1st XV
Matches
Sat 28 Apr 2018  ·  National League 2 North
Leicester Lions Rugby Football Club
1st XV
5
37
Sale FC
Leicester Lions 5 Sale FC 37

Leicester Lions 5 Sale FC 37

Lydia Brown30 Apr 2018 - 17:04
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https://www.lionsrfc.co.uk/tea

Lions make a game of it against league champions Sale FC

League Points: 0-5

Leicester Lions 5: Tries: Tom Aviss (1);

Sale FC 37: Tries: Andy Hughes (16), Tom Ailes (39), Simon Griffiths (68), Christian Taylor (77), Mark Lawrence (79); Conversions: Chris Johnson (39, 69, 78); Penalties: Chris Johnson (22); Drop Goal: Chris Johnson (38)

It was a dreary wet late Spring afternoon for Lions game against aspiring league champions Sale FC. There was a firm playing surface underfoot but overnight and morning rain left the top of the playing surface greasy. Lions were playing their first game based in their new clubhouse.

The game started with early scoring by Lions. Their scrum-half, Tom Aviss, spotted a hole in the Sale defence straight from the kick-off and raced over to score a try after 1 minute.

Sale started to control the game and put pressure on the Lions’ line. Sale’s back-row, Andy Hughes, went over for a try after 15 minutes, making the score 5-5.

After 22 minutes, Sale’s fly-half, Chris Johnson, put over a penalty for Sale to take a 5-8 lead.

Lions put the Sale line under pressure, but could not turn their pressure into points.

On 38 minutes Johnson scored a drop goal for Sale, stretching their lead to 5-11.

In the final minutes of the first half Sale’s No 8, Tom Ailes, drove over from short range to score Sale’s second try, with Johnson adding the conversion and making the score 5-18.

Half Time: Leicester Lions 5 Sale FC 18

Lions made an impressive start to the second half putting the Sale line under continued pressure, but determined defence by Sale stopped Lions breaking through to score.

Sale’s Neil Briggs was yellow carded after 54 minutes.

Sale received their second yellow card against Dan Birchall after 61 minutes.

In spite of Lions’ numerical advantage they could not break through the Sale defence.

On 68 minutes Sale replacement Simon Griffiths broke through to score a try, with Johnson adding the conversion and opening the score gap to 5-25.

In the last minutes of the game Sale added their fourth try when Christian Taylor forced his way over, with Johnson again adding the conversion, gaining the bonus point and making the score 5-32.

In almost the last play of the game centre Mark Lawrence added Sale’s fifth try, to make the final score 5-37.

Final Score: Leicester Lions 5 Sale FC 37

A competitive game, with both sides exerting periods of pressure. The four try bonus point win ensured that Sale are league champions.

Leicester Lions are in twelfth position in National League 2 North, with Sale in poll position having won the league as a result of this five point league win.

It would have been interesting to see how the game might have developed if Lions had managed to convert their early second half pressure into a score. Lions made Sale work hard for this victory. Many congratulations to Sale for their match and league win, together with best wishes for their campaign in National League 1 next season.

For further details consult www.ncarugby.org

Mike Howkins, Press Officer and Fourth Official Leicester Lions RFC

mikehowkins@gmail.com

Match details

Match date

Sat 28 Apr 2018

Kickoff

14:00

Competition

National League 2 North

League position

1
Sale FC
12
Leicester Lions
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Player Sponsor - Burger King
Player sponsor - RDP Interiors