Leicester Lions 11 Caldy 31

Leicester Lions 11: Tries: James Grayson (3 min); Penalties: James Grayson (44 min, 49 min)

Caldy: Tries: Louis McGowan (16 min), Ben Jones (24 min), Josiah Dickinson (34min), Edward Stagg (78 min); Conversions: Jack Lavin (17 min, 25 min, 35 min, 79 min); Penalties: Jack Lavin (46 min)

Leicester Lions were expecting a tough afternoon against league leaders, Caldy.

It was a cold but dry afternoon, with the breeze across the pitch and the temperature anticipating the start of winter.

The game started with Lions having possession and taking the ball to Caldy. An enterprising attack by Lions drove into the Caldy defence and fly half James Grayson bisected the Caldy backs to go over for a try after 3 minutes, giving Lions a 5-0 lead.

Caldy came back putting Lions under pressure for much of the remainder of the first half. Caldy’s skilful play and pressure gave them the upper hand. Although Lions defended well, under the pressure Caldy exerted, they scored three tries – second row Louis McGowan driving through after 16 minutes, winger Ben Jones outrunning the Lions’ defence after 25 minutes and No 8 Josiah Dickinson powering through after 34 minutes. Jack Lavin added all three conversions to make the score 5-21 at the break.

Half Time: Leicester Lions 5 Caldy 21

Lions had some more enterprising play in the second half and made much more of a game of it.

Caldy’s Nick Royle was yellow carded for foul play on 41 minutes.

On 44 minutes Lions’ James Grayson added a penalty, with a quick response by a Jack Lavin penalty for Caldy on 46 minutes, making the score 8-24.

An error by Caldy led to another penalty by Lions, where James Grayson added the points on 49 minutes to make the score 11-24.

There was a period of fairly even play where both sides had opportunities, but neither side could put points on the board.

In the last minutes of the game Caldy sniffed the possibility of a four try bonus point and upped their game. On 78 minutes Caldy hooker, Edward Stagg, made a hole in the Lions’ defence to add their fourth try, again converted by Jack Lavin, making the score 11-31.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 11 Caldy 31

A competitive game, but a classy league leading side, Caldy, obtained a well deserved victory.

Leicester Lions’ Director of Rugby, Ken Whitehead, said we were expecting a testing time against Caldy. The team stuck to their task and defended well, and much to their credit, never giving in. Caldy are by far the best side we have played this season.

Following this week’s games, Leicester Lions are in sixth position in National League 2 North, with Caldy as league leaders.

For further details consult www.ncarugby.org.

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