Leicester Lions 24/25 season

Richmond 43 Leicester Lions 12

For the third week in a row the Lions faced top 3 opposition and despite a spirited performance succumbed to a third straight defeat to a strong Richmond side.

The hosts earned the first opportunity and took full advantage when hooker Callum Torpey cut a nice line to make a break before finding second row Jake Monson in support to score under the posts after just 3 minutes. Callum Grieve converted (7-0).

The Lions responded well though and in typical fashion launched a clever play that led to a Joe Brock break. With a try looking like a certainty, Richmond full-back Alex O'Meara knocked down the last pass deliberately and was yellow carded. The Lions were unable to capitalise on the extra man though and the home side eventually cleared their lines.

The Lions' inability to capitalise on their opportunity was punished further when the home side demonstrated their efficiency once again on their next visit to the Lions' 22. When the ball was turned over at the base of the scrum the Richmond backs moved the ball wide for winger Frank McMillan to score in the corner (12-0).

The game continued to be evenly balanced but once again a Lions error was severely punished when a Theo Mannion grubber was blocked and then kicked through by a Richmond player. Second row Mattias Woolard showed incredible pace to win the race to the ball that had settled in the in-goal area. Grieve converted for a commanding lead (17-0).

Gareth Collins turned early to the bench and the introduction of Reuben Logan and Aaron Dawson had an immediate effect as both showed some powerful carries. The Lions finally got on the scoreboard after 33 minutes when a clever lineout play led to a Joe Brock break and winger Jack Edwards eventually crossed from close range. Mannion converted from out wide to reduce the deficit (17-7).

The second half started as a cagey affair, with both sides knowing the importance of the next score. It was Richmond who broke the deadlock on 50 minutes when the pack drove 20 metres for Jimmy Litchfield to score the bonus point try. Grieve converted (24-7).

The hosts added a fifth try after 63 minutes when the impressive winger Chidera Obonna got the ball in midfield and beat a number of would-be tacklers to score under the posts before the pack added another driving lineout score on 68 minutes, finished by replacement Alex Schwarz. Grieve adding the extras for both scores (38-7).

The Lions continued to put together some good attacking play and scored a deserved second try when a lineout drive was held up short and the ball was worked out wide for Edwards to cross for his second (38-12).

The London side were not done yet though and they scored a late try when the impressive full-back O'Meara finished neatly by chipping ahead and re-gathering to score out wide. (43-12).

Head Coach Gareth Collins commented: ''It was another frustrating afternoon for us, but again one that we can learn from. Richmond are a top side, in good form, but we cannot afford to make the amount of errors that we did today. We worked plenty of good opportunities, through some excellent attack, but our failure to convert those opportunities really hurt us. We've had a tough run of fixtures and that will continue next week, but we'll keep working and trust that results will come if we do. ''