Leicester Lions 32 Sheffield Tigers 17

League Points: 5-0

Leicester Lions : Tries: Jamel Hamilton (28 min), Joe Newton-Taylor (42 min), Devon Constant (70 min, 77 min), Sam Benjamin (79 min); Conversions: Jon Boden (43 min, 78 min); Penalties: Jon Boden (8 min);

Sheffield Tigers: Tries: Tom Farrell (21 min), James Broadley (24 min), Steve Walker (37 min); Conversions: Tainne Finn (22 min);

After a promising start to the New Year with a good away win at Luctonians, Lions welcomed Sheffield Tigers to Westleigh Park for their first home game of 2017.

It was a wet morning, but the weather improved in the afternoon with some winter sun for the game. The ground was in good condition, if a little greasy on the surface.

The game started with Lions producing some overpowering tight and loose forward play. Jon Boden scored a penalty for Lions after 8 minutes to opening the scoring.

Tigers withstood this pressure well and some enterprising back play soon brought them into the game.

On 21 minutes Tigers’ fly-half, Tom Farrell, weaved his way through the Lions defence to score a try, with Tainne Finn adding the conversion.

Tigers were quick to add to their score when full back James Broadley outpaced the Lions to score their second try on 24 minutes, making the score 3-12.

On 28 minutes Lions came back with an elegant move where Jamel Hamilton went through a gap and opened the home team’s try account.

On 35 minutes Tigers’ Francis Tufail-Smith was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on.

In the last minutes of the first half Tigers went through again with a try by their No 8, Steve Walker, making the score 8-17.

A good start by Lions, but Tigers showed perseverance coming back into the game.

Half Time: Leicester Lions 8 Sheffield Tigers 17

Again Lions made a powerful start after the break, with prop Joe Newton-Taylor producing a sidestep to go through the Tigers’ defence to score a try, with Jon Boden adding the conversion to make the score 15-17.

During the next quarter of the game the play was evenly balanced with both sides having opportunities, but neither side was able to add to their points tally.

Both sides brought replacements into the game and in the last ten minutes Lions started to grasp the upper hand.

With Tigers’ line under pressure, Lions’ Devon Constant powered his way over from short distance for a try that put Lions in the lead 20-17.

Lions had established control and on 77 minutes Devon Constant added his second try with a forceful run down the wing, with Jon Boden adding the conversion, to put Lions 27-17 in the lead.

In the dying minutes of the game continued pressure by Lions put Sam Benjamin away to score their fifth try and cement the victory 32-17.

A well competed game with both sides having opportunities, but with Lions gaining the advantage in the last ten minutes with three tries.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 32 Sheffield Tigers 17

A good performance by Lions, with some strong forward play at the start. Tigers came back into the game and for much of the middle section it looked like either side could take advantage and win. This was followed by some clinical finishing by Lions in the last ten minutes of the game.

Leicester Lions’ Director of Rugby, Ken Whitehead, said that we built on the excellent result last week at Luctonians. This week’s game was well balanced during the middle section of the game, but our powerful finishing gave us a deserved victory at the game.

Following this week’s games, Leicester Lions climbed one place to fourth position in National League 2 North, with Sheffield Tigers in fifteenth position.

For further details consult www.ncarugby.org

Mike Howkins, Press Officer and Fourth Official Leicester Lions RFC

mikehowkins@gmail.com