Leicester Lions 33: Tries: Oli Taylor (13), Nick Cairns (27, 72), Devon Constant (50), Dan Martin (76); Conversions: Ben Young (14, 28, 73, 77);
Loughborough Students 5: Tries: Calum Smyth (45);

Leicester Lions – Five tries, five points and league champions. A superb afternoon’s work.It was a mixed weather afternoon at Westleigh Park for the visit of Loughborough Students to play Leicester Lions, with a stiff breeze running down the pitch, but the rain held off for the duration of the game. This was Leicester Lions’ second local derby opponents of the season. Leicester Lions had beaten Loughborough University 34-28 in a close game in the reverse fixture at East Park, Loughborough at the end of November 2022.

Lions kicked off playing up hill into the breeze. During the first ten minutes of play there were balanced opportunities for both sides. Lions started to pressurise Loughborough in tight play. Loughborough conceded a penalty, with Lions taking the following lineout and drove the maul over for Oli Taylor to score a typical hooker’s try, with Ben Young adding the conversion.

Lions’ power continued to pressurise Loughborough, with the visitors having to give ground in scrums and mauls.

Another lineout take by Lions led to their No 8 Nick Cairns crashing his way through the Loughborough defence for a try, with Young again adding the extras.Following an attempted clearance kick by Lions, the ball was caught by Loughborough, who seemed to have an open try line in front of them, but George Watkins stripped the ball from Loughborough’s possession to relieve the pressure on Lions.

Half-Time: Leicester Lions 14 Loughborough Students 0

Loughborough came out after the break in a determined mood and started to successfully move the ball round the pitch, testing Lions. They put Lions under pressure with Calum Smyth driving over for a try, closing the gap to 14-5.

Again Lions obtained clean possession from a lineout, with a driving maul allowing their winger Devon Constant to join in the forward action, adding the third Lions’ try of the afternoon.

In the last ten minutes Nick Cairns, took the ball off Loughborough to charge through their defence to score the try which gave Lions the bonus point that ensured that, with a win, they would be in an unassailable position at the top of the league.

To complete the afternoon a chip out to the right wing gave Lions’ Dan Martin a straight run in for the fifth and last try of the afternoon.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 33 Loughborough Students 5

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

Leicester Lions: Watkins, Bean, Hamilton, Bouchier, Constant, Young, Stubbs, Williams, Taylor, Thompson, Tapscott, Ward, Johnson, Murdoch, Cairns
Replacements: Rudkin, Murray, Godefroy, Martin, Helliwell

Loughborough Students: Daniel, Barber, Tusler, Pyle, Metcalfe, Smith T, Mason, Nixon-Castillo, Bell, Crane, Hunter, Jennings, Pill, Bloomer, Agbongbon
Replacements: Smith S, Smyth C, Taylor, Nayor, Meredith

Lions’ Head Coach, Gareth Collins, commented:- “This was a professional performance by the lads. Loughborough did not make it easy for us, especially at the start of the second half when they came at us. We felt that we dealt with the pressure from them well and stuck to our game plan, testing them and playing to our strengths.
To win the league at home, in front of a noisy and enthusiastic crowd, was a pleasure. We have received excellent support from our crowd all the way through the season.”

Lions’ Chair, Ken Whitehead, said:- “The team has been playing well together all season and everyone is pleased that they achieved their deserved success.”