Sale FC 21 Leicester Lions 0

League Points: 4-0

Sale FC 21: Tries: Ciaran Connolly (2 min), Matthew Neary (55 min); Conversions: Liam McGovern (3 min); Penalties: Liam McGovern (9 min, 20 min, 24 min);

Leicester Lions 0:

It was always going to be a tough afternoon for Leicester Lions travelling away to Sale, in South West Manchester. It promised to be a crunch game between second placed Sale FC and third placed Leicester Lions. A cold damp February afternoon was the weather for this keenly anticipated fixture.

The game started in a furious manner with Sale FC dominating the initial play of the game. A cross field kick by Sale gave their winger, Ciaran Connolly, the opportunity to take the ball and slip round the Lions’ defence to score the opening try on 2 minutes, converted by Liam McGovern.

Sale put Lions pack under pressure and penalties followed in the next 20 minutes.

Sale’s fullback, Liam McGovern, scored a quick succession of penalties on 9, 20 and 24 minutes, giving Sale a 16-0 lead.

Lions’ defence held solid for the remainder of the first half.

Half Time: Sale FC 16 Leicester Lions 0

After half time Lions came back into the game following the interval pep talk. Their defence and team work became more effective, but they were still competing against a strong and effective Sale pack.

Lions’ Sam Benjamin was yellow carded on 47 minutes.

In spite of Lions comeback it was to be Sale who added the only points of the second half. After working through the Lions defence Sale moved the ball out to their winger Matthew Neary who went over to score a try on 55 minutes, the only score of the second half.

As ever, Lions defended well and managed to keep the Sale attack at bay for the remainder of the game.

Full Time: Sale FC 21 Leicester Lions 0

A testing game for Leicester Lions, who defended well against a powerful Sale team.

Leicester Lions’ Director of Rugby, Ken Whitehead, said that it was a tough game against a good Sale team who gave us an exacting time. The scrum and the lineout did not work as well as they normally do, so that will give us some issues to work on during training.

Following this week’s games, Leicester Lions are still in third position in National League 2 North, with Sale FC in second position, but with a significant 13 points gap between the two teams, even though Lions have a game in hand. Caldy look to be in a dominant 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