Leicester Lions 29 Sedgley Park 50

League Points: 1-5

Leicester Lions 29: Tries: Joe Newton-Taylor (16), Tom Aviss (24), Luke Veebel (41), Alex Smit (78); Conversions: Harry Key (17, 25, 42); Penalties: Harry Key (3);

Sedgley Park 50: Tries: Andy Riley (9), Jamie Harrison (20), Penalty Try (34), Sam Lowthion (38), Max Skofic (54), Matt Riley (67), Dan Maher (71); Conversions: Steve Collins (10, 21, 55, 68), Matt Riley (72); Penalties: Matt Riley (80);

It was a pleasant Spring afternoon for rugby with the pitch at Blaby having dried out to give a playing surface suitable for running rugby, following rain earlier in the week.

The game started with early scoring with a Lions’ penalty scored by Harry Key after 3 minutes.

Park put Lions’ line under pressure and a clearance kick by Lions failed to reach touch. This was picked up by Park who worked the ball down the wing with cleaver interchanges and full-back Andy Riley outpacing the Lions’ defence for a try after 9 minutes, converted by Steve Collins to make the score 3-7.

Lions came back into the game putting Park’s line under pressure and after cross-field play Lions’ prop Joe Newton-Taylor drove over from short distance for a try after 16 minutes, with Key adding the conversion, making the score 10-7.

Following a break-out from defence by Park their winger Jamie Harrison ran in for a try after 20 minutes, with Collins adding the conversion, making the score 10-14.

Lions were soon back on the attack with a telling run by winger James Wise, which was followed by scrum-half Tom Aviss, who went over for a try on 24 minutes, with Key adding the conversion, putting Lions back in the lead at 17-14.

Park returned to putting Lions line under pressure and after 34 minutes Lions conceded a penalty try, with Park retaking the lead at 17-21. This season penalty tries are worth seven points, with no need for a conversion.

Following Lions dropping the ball a smart pick up by Park led to their fourth try by winger Sam Lowthion after 38 minutes and Park stretching their lead to 17-26.

Half Time: Leicester Lions 17 Sedgley Park 26

At the start of the second half Lions were soon back in the game. Park were on the attack but an interception led to Lions’ centre Luke Veebel running almost the length of the pitch to score a try after 41 minutes, with Key adding the conversion and bringing the score to 24-26.

Into the second half Park’s class started to show. On 54 minutes Max Skofic drove over for a try, with Collins adding the conversion to make the score 24-33.

On 67 minutes Park worked their way up the field and Matt Riley went through the centre to score a try, with Collins adding the conversion and opening up the score gap to 24-40.

On 70 minutes Lions’ Joe Newton-Taylor was yellow carded.

Park were soon back putting pressure on Lions and after 71 minutes their hooker Dan Maher went over for a try, with Matt Riley adding the conversion and making the score 24-47.

In the dying minutes of the game Lions’ winger Devon Constant had a powerful run through the centre, to slip the ball to Alex Smit, who went over for Lions’ fourth try, to make the score 29-47.

In almost the last play of the game, rather than run the ball, Park choose to take an easy short distant penalty with Matt Riley adding the points, making the final score 29-50.

Final Score: Leicester Lions 29 Sedgeley Park 50

An entertaining and free-flowing game, with eleven tries – four to Lions, seven to Sedgley Park

A competitive game which was evenly contested for the first 55 minutes, but Sedgley Park showed the skill befitting their league position in the closing stages of the game.

Leicester Lions are in eleventh position in National League 2 North, with Sedgley Park in second position, contesting the leadership position with Sale FC.

For further details consult www.ncarugby.org

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