Worthing Raiders 27 Leicester Lions 23

Saturday 7th December 2019

Raiders squeeze close victory against Lions

League Points 4-1

Worthing Raiders 27: Tries: Curtis Barnes (6), Calum Waters (38), Liam Perkins (59); Conversions: Matt McLean (7, 39, 60); Penalties: Matt McLean (48, 76);

Leicester Lions 23: Tries: Devon Constant (35), Kaz Henderson (45), Ed Sumpter (77); Conversions: Ben Young (78); Penalties: Ben Young (10, 26);

This was Lions first visit to The Rugby Park, Roundstone Lane, Angmering, West Sussex to play Worthing Raiders, since joining National League 2 South.

Lions were caught cold conceding early points when Raiders’ winger, Curtis Barnes, went over after 6 mins to score a try, with Matt McLean adding the conversion.

Raiders’ Jordan Gibson was yellow carded after 9 mins, with Lions’ Ben Young scoring the ensuing penalty.

Ben Young added a second penalty for Lions on 26 mins.

On 35 mins Lions’ winger, Devon Constant, scored a try in his own inimitable style to take the lead, making the score 7-11.

Raiders’ scrum-half Calum Waters went over for a try just before the break, with Matt McLean adding the extras, to take the score to 14-11 at half-time.

Half Time: Worthing Raiders 14 Leicester Lions 11

On 45 mins Kaz Henderson went over for a try putting Lions back in the lead at 14-16.

On 48 mins Raiders regained the lead when Matt McLean kicked a penalty.

Lions’ Devon Constant was yellow carded on 54 mins.

Taking advantage from Lions being a player short, Raiders’ No 8, Liam Perkins, added a third try for Raiders, with Matt McLean adding the conversion, to establish a 24-16 lead.

On 75 mins Lions’ Kaz Henderson was yellow carded, together with Lions’ Ethan Godefroy and Raiders’ Scott Barlow, who were both red carded.

On 76 mins Matt McLean opened up Raiders’ lead to 27-16 with his second penalty of the afternoon.

Lions were not for giving up when Ed Sumpter added Lions’ third try of the afternoon, with Ben Young adding the conversion, to close the score to 27-23.

Full Time: Worthing Raiders 27 Leicester Lions 23

Both sides made it a competitive game and both were looking for a victory. Three tries apiece to Lions and Raiders.

Following the game Lions are in fifth position in the league and Worthing in ninth position. A close game between two well matched sides, with some consistent place kicking by Raiders’ Matt McLean.

Lions’ head coach, Gareth Collins, said, “This was a close game where I thought we were challenging Raisers all the way through the afternoon. I felt we pushed them right the way to the end of the game. At times a bit of lack of discipline did not help our cause.”

Teams – Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Worthing: Matt McLean, Harry Forrest, Jack Forrest, Kieran Leeming, Curtis Barnes, Henry Anscombe, Calum Waters, Henry Birch, Jordan Gibson, Rhys Litterick, John Lee, Jack Lake, Ryan Maquire, Jonathan Whittall, Liam Perkins
Replacements: Elliott Luke, Grant Gatford, Sam Cook, Scott Barlow, William Beer

Leicester Lions: Alex WilHuckleberryson, Kaz Henderson, Jamel Hamilton, Max Johnson, Devon Constant, Ben Young, James Stubbs, Rhod McNaughton, Sam McNulty, Shaun Murray, Ollie Tapscott, Will Ward, Ethan Godefroy, Jonny Murdoch, Nick Cairns
Replacements: Drew Rudkin, Charlie Loveday, Simon Johnson, Ed Sumpter, Sam Eveleigh