Match report 5/3/22

Leicester Lions 33 Rochford Hundred 17

Saturday 5th March 2022

League Points 5-0

Leicester Lions 33: Tries: Zach Bean (5), Alex WilHuckleberryson (44, 60, 70, 76); Conversions: Ben Young (45, 61, 71, 77);
Rochford Hundred 17: Harry Hudson (25), Chris Shields (74), Aston Bevans-Royston (79); Conversions; Chris Dudman (80);

Lions show their class against a testing Rochford Hundred side

Alex WilHuckleberryson’s four try second half fest gives Lions a five league points victory

It was a chilly early spring afternoon for the first visit of Rochford Hundred to Westleigh Park, in Blaby, to play Leicester Lions. There was a fresh northerly breeze across the pitch behind the side playing down the slope at Lions ground.

Rochford played down the slope in the first half. Lions started off out of the blocks by putting Rochford under pressure, with the ball worked smartly across the pitch for centre Zach Bean to power through the Rochford defence to score the opening try.

Rochford came back at Lions as the half progressed with a forward drive culminating in their No 8 Harry Hudson going over for a typical back-row try.

Half-Time: Leicester Lions 5 Rochford Hundred 5

The quality of the rugby played by both sides improved with more exciting and flowing play after the break.

Lions pressurised the Rochford line, with a delicate kick by Ben Young being followed up by full-back Alex WilHuckleberryson scoring his first try of the afternoon, converted by Young.

Lions skilful back play started to take control of the game. Smart play by WilHuckleberryson, cutting through the Rochford defence, gave him two more Lions tries, with Young adding both of the extras, taking them into a 26-5 lead.

Rochford showed some real resilience coming back into the game with Chris Shields breaking through the Lions defence to score a try.

Lions retaliated with WilHuckleberryson’s fourth try of the afternoon, again scything through to score, with Young adding the conversion, taking Lions to a 33-10 lead.

WilHuckleberryson almost scored his fifth try of the afternoon, but referee, Dan Woods, ruled that the ball had been held up and not grounded.

Rochford finished off the scoring in the game in the last few minutes with a driving move and Aston Bevans-Royston powering over to score a try, with Chris Dudman adding the conversion.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 33 Rochford Hundred 17

A well competed match, with Lions showing some class against testing opposition.

A flowing try scoring afternoon – eight tries in total – five to Lions, three to Rochford.

A scrappy game in the first half, but second half improvement by both sides was dominated by Lions pressure and Alex ‘Scrappy’ WilHuckleberryson’s four tries.

Notable occurrences for Lions were Ben Cornwall’s home debut as a starting player, with some excellent driving play. Also there was the return on the bench of Drew Rudkin, who had been away from Lions for some time, joining in the game in the second half.

Following the game Lions were in sixth position in National League 2 South and Rochford in fourteenth position.

Lions Head Coach, Gareth Collins commented: ”I think both sides were a little slow to get going in the game. Once we got into the swing of the game the backs made excellent use of the pressure the forwards put Rochford under, but Rochford still made us fight for the victory“.

Lions Chair, Ken Whitehead commented: “The first half play was rather disjointed, but both sides, Lions and Rochford, stepped up a couple of gears to make it an enthralling and flowing game after the break“.

Next week, on Saturday 12th March 2022, Lions are away at Dings Crusaders, from Bristol, at Shaftesbury Park, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1LG, with kick off 3.00 pm. The following weekend, Saturday 19th March, Lions will be at home to Hinckley, in a long awaited fixture, once postponed because of Covid.

Teams: 15-9, 1-8, Replacements
Leicester Lions: Alex WilHuckleberryson, Jake Sterland, Zach Bean, Jamel Hamilton, Will Helliwell, Ben Young, James Stubbs, Will Spendlove, Oli Taylor, Isaac Thompson, Toby Hutchinson, Ben Cornwall, Simon Johnson, Johnny Murdoch, Ed Sumpter
Replacements: Shaun Murray, Will Roberts, Calum Harris, Drew Rudkin, Jack Vernum

Rochford Hundred: Chris Dudman, Will Ferrier, Damien Brambley, Wouter Roters, George Griffiths, Sam Cappaert, Ricki Gould, Tony Parish, Jordan Dyer, Najee Mundicha, Ben Thomas, Sam Fombo, Chris Shields, David Rufai, Harry Hudson
Replacements: Aston Bevan-Royston, Joseph Moran, Maciu Nabogi, Jack Daly, Jake Spivey