Otley 20 Leicester Lions 25

League Points 1-5

Otley 20: Tries: Tom Hodson (14), Brett Mitchell (42), Mike Coady (60); Conversions: Joe Rowntree (15); Penalties: Joe Rowntree (80);

Leicester Lions 25: Tries: Alex Wilcockson (18), Harry Key (23), Dan Ali (32), Henry Clement (36); Conversions: Jon Boden (24), Penalties: Jon Boden (9);

After four successive defeats against testing opposition in South Leicester, Hinckley, Tynedale and Macclesfield, Leicester Lions were keen to show their class and resilience with a win against Otley.

The game started with even play and after 9 minutes Lions were first to open their account with a penalty by Jon Boden.

Otley soon came back with a clear run by their full-back Tom Hodson to score a try after 14 minutes, with Joe Rowntree adding the conversion, to make the score 7-3.

Lions then had an extended and concerted period of pressure against Otley. After 18 minutes full-back Alex Wilcockson opened Lions’ try account with an excellent run going over in the corner to take back the lead at 7-8.

Inter-passing between Luke Veebel and Harry Key soon gave Lions their second try after 23 minutes, with Key going over to score and Boden adding the conversion.

Lions continued their pressure with the forwards getting in on the action when front-row Dan Ali drove over on 32 minutes for Lions’ third try, making the score 7-20.

Lions continued their pressure with an electric run by their winger Devon Constant, who slipped the ball to Harry Clement who went over for Lions’ fourth try on 36 minutes to give them the bonus point.

A superb attacking display by Lions in the first half.

Half Time: Otley 7 Leicester Lions 25

Otley came out determined to show their class and make amends for a disappointing half time score line.

They had reduced their deficit within two minutes of the start of the second half. Their second row Brett Mitchell went over from a lineout to score Otley’s second try, closing the gap to 12-25.

On 54 minutes Otley’s Jack Mackie was yellow carded for a technical offence.

On 60 minutes Otley’s Mike Coady broke through the Lions’ defence to score their third try, making the score 17-25.

Otley played well in the second half but some effective defence by Lions kept them at bay. They pressed Lions for the try which would have brought them back into the game, but they could not find a way through the Lions’ defence.

In the final minutes of the game Otley added a penalty by Rowntree to make the score 20-25 and give Otley a losing bonus point.

Full Time: Otley 20 Leicester Lions 25

An exciting competitive game with both sides having good spells of play. A well deserved win from Lions, but Otley came back well in the second half.

Following this week’s games, Leicester Lions are in eighth position in National League 2 North, with Otley in twelfth position. The league seems to have split into two sections with the top five clubs being fairly equal and having moved away from the rest of the table.

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