Sedgley Park 19 Leicester Lions 20 - Saturday 26th January 2019 - Match Report

Sedgley Park Tigers 19 Leicester Lions 20

Saturday 26th January 2019

Late penalties by Lions snatch victory over Tigers

League Points 1-4

Sedgley Park Tigers 19: Tries: Andrew Riley (5, 28), Connor James (21); Conversions: Stephen Collins (21, 28);
Leicester Lions 20: Tries: Dan Ali (24); Penalties: Harry Key (9), Dan Lewis (60, 72, 78, 79);

It was a mild (for January!) damp afternoon for the visit of Leicester Lions to Sedgley Park, who play in North Manchester.
In recent weeks Lions have had close games against teams in the upper half of the table, and faced a challenge against top half of the table placed Tigers.
Tigers started the game well, putting Lions under pressure. On 5 minutes Tigers’ fullback Andrew Riley joined in an attack, coming in to the line and going over for a try for Tigers.
On 9 minutes Lions’ Harry Key kicked a penalty to close the score down to 5-3.
On 21 minutes Tigers’ back-row, Connor James, went over for a try, with Stephen Collins adding the conversion and opening Tigers’ lead to 12-3.
It did not take Lions’ long to retaliate with their prop, Dan Ali, driving through the Tigers’ defence to score a try, closing the gap to 12-8.
On 28 minutes Andrew Riley scored his second try for Tigers when he outpaced the Lions’ defence to score under the posts, with Collins adding the conversion and Tigers establishing a healthy 19-8 lead for the half time break.
Tigers had the better of the first half and well deserved the mid-interval lead.

Half Time: Sedgley Park Tigers 19 Leicester Lions 8

In the second half Lions started to edge their way back into the game.
They started to put Tigers under pressure and careless play by Tigers lead to them giving away penalties.
Persistence by Lions led to Tigers conceding a string of penalties. Dan Lewis had taken over the kicking duties for Lions and made the best of the opportunities he was offered.
On 60 minutes Lewis scored a penalty for Lions, soon followed by his second penalty after 72 minutes, closing the score to 19-14.
Lions were putting Tigers under pressure and were within a single score of taking the lead, but as it progressed towards the end of the game it was looking like Tigers might hang on for the victory.
Lions were not for giving in easily. In the last three minutes of the game Tigers presented Lions with two penalty opportunities which Lewis gratefully snaffled up for Lions, taking them into the lead for the first time in the game and making the score 19-20.
A dramatic end for a keenly contested game, with Lions showing a much to be credited ‘never give up’ attitude.

Full Time: Sedgley Park Tigers 19 Leicester Lions 20

A good start by Tigers to hold a 19-8 lead, but persistence and excellent team play by Lions gave them the victory with two penalties scored in the last three minutes.

Lions’ head coach, Andy Key, said, “We were expecting a tough afternoon against top half of the table Sedgley Park Tigers. I felt that although Tigers had the upper hand in the first half, our defensive play kept us in the game. I was proud of the way the team applied themselves in the second half, came back at Tigers and produced a late victory. Over recent weeks we have had a pleasing series of results against top half of the table clubs.”

Following the game Sedgley Park Tigers were in seventh position in National League 2 North, with Leicester Lions in being in twelfth position, but only four points behind eighth placed Tynedale.

Teams – Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Sedgley Park Tigers: Andrew Riley, Sam Lowthion, Tom Bedlow, Matthew Riley, Jamie Harrison, Stephen Collins, Callum McShane, Philip Watt, Dan Maher, Nathan Rushton, Robert Birtwell, Alex Powell, Connor James, Max Spofic, Mark Goodman
Replacements: Simon Phillips, Tom Coe, Luke Crampton, Robert Holloway, Kane Bevan

Leicester Lions: Max Titchener, Sam Benjamin, Jamel Hamilton, Harry Key, Devon Constant, Dan Lewis, Tom Aviss, Ben Spokes, Oli Taylor, Dan Ali, Ollie Tapscott, Ethan Godefroy, Henri Lavin, Jonny Murdoch, Simon Johnson
Replacements: Demo Gonsalves, Curtis Weaver, George Taylor-Walker, Alex Smit, Josh Leonard

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