Stourbridge Match Report

New Year, same result, for the inform Lions who travelled away to Stourbridge full of confidence after an emphatic win over Ampthill before the break.

Early pressure from the Lions saw their efforts rewarded after just nine minutes when winger Devon Constant went on a mission through the heart of the Stourbridge defence, bursting through several tackles to score under the sticks. Fly half Dan Burke slotted the extras, 7-0 to the Lions.

Stourbridge cut the deficit to four points after a penalty from Gary Dipple on 19 minutes. The hosts then took the lead after spinning the ball wide and taking full advantage of the five-man overlap to allow Nathan Bressington to score in the corner unconverted.

The Lions pack took charge of the last few minutes of the first half and after setting up a maul from the lineout they rumbled over 20 meters to gain advantage allowing the backs to spin it wide but to no avail. The maul was again set up in the forwards and it was powerhouse prop Ben Spokes who crashed his way over the line to give the Lions a deserved lead at the break, 12-8.

After the break, Lions started off where they had finished the first half. After some strong carries and multiple phases it allowed Captain, Matt Tuckey to bundle his way over for the try, despite the defences best attempts to stop the big man. Burke again added extras to give Lions a 19-8 lead.

Stour refused to lie down and in front of the home crowd began to climb their way back into the game with two tries in just four minutes. The first of these came after which Lions had conceded field position and the visitors found themselves deep in their own 22. No mistakes from the strong Stourbridge pack as they caught and drove from the lineouts just 5 meters out seeing flanker Nigel Mukarati score in the corner. Conversion slotted reducing the Lions leads to just four points.

Stourbridge took the lead just minutes later after Lions again put pressure on themselves from a loose kick in the middle of the park allowing Stourbridge to run deep into the lions 22. Just a phase later they had shipped the ball wide past the Lions scrambled defence to Stefan Cooksammy who scored in the corner. Conversion missed.

It would be a nervous last 10 minutes for both teams as Stourbridge aimed to defend their one-point lead whilst Lions needed just a penalty to give them the victory. The visitors would throw everything they had to earn a much deserved win. With just five minutes to go Stourbridge conceded a penalty and Burke once again stepped up and calmly dispatched the penalty for three points.

The final few minutes saw Stourbridge with the ball but were camped in their own 22 and there was no way the Lions were going to let their hard work be lost now. The rampant Lions defence managed to turn the ball over and send it into the stand to complete a great start to the New Year.

Final score Stourbridge 20 Leicester Lions 22

Report by Olly Taylor