet showed their experience with some controlled play with their scrum exerting pressure on Lions in the tight.

Broadstreet continued their pressure on Lions and their prop Liam Hills went over for a try, converted by Lee Chapman, to bring them back into the game, after 30 mins.

Lions continued with their running play and soon put Broadstreet’s line under pressure leading to scrum half John Hargreaves darting over on 39 mins to establish a 7-19 lead for Lions.

In the final minutes of the first half Broadstreet returned to put Lions under pressure on their try line. Indiscipline by Lions led to a yellow card to Ben Spokes. Broadstreet took good advantage putting Lions under pressure causing them to concede a penalty try, converted by Lee Chapman.

Half Time: Broadstreet 14 Leicester Lions 19

Lions now had the advantage of the wind in the second half. There was a significant change in the weather in the second half with a mixture of hail and snow giving unpleasant playing conditions and making the ball difficult to handle.

In the first ten minutes of the second half Lions had a purple patch with the addition of two tries. Rampaging play by Lions led to quick successive tries by their second row and skipper Matt Tuckey, followed by some superb running by Timo Koster who slipped the ball to Steve Allen who raced to the line. Jon Boden added a conversion. Lions had stretched their lead to 14-31.

On 57 mins Broadstreet’s Lee Chapman was yellow carded.

It was Lions’ opportunity to use their numerical advantage and following some powerful forward play Ben Spokes drove over in the corner to make the score 14-36 on 60 mins.

Both sides had opportunities in the last quarter of the game, but neither side managed to add to their score.

Full Time: Broadstreet 14 Leicester Lions 36

A game in which both teams competed, with some open and running play. Lions performed well in the open play, but found Broadstreet a good scrummaging team, in a game with a significant number of scrums.

Leicester Lions’ Director of Rugby, Ken Whitehead, said that this was a good comeback with two wins in a row. It was good to win the try count by six tries to two, especially with six different players scoring the tries. A superb all round performance by the team.

Following this week’s games, Leicester Lions are in third position and Broadstreet in fifteenth position in National League 2 North, with Macclesfield in a commanding position at the top of the table.

For further details consult www.ncarugby.org

Mike Howkins, Press Officer and Fourth Official Leicester Lions RFC
mikehowkins@gmail.com