Match report 24/4/22

Saturday 23rd April 2022

League Points: 0-5

Hinckley Hornets 23: Tries: Sam Greening (18), Mitchell Lamb (23), Euan Kelly (50); Conversions: Joe Wilson (23); Penalties: Joe Wilson (20, 38);
Leicester Lions 50: Tries: Will Helliwell (15, 35), Oli Taylor (34), Zach Bean (40), Jake Sterland (44, 56), James Stubbs (65, 79); Conversions: Ben Young (34, 40, 56, 65, 79);

Lions sting Hornets for a Half Century

The return fixture between local rivals, Lions and Hornets, had been eagerly awaited.
On a sunny, but chilly afternoon, Lions played into a stiff easterly breeze in the first half.

It took a little while for the game to settle but Lions drove up the pitch, took a lineout working the ball out to the left for fullback Will Helliwell to come into the line and go over for a try.

Hornets responded almost instantly making excellent use of the breeze behind them with a driving forward try from Sam Greening, followed by a penalty by Joe Wilson, then an excellent skilful move in the centre with Mitchell Lamb going over for a try converted by Wilson. This took Hornets into a 15-5 lead.

Lions returned to the attack putting pressure on Hornets. Some excellent Lions powerful driving play by Lions allowed their hooker, Oli Taylor, to rumble over for a try in a forwards move, with Ben Young adding the extras.

Again Lions attacking pressure allowed the ball to be moved out to Helliwell who dummied to go over for his second try of the afternoon, snatching the lead back for Lions at 15-17.

Wilson regained the lead for Hornets, at 18-17, with a penalty.

In the closing minutes of the first half Lions returned to pressurise Hornets with Zach Bean drifting through to score a try, with Young adding the conversion, taking Lions in for the break with the score at 18-24 to Lions advantage.

Half Time: Hinckley Hornets 18 Leicester Lions 24

The second half started with Lions now having the stiff breeze behind them. Hornets had an attempted clearance kick charged down by the marauding Lions back row, with Hornets not completing the clearance and Lions’ Jake Sterland skipping over for the opening try of the half.

Hornets came back with some strong forward pressure with Euan Kelly going over for a try, closing the score to 23-29.

Lions moved into overdrive with Sterland going through the Hornets defence for his second try of the afternoon, with Young slotting the conversion between the posts.

Lions again charged down an attempted clearance by Hornets for a nippy run by scrum half, James Stubbs, to out manoeuvre the Hornets defence to dab down the ball for a try, followed by the Young conversion.

In the closing minutes of the game Hornets were attacking the Lions line, moving the ball dangerously out to the left, but an ever attentive Stubbs grabbed the interception, running the ball almost the length of the pitch, almost caught, but safely touching down, with the Young conversion making it 50 points for Lions.

Full Time: Hinckley Hornets 23 Leicester Lions 50

An exciting try scoring feast – eight to Lions and three to Hornets.

Seventy three points in the game – almost one point a minute.

Hornets gave Lions a testing time as preparation for their tough home fixture next Saturday against Redruth.

Following the game Lions were in fifth position in National League 2 South, with Hinckley in thirteenth position.

Lions’ Head Coach, Gareth Collins, said: “Hinckley isn’t an easy place to come and play, especially in front of a big home crowd. It took us a little while to settle, and our own errors cost us early on, but after that we completely dominated the game. We targeted the set piece, something Hinckley pride themselves on, so to come out on top in such convincing fashion in that area was very pleasing. To put 50 on them was very much the cherry on the cake.“

Lions’ Chair, Ken Whitehead, said: “This was a competitive game which we deservedly won. Having beaten Hinckley 26-17 in the reverse fixture in March 2022 at Westleigh Park, it was good to come and complete the double. Again, many congratulations to Gareth and the lads for the way the team has been developing recently.”

Next week, Saturday 30th April 2022, Leicester Lions are at home to Redruth, from Cornwall, at Westleigh Park, Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicester LE8 4DY, kick off 3.00 pm. Lions lost 27-5 against Redruth in the reverse fixture at the start of the season in September 2022. Presently Lions are fifth in National League 2 South, with Redruth in second position. So, a competitive game is expected.

Teams, 15-9, 1-8 Replacements 16-20

Hinckley: Rory Vowles, Euan Kelly, Callum Dacey, Mitchell Lamb, Joe Wilson, Joe Glover, Ben Pointon, Oscar Harper, Dale Bowyer, Sam Greening, Chris Arnold, Andrew Weaver, Adam GrooHuckleberry, Luke Johnson, Joe Barnes
Replacements: Luke Coltman, Ewan Bartlett, Alex Branson, Shaun Hubbard, Ben Brogden

Leicester Lions: Will Helliwell, Jake Sterland, Zach Bean, Jamel Hamilton, Devon Constant, Ben Young, James Stubbs, Will Roberts, Oli Taylor, Isaac Thompson, Ed Sumpter, Will Ward, Simon Johnson, Johnny Murdoch, Ethan Godefroy
Replacements: Rod McNaughton, Shaun Murray, Drew Rudkin, Nick Cairns, Dan Martin