Sedgley Park 36 Leicester Lions 27

League Points: 5-1

Sedgley Park 36: Tries: Ben Black (30 min), Juan Crous (37 min), Matt Riley (40 min), Andrew Riley (45 min), George Hymes (67 min); Conversions: Stephen Collins (30 min, 37 min, 45 min, 67 min); Penalties: Stephen Collins (19 min)

Leicester Lions 27: Tries: Oliver Taylor (5 min), Sam Benjamin (20 min, 72 min), Jamel Hamilton (80 min); Conversions: Elliot Bale (20 min, 80 min); Penalties: Elliot Bale (39 min)

Leicester Lions travelled to Sedgley Park for an expected keenly contested game between third placed Lions and fourth placed Park.

The game started with Lions having the better of the opening play. After 5 minutes Lions’ hooker Oliver Taylor drove over for a try to open the scoring.

Park’s Stephen Collins responded with a penalty after 19 minutes, but Lions’ winger, Sam Benjamin, soon after touched down for try, with Elliot Bale adding the conversion.

Twenty minutes gone and Lions were 3-12 in the lead.

A try resurgence by Park in the last ten minutes of the first half saw Park in an excellent position at half time.

Park’s tries were scored by Ben Black and Juan Crous, with Stephen Collins adding the conversions.

Lions’ Elliot Bale added a penalty on 39 minutes.

Park’s centre, Matt Riley, added a try in the final minute of the first half.

Half Time: Sedgley Park 22 Leicester Lions 15

Park continued their purple patch at the start of the second half.

On 45 minutes Parks’ winger Andrew Riley forced his way over for a try, with Stephen Collins adding the conversion, giving Park their four try bonus point.

Park’s George Hymes added their fifth try on 67 minutes, with Stephen Collins again adding the conversion, making the score 36-15 to Park.

Lions were not going to give up easily and retaliated with two tries in the last ten minutes of the game. Sam Benjamin went over for his second try making the score 36-20.

Parks’ Richard Wainwright was yellow carded on 80 minutes.

Lions’ Jamel Hamilton scored a try, converted by Elliot Bale, to make the score 36-27, giving Lions a bonus point for scoring four tries.

In spite of the efforts of Lions they were unable to close the gap to give them a losing bonus point.

Full Time: Sedgley Park 36 Leicester Lions 27

An excellent competitive game between two well matched teams.

Leicester Lions’ Director of Rugby, Ken Whitehead, said that it was a good game and we felt that we played well. Obviously a game between the third and fourth placed sides in the league is going to be a tough afternoon. It was a shame we could not produce a score towards the end of the game to give us a losing bonus point.

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

For further details consult www.ncarugby.org

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

Photo by Bev Clough