Leicester Lions 20 Harrogate 30

The last game on the main pitch at Westleigh Park meant everyone involved wanted a good send-off but this was not achieved even with a big turn out from Lions supporters.

From the start Harrogate were spreading the ball wide and after a lot of defending from the Lions a penalty was given for offside in front of the sticks and was kicked successfully by Callum Irvine. 0-3.

Harrogate kept on the pressure with hard running and quick ball to get the first try of the game scored by Leadly 0-8

Lions were struggling to get any ball and failing to slow the Harrogate ball down. The next try was then scored by Harrogate’s Parrish leaving the score 0-13.

Lions then put some good phases together and a break was made by Johnny Hargreaves but was soon stopped with a high tackle. Lions took full advantage of some points and took the 3 kicked by Hargreaves 3-13.

Harrogate came back at Lions with more attack and then a high tackle by Drew Rudkin sending him to the bin for 10 minutes after just coming on a play before for the jelly head Johnny Murdoch. With a man down, Lions were outnumbered and Harrogate scored their 3rd try of the day by Leadly for his second making it 3-18 as the half time whistle went.

After a poor first half with the wind Lions now had a second half challenge playing into the wind and 15 points to chase.

From the start of the second half Lions knew what they had to do and with some strong running from Lions ‘fridge’, Steve Cross got close but dropped the ball just before the try line. From the knock on, Lions scrum out powered Harrogate’s scrum to take one against the head, with Rob Young mauling over to get Lions first try of the day 8-18.

From this try Lions let off and immediately Harrogate scored their fourth try with a driving maul scored by Enslin 8-23. Lions and Harrogate both received blows after a tussle kicked off between Matt Tuckey and Dench, both receiving yellow cards.

Harrogate struck with more attack and the Lions giving away a penalty allowing Harrogate to kick into the corner and use their strong driving maul for the 5th try of the day 8-30.

Even though there was a 22 point difference Lions hadn't given up there and after some strong attack Rob Young broke through for his second try of the game 13-30.

Lions now applying pressure in play, the Harrogate scrum-half went for a box kick and was down charged down by Jon Boden collecting it and passing it on to Gus Hopewell to step his way through 2 defenders he then passed over to Olly Taylor to run over the whitewash. Lions were still chasing a losing bonus point with the score at 30-20 and a final attack came so close but Steve Cross could not hold onto the ball when through the Harrogate defense and Harrogate collected and kicked the ball out to end the game.

Report by Kane Nixon