Leicester Lions 22 Stourbridge 17 - Saturday 27th April 2019 - Match Report

Leicester Lions 22 Stourbridge 17

Saturday 27th April 2019

League Points: 4-1

Late searing run by Devon Constant gives Lions victory.

Leicester Lions 22: Tries: Oli Taylor (13), Alex Wilcockson (67), Devon Constant (77) ; Conversions: Harry Glynn (14, 78); Penalties: Harry Glynn (55);

Stourbridge 17: Tries: Noah Heward (28), Mark Harrison (62); Conversions: Chris Scott (29, 63); Penalties: Chris Scott (48);

It was a sunny afternoon, with a nip in the air, at TMDP Park, Blaby, for the visit of Stourbridge. The playing surface was in good condition, being a little damp because of overnight and morning light rain. There was a stiff breeze blowing diagonally across the pitch. Leicester Lions had the advantage of the wind behind them in the first half.
In the first phases of the game both sides were testing their opposition out.
Lions scrum and open forward play was working well. On 13 minutes Lions had a powerful rolling maul forward move that pushed Stourbridge back at a fair rate of knots. The drive took Lions over the Stourbridge line for Oli Taylor to score a typical hooker’s try, with Harry Glynn adding the conversion.
On 29 minutes Stourbridge pressurised Lions and an elusive run by their fullback Noah Heward took him elegantly through the Lions’ defence to run in a try, with Chris Scott adding the conversion, levelling the score at 7-7.
On 38 minutes Stourbridge’s Adam Sturdy was yellow carded, having only been on the pitch as a replacement for 3 minutes.

Half Time: Leicester Lions 7 Stourbridge 7

Stourbridge had the advantage of the breeze in the second half.
Again the half started with well matched play between the two teams.
On 48 minutes Scott added a penalty for Stourbridge.
On 55 minutes a deliberate knock-on by Stourbridge led to a penalty scored by Glynn for Lions, again levelling the score, at 10-10.
On 62 minutes Stourbridge’s winger Mark Harrison ran speedily past the Lions’ defence to score a try, with Scott adding the conversion, to take Stourbridge back into the lead at 10-17.
Lions showed some superb class and commitment with their comeback. On 67 minutes Lions’ winger Devon Constant took an interception inside his own half, sprinting away from the Stourbridge defence. Good defensive play by Stourbridge enabled them to catch and tackle Constant just short of the line, but Constant skilfully slipped the ball to full-back Alex Wilcockson, who went over for the try, bringing the score to 15-17.
On 77 minutes Constant made another break outpacing the Stourbridge defence in his own powerful driving style to go over for Lions’ third try of the afternoon, with Glynn adding the extras and Lions regaining the lead at 22-17.
Following the conversion there was little time for extra play and Lions ran out with a deserved win for their admirable efforts.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 22 Stourbridge 17

Five tries in the game – three to Lions and two to Stourbridge. A well contested game between two evenly matched teams. Both sides had opportunities and Lions defended especially well.

Lions' head coach, Andy Key, said, "This was a well balanced game. The forwards are starting to show some class in the scrum and tight play aspects of the game. Stourbridge tested us well in this game, but I thought that the win was a result of some excellent application by the whole team, producing a meritorious outcome. The team has been knitting together effectively in last few games of the season.”

Following the game Leicester Lions were in twelfth position in the league table, with Stourbridge in eleventh position.

Being the final game of the season Lions record for the year is 13 wins, 1 draw and 16 defeats. National League 2 North is well contested and fairly even in the middle section, with a number of close results throughout the 2018-19 campaign.

Teams: Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Leicester Lions: Alex Wilcockson, Laurence Warren-West, Sam Benjamin, Jamel Hamilton, Devon Constant, Harry Glynn, Alex Smit, Will Roberts, Oli Taylor, Dan Ali, Ollie Tapscott, Ed Sumpter, Ethan Godefroy, Jonny Murdoch, Dan Martin
Replacements: George Walker-Taylor, Curtis Weaver, Ben Spokes, Simon Johnson, Tom Aviss
Stourbridge: Noah Heward, Mark Harrison, George Morgan, Luke Veebel, Dan Rundle, Chris Scott, Joe Heatley, Alex Maxwell, Sam Wilkes, Stefan Thorp, Chris Roddy, Nicholas Murphy, Michael Worthington, Nicholas Cairns, Tetenda Murarati
Replacements: Adam Sturdy, Mark George, Llyr Griffiths, Sam Wilson, Rodney Petty

For further details consult www.ncarugby.com