Leicester Lions 26 Sedgley Park 23

League Points 4-1

Leicester Lions 26: Tries: Tom Emery (45 min), Sam Benjamin (52 min); Conversions: Jon Boden (46 min, 53 min); Penalties: Jon Boden (39 min, 48 min, 57 min, 75 min)

Sedgley Park 23: Tries: Harri Greville (55 min), Andrew Riley (68 min); Conversions: Steve Collins (55 min, 69 min); Penalties: Steve Collins (20 min, 27 min, 35 min)

Leicester Lions were expecting a testing afternoon against third placed Sedgley Park, at Westleigh Park, Blaby.

It was a chilly autumn afternoon, with a cold northerly breeze across the pitch, marginally to Sedgley Park’s advantage in the first half and Leicester Lions in the second half.

Sedgley Park started with some impressive forward play against Lions in the first half. The pressure on Lions led to three penalties, scored by Sedgley Park’s fly-half Steve Collins.

In spite of the pressure Lions defended heroically in preventing Sedgley Park crossing their line for a try.

On 39 minutes Sedgley Park’s Steve Collins was yellow carded for a technical offence.

Jon Boden added a penalty for Lions to make the score 3-9 at half time.

Half Time: Leicester Lions 3 Sedgley Park 9

Sedgley Park’s pressure continued at the start of the second half, but Lions had a purple patch soon after.

With Sedgley Park putting pressure on the Lions’ line, mercurial reactions by Lions’ scrum-half Tom Emery allowed him to steal an interception from a Sedgley Park pass and race a full 90 yards down the pitch to score a try for Lions on 45 minutes, with Jon Boden adding the conversion, putting Lions 10-9 in the lead.

On 48 minutes Jon Boden added a penalty for Lions.

A piece of poetry in motion led to Lions next try. A magnificent sleight of hand pass in the backs set Lions winger Sam Benjamin free to outpace the Sedgley Park defence to score Lions’ second try, with Jon Boden converting, to make the score 20-9.

On 55 minutes Sedgley Park prop Harri Greville drove over from a forward move to score a try, converted by Steve Collins.

On 57 minutes Jon Boden added a penalty for Lions to reopen the gap to 23-16.

On 68 minutes a run by Sedgley Park’s winger Andrew Riley scored a try, converted by Steve Collins, to level the score at 23-23.

Both sides had opportunities in the last ten minutes of the game.

On 74 minutes Sedgley Park’s Tom Coe was yellow carded for a technical offence.

With five minutes left Lions’ Jon Boden scored a penalty to restore Lions in the lead.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 26 Sedgley Park 23

Leicester Lions produced a sparkling and explosive performance at the 5th November fixture.

A keenly competed game with both sides having opportunities.

Leicester Lions’ Director of Rugby, Ken Whitehead, said we knew we were in for a testing game against a class opposition, Sedgley Park. They put us under forward pressure but the team defended well and made good use of the opportunities that came their way. It was splendid to see the side engineer a win against tough opposition.

Following this week’s games, Leicester Lions are in third position in National League 2 North, with Sedgley Park in fourth position.

For further details consult www.ncarugby.org

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