Peterborough Lions 29 Leicester Lions 52 - Saturday 30th March 2019 - Match Report

Peterborough Lions 29 Leicester Lions 52

Saturday 30th March 2019

Leicester Lions out-gun plucky Peterborough Lions in baker’s dozen try bonanza

League Points 1-5

Peterborough Lions 29: Tries: Jack Askham (27), Will Moore (31), Nico Defoe (32, 35), Marius Andrijauskas (75); Conversions: Nico Defoe (32, 75);
Leicester Lions 52: Tries: Sam Benjamin (46), Alex Wilcockson (20), Harry Glynn (22, 73), Tom Aviss (55), Devon Constant (17, 66), Ed Sumpter (80); Conversions: Harry Key (23, 46, 55, 66, 73, 80);

It was a sunny afternoon for the first ever visit of Leicester Lions to Peterborough Lions at Solstice Park, Peterborough. With the recent dry conditions and the sun the pitch was ideal for running rugby. There was a breeze mainly across the pitch, with it being behind Peterborough Lions in the first half, while Leicester Lions had this advantage in the second half. Leicester Lions welcomed Harry Glynn for his first game with the club.
Playing with the wind Peterborough Lions made an enterprising start putting Leicester Lions under pressure. Peterborough Lions did not look like their bottom of the table position. On 17 minutes Peterborough Lions lost possession in the middle of the pitch, with Dan Ali ripping back the ball. The ball was shifted out to the wing for Devon Constant to power down the wing in a 60 metre run, going over in the corner to score a try.
On 20 minutes a Peterborough Lions’ kick through was picked up by Leicester Lions’ fullback, Alex Wilcockson, who skilfully jinxed his way through the Peterborough defence for Leicester Lions second try.
On 22 minutes Peterborough Lions passed the ball out only for Leicester Lions’ Harry Glynn to seize an interception to score a try, with Harry Key adding the conversion, with Leicester Lions appearing to take control with a 0-17 lead.
Peterborough Lions were not for giving up that easily. On 27 minutes they drove at the Leicester Lions’ defence for their hooker, Jack Askham, to go over for their first try, making the score 5-17.
This was quickly followed by two Peterborough Lions tries by Will Moore and Nico Defoe, with Defoe adding a conversion, to level the score at 17-17.
At the end of the first half Peterborough Lions completed the rattling of Leicester Lions by a second try by Defoe to put them in the lead for the half-time break at 22-17.

Half Time: Peterborough Lions 22 Leicester Lions 17

In the second half Leicester Lions started well putting Peterborough Lions under forward pressure, with the breeze and the setting sun behind them.
On 46 minutes Leicester Lions spun the ball out to Benjamin on the wing, who outpaced the Peterborough Lions’ defence to go over in the corner for a try, with Key adding the conversion, putting Leicester Lions back in the lead at 22-24.
On 55 minutes Leicester Lions again put Peterborough Lions under forward pressure, moving the ball out to Tom Aviss, for a scrum-half’s try, with Key adding the extras.
On 66 minutes, after a lengthy discussion between the referee and his assistant, Peterborough Lions’ Fiofaaki Lea was red carded for a high tackle, having only been on the pitch for three minutes.
Immediately Leicester Lions broke through for a bursting run of 50 metres by Devon Constant to score under the posts, with Key adding the conversion, taking the score to 22-38.
On 73 minutes Leicester Lions’ pressure continued with Glynn making a deft run scything through the Peterborough Lions’ defence for a try, with Key again adding the extras.
Much to their credit Peterborough Lions were not for giving up easily and on 75 minutes they produced a forward drive where Marius Andrijauskas went over for their fifth try, with Defoe adding the conversion.
In the last few minutes of the game Leicester Lions again drove forward with Ed Sumpter speedily powering his way over the line for their eighth try, taking Leicester Lions to the fifty point barrier, with Key adding his sixth conversion, making the final score 29-52.
With little time left neither side had much of an opportunity to add anything to the score.

Full Time: Peterborough Lions 29 Leicester Lions 52

A good start by Leicester Lions, but they allowed Peterborough Lions to come back and take a 22-17 half-time lead. In the second half Leicester Lions showed their class with an exciting five try display.
An exciting open rugby game, with thirteen tries in total – eight to Leicester Lions and five to Peterborough Lions. Both sides were keen to play open running rugby.

Lions’ head coach, Andy Key, said, “In spite of languishing near the bottom of the table Peterborough Lions gave us a testing time at Blaby earlier in the season. Although Peterborough Lions are going to be relegated we expected a tough game. Leicester Lions started well, but we took our foot off the accelerator for them to come back into the game in the second quarter, taking a 22-17 half-time lead. Leicester Lions showed their ability with a five try display after the break for a well deserved victory.”

Following the game Leicester Lions were in twelfth position in National League 2 North on 66 points, with Peterborough Lions in sixteenth position on 27 points.

Teams – Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Peterborough Lions: Shaquille Meyers, Will Moore, Kazu Henderson, Suva Maasi, Allen Carr, Nico Defoe, Franco Perticaro, Joshua Waller, Jack Askham, Charles Robinson, Will Nankivell, Christian Edbrooke, Tom Lewis, Conor Gracey, Tom Gulland
Replacements: Tom Dougherty, Feofaaki Lea, Joseph Lee, Marius Andrijauskas, Ben Young
Leicester Lions: Alex Wilcockson, Sam Benjamin, Tom Lawson, Harry Key, Devon Constant, Harry Glynn, Tom Aviss, Demo Gonsalves, Oli Taylor, Dan Ali, Ollie Tapscott, Ethan Godefroy, Laurence Warren-West, Simon Johnson, Dan Martin
Replacements: George Taylor-Walker, Ben Spokes, Ed Sumpter, Max Titchener, Ollie Campbell

For further details consult www.ncarugby.com