Nat2S match report

Esher 16 Leicester Lions 12

Saturday 5th October 2019

Esher hold out for a win in spite of Lions’ second half comeback

League Points 4-1

Esher 16: Tries: Cameron Gentles (1), James Chaumeton (24); Penalties: Tristan Roberts (34, 68);
Leicester Lions 12: Tries: Max Johnson (42), James Whitcombe (78); Conversions: Max Johnson (78)

It was a grey afternoon for the first ever league visit of Leicester Lions to Esher, at Moseley Road, Hersham, Surrey, after Lions’ move to National League 2 South.
Esher were soon into their game when straight from the kick off their second row, Cameron Gentles, drove through for a try during the first play of the game for the opening score of the afternoon.
On 24 mins, following pressure on the Lions’ line, Esher’s centre, James Chaumeton, added the second try of the afternoon, for Esher to open up a 10 point gap.
Esher’s Lennox Anyanwu was yellow carded for a technical offence on 29 mins just after joining the play as a replacement.
Tristan Roberts added a penalty for Esher on 34 mins to take the score to 13-0.

Half Time: Esher 13 Leicester Lions 0

Lions made an enterprising start to the second half, with Greg Loydall taking an interception pass, followed up by their centre, Max Johnson, going through the Esher defence for a try and Lions opening their scoring.
On 57 mins Esher’s Lorcan Dow was yellow carded for a technical offence.
On 68 mins Tristan Roberts added his second penalty for Esher, taking the score to 16-5.
On 78 mins Lions’ replacement prop James Whitcombe powered his way over for Lions’ second try, with Max Johnson adding the extras, to close the score to 16-12.
Esher managed to hold out for them to take the victory, with Lions obtaining a losing bonus point.

Full Time: Esher 16 Leicester Lions 12

Competitive rugby by both sides saw a well balanced game. Two tries a piece to Esher and Lions.
Following the game Lions were in eighth position in the league and Esher in fifth position.
Lions’ head coach, Gareth Collins, said, “This was a competitive game and Lions challenged Esher throughout the game, improving as the game progressed. I feel that Lions are now keeping pace with the demands of playing in National League 2 South.”

Teams – Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20

Esher: Callum Monks, Tom James, Dan Rowland, James Chaumeton, Joe Beckett, Tristan Roberts, Sam Bullock, Matt Lowes, Devlin Hope, Dan Lamb, Ben Donnell, Cameron Gentles, Cameron Wilkes, Charlie Gossington, Lorcan Dow
Replacements: Andrew Hamilton, Cameron Leigh, Rob Dudley, Lennox Anyanwu, Jack Walsh

Leicester Lions: Sam Benjamin, Kaz Henderson, Jamel Hamilton, Max Johnson, Devon Constant, Greg Loydall, James Stubbs, Will Roberts, Oli Taylor, Shaun Murray, Will Ward, Ed Sumpter, Ethan Godefroy, Jonny Murdoch, Nick Cairns
Replacements: James Whitcombe, Drew Rudkin, George Martin, Luke Veebel, Alex Smit