Match report 29/10/22

Saturday 29th October 2022

League Points 5-0

Leicester Lions 27: Tries: Tom Williams (11), Simon Johnson (26), Devon Constant (38, 79); Conversions: Ben Young (12, 27); Penalties: Ben Young (57);
Clifton 14: Tries: Dan Broady (20), Alex Giltrow (35); Conversions: Mitchell Spencer (21, 36);

Lions perseverance wins the day against Clifton

Leicester Lions welcomed Clifton to Westleigh Park for a top of the table contest between leaders Lions and second placed Clifton. Lions played down the slope in the first half.

The game started with both teams having periods of pressure against their opposition. Clifton showed the first piece of enterprise when they raced up the right wing, but an effective Lions’ defence bundled them into touch when they were just short of the Lions’ line.

Lions came back at Clifton with some effective forward pressure with their prop Tom Williams driving over from short distance for a try, converted by Ben Young.

Following Lions knocking the ball on close to their line, Clifton showed their forward strength with a driving maul which Lions could not control and No 8 Dean Broady forced his way over for a try, with Mitchell Spencer adding the conversion to level the score at 7-7.

Lions did not take too long to re-establish their lead with Clifton conceding a penalty which Young placed neatly near the corner flag for Lions to follow on with a decisive maul, where Simon Johnson showed his powerful driving forward and went over for Lions’ second try, with Young adding the extras.

Clifton came back at Lions and their forward pressure gave Alex Giltrow the opportunity to drive over for a try, with Spencer slotting the conversion between the posts and levelling the score at 14-14.

As the first half ran to a close Clifton cleared their line, but Lions’ Devon Constant collected the kick, did a lofted up-and-under kick through which he collected and went over in the corner for an unconverted try, with a bit of ball juggling.
The first half had been a well balanced game with both sides having opportunities. As the game proceeded Lions were showing some good drives in the scrum against a powerful Clifton set of forwards.

Half-Time: Leicester Lions 19 Clifton 14

Lions were now playing up the slope but had the advantage of a breeze that had struck up as the game proceeded.

As the second half developed two well matched sides tended to cancel each other out.

Almost on the hour Clifton conceded a penalty, which Young dabbed between the sticks for Lions, taking the score to 22-14, so Clifton would have to score at least twice to win the game.

Lions’ Ollie Tapscott was yellow carded for Lions on 63 minutes for a technical offence.

Again the neutralising play continued with Lions having to hold out valiantly being one man down.

Back with a full compliment Lions drove up the left wing with some effective mauling, slipping the ball to the powerful driving Constant who went over to complete his brace of tries in the last play of the game.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 27 Clifton 14

An excellent game, with both sides having opportunities, but Lions perseverance won the day.

Lions’ Head Coach, Gareth Collins, commented: “Clifton are a great side, the best in the league in my opinion, so we’re delighted to have got the win. We had to fight really hard for it too, which makes it even better. We knew that Clifton would look for dominance up front and try and put us on the back foot in defence. Our set piece was excellent though and our defence at times was outstanding. The boys showed a lot of heart to get the result and the bonus point try right at the end sealed a memorable day.”

Lions’ Chair, Ken Whitehead, commented: “We are very pleased and impressed with the way the lads are performing under Gareth’s guidance. This was an especially pleasing performance against a testing side like Clifton.”

Teams: 15-9, 1-8, Replacements:-

Leicester Lions: Alex WilHuckleberryson, George Watkins, Jamel Hamilton, Dan Martin, Devon Constant, Ben Young, James Stubbs, Tom Williams, Oli Taylor, Isaac Thompson, Ollie Tapscott, Ethan Godefroy, Simon Johnson, Johnny Murdoch, Nick Cairns Replacements: Will Roberts, Shaun Murray, Will Ward, Chester Owen, Luke Bouchier

Clifton: Alex Howman, Finlay Sharpe, Zakaria Hamid, Will Owen, Alex Kilbane, Marcus Nel, Mitchell Spencer, Charles Bullimore, Nick Selway, Alex Giltrow, Kei Bergh, Max Murphy, Joe Owen, Max Woodward, Dan Broady
Replacements: Rhys Charalambous, Albert Stretch, Macenzzie Duncan, Dan Openshaw, Deago Bailey