Leicester Lions 24 Macclesfield 19 - Saturday 16th February 2019 - Match Report

Leicester Lions 24 Macclesfield 19

Saturday 16th February 2019

League Points: 5-1

Leicester Lions determination gets the better of Macclesfield

Leicester Lions 24: Ed Sumpter (11), Devon Constant (33), Oli Taylor (39), Sam Benjamin (67); Conversions: Harry Key (12, 34);

Macclesfield 19: Tries: Sam Moss (20), Jonny Mason (36), Josh Redfern (45); Conversions: Tom Morton (37, 46);

It was a pleasant, mild, spring-like day with a breeze across the pitch at TMDP Park, Blaby, for the visit of Macclesfield. The playing surface was in good condition, with drying sun and wind in the week. With Lions in 12th Position in National League 2 North and Macclesfield in 15th position, both sides were keen to win the game.
The first ten minutes involved both sides testing their opposition’s defences with driving forward play and moving the ball out to the backs.
On 11 minutes Lions drove into Macclesfield half and Lions’ second-row Ed Sumpter took a pass thirty five metres from the Macclesfield line and rampaged his way through the holes in the Macclesfield defence to score Lions’ opening try, with Harry Key adding the conversion.
On 20 minutes Macclesfield worked their way up the pitch with some good forward play. From a penalty at a lineout Macclesfield’s forward play drove them towards the line, with their hooker Sam Moss going over for a try in the corner, making the score 7-5.
On 33 minutes Lions took the game to Macclesfield and pressured them with forward and back play down the right wing. Lions switched the play across the field and moved the ball out towards the left wing. They gave a high pass to their winger Devon Constant, who acrobatically took the pass above his head, going over for a try, with Key adding the extras and Lions establishing a 14-5 lead.
It did not take Macclesfield long to respond with some clever interpassing up the left wing with the move being finished off with scrum-half Jonny Mason scoring in the corner and Tom Morton adding an excellent touchline conversion, closing the gap to 14-12.
In the final move of the first half Lions put Macclesfield under pressure with an impressive rolling maul move, which led to hooker Oli Taylor driving over for a try to reopen their lead to 19-12.

Half Time: Leicester Lions 19 Macclesfield 12

On 43 minutes Lions’ Harry Key was yellow carded for a technical offence.
On 45 minutes Macclesfield took advantage from their numerical superiority and put Lions under pressure from a scrum, where they drove over, with their second-row Josh Redfern going over for a try, with Morton adding the conversion to level the score at 19-19.
Both sides tested out each other with Macclesfield’s forward weight starting to show a positive effect in driving play.
Lions took their opportunities with some quick fire opportunity play keeping the Macclesfield defence on its toes. After a period of continued pressure by Lions they worked the ball forward with some skilful all round play. After 67 minutes Lions’ winger Sam Benjamin found space on the right wing and shimmied his way round the Macclesfield defence to go over in the corner for Lions’ fourth try, giving them back the lead at 24-19.
In a nail-biting closely contested last ten minutes both sides put their opponents under pressure in attempting to add another score. Both sides produced some excellent tackling and defensive work.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 24 Macclesfield 19

A competitive well balanced game, with both sides showing their ability, testing out the opposition. Lions enjoyed a good win, taking the bonus point for scoring four tries.

It was good to see both Harry Key and Alex Wilcockson back in the side after time out with injuries. Also we welcomed Tom Lawson to Leicester Lions, making his first appearance for Lions in the centre, with an impressive performance.

Lions' head coach, Andy Key, says, "This was a good competitive match with both sides having their opportunities and testing their oppositions. Lions played with enthusiasm and tested Macclesfield. We defended well towards the end of the game when a slip could have cost us the game. We have a young side that is learning and improving week by week."
Following the game Leicester Lions are in twelfth position in the league table, with Macclesfield in fifteenth position. A significant gap is starting to open between the bottom three teams, South Leicester, Macclesfield and Peterborough Lions, and the rest of the league.

Teams: Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20

Leicester Lions: Alex Wilcockson, Sam Benjamin, Tom Lawson, Harry Key, Devon Constant, Max Titchener, Tom Aviss, Will Roberts, Oli Taylor, Dan Ali, Ollie Tapscott, Ed Sumpter, Ethan Godefroy, Jonny Murdoch, Dan Martin
Replacements: Ben Spokes, George Taylor-Walker, Simon Johnson, Laurence Warren-West, Alex Smit

Macclesfield: Dan Lomax, Peter Milne, Sam Stelmaszek, James Hampson, Myles Hall, Tom Morton, Jonny Mason, Tom Mantell, Sam Moss, Will Robinson, Josh Redfern, Tom Burden, Joe Palmer, James Adam McCarthy, Matt Thorp
Replacements: Oliver Longmore, Brendan Berry, Dan Matthews, Francis Barker, Andrew Appleyard

For further details consult www.ncarugby.com