Leicester Lions 47 Hinckley 7

Saturday 4TH February 2023

League Points 5-0

Leicester Lions 47: Tries: James Stubbs (14), Simon Johnson (25), Will Ward (31), Tom Williams (36), Nick Cairns (57), Zach Bean (72, 79); Conversions: Ben Young (15, 26, 32, 37, 58, 73);
Hinckley: Tries: Frankie Sleightholme (16); Conversions: Joe Wilson (16);

Lions show their class with seven try victory and gain local bragging rights

At Westleigh Park there was the keenly awaited local derby between Leicester Lions and Hinckley Hornets. Lions had won the early season game at Hinckley, so Hornets were keen to gain revenge.

Lions showed their intent by outpowering Hornets at the first scrum.

Lions soon were taking the game to Hornets and after 14 minutes put Hornets under forward pressure, worked the ball out to the left wing, with a couple of clever interchanges sent James Stubbs over for the first try of the game, with Ben Young adding the conversion.

From the restart Hornets did not waste any time before retaliating. A lovely shimmying break through the centre by Ben Pointon, followed by a smart release from the tackle, gave Frankie Sleightholme the chance to run the ball in for a try under the posts, with Joe Wilson adding the extras.

Lions were achieving the upper hand with their open driving play. In the remainder of the half their dynamic play produced three short distance tries by Simon Johnson, Will Ward and Tom Williams, with excellent kicking by Young putting the ball between the sticks for the three conversions.

Half-Time: Leicester Lions 28 Hinckley 7

Lions forward pressure continued in the second half and at the end of the third quarter Nick Cairns rolled off a tight maul and drove over for a converted try.

Lions then felt confident enough to bring on some fresh talent from the bench, but still kept the pressure on Hornets. Lions pressurised Hornets and span the ball out to the right for speedy winger, Zach Bean, to dive over in the corner for a converted try.

In open play Hornets dropped the ball allowing Lions again to spin the ball out to the right for Bean to dab down for his second try of the afternoon. This was the only unconverted try of the game.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 47 Hinckley 7

A splendid open game for the large crowd at Westleigh Park to enjoy, with Lions showing their class, but Hornets not making it easy for them and admirably they stuck to their task in hand all through the game.

This is the fourth game in a row where the opposition has not scored against Lions in the second half.

Lions Headcoach, Gareth Collins, commented: “Hinckley have had a great season and are a really tough side so we are delighted with both the result and our performance today. You have to deal with the emotion that comes with a local derby, and we did that really well. Our discipline was good so that nullified Hinckley’s set piece strengths and our attacking intent was excellent right from the outset. We repeatedly stretched them with ball in hand and scored some great tries. It was good to put on a good show in front of a big crowd.”

Lions Chairman, Ken Whitehead, added: “It is always a crunch match against our local rivals Hinckley. This was a brilliant performance. The lads, under the guidance of Gareth and his coaching team, produced a top notch display of rugby.”

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

Leicester Lions: WilHuckleberryson, Watkins, Hamilton, Martin, Constant, Young, Stubbs, Williams, Taylor, Murray, Tapscott, Ward, Johnson, Murdoch, Cairns
Replacements: Burns, Roberts, Godefroy, Owen, Bean

Hinckley: Wilson, Sleightholme, Everrett, Lamb, Hibbard, Heard, Pointon, Harper, Coltman, Peck, Weaver, Ramshaw, Bower, Norton, Barnes
Replacements: Johnson, Greening, Hurst, Nixon, Dacey