Leicester Lions 26 Hinckley 17

Saturday 19th March 2022

League Points 4-0

Leicester Lions 26: Tries: James Stubbs (50), Zach Bean (58); Conversions: Ben Young (51, 59); Penalties: Ben Young (8, 17, 31, 45);
Hinckley 17: Tries: Rory Vowles (54), Andrew Weaver (64); Conversions: Joe Wilson (55, 65); Penalties: Joe Wilson (15);

Lions edge the day in frantic local derby

The local derby between Lions and Hinckley had been long awaited. The game was scheduled for the Saturday before Christmas, but was postponed because of Covid.

On a pleasant sunny afternoon, but with a nip in the air from a breeze from the east, Lions played with the wind in the first half, but up the slope.

The game started with balanced play, but with Hinckley starting to put Lions under pressure. Lack of discipline by Hinckley led to them conceding a penalty, slotted between the posts by Ben Young for Lions.

Hinckley soon retaliated with a Joe Wilson penalty.

Hinckley made use of their heavier pack with some powerful tight play. Lions defended well against the heavier Hinckley pack, and Hinckley gave away two more penalties in the first half which were scored by Young, to establish a 9-3 lead.

In the last play of the half, Lions had a flowing move up the left wing. As they raced towards the Hinckley line, careless hands lead to the ball being dropped and knocked on as the play crossed the Hinckley line, denying them an almost certain try. No names mentioned!

Half-Time: Leicester Lions 9 Hinckley 3

After the break Lions added another penalty by Young.

On 50 mins Lions pack pushed Hinckley off the ball at a scrum, allowing their nippy scrum-half James Stubbs to dart pass the Hinckley defence to open the try scoring, with Young adding the extras.

Hinckley soon replied pushing Lions back towards their line on the left and working the ball out to the right for their full-back Rory Vowles to round the Lions defence for a try, with Wilson adding the conversion to take the score to 19-10.

Lions reimposed pressure with centre Zach Bean cutting through the Hinckley defence with an elegant run, for a well taken try and Young adding the conversion.

Hinckley came back at Lions with some powerful forward play, allowing second row Andy Weaver to drive his way through the Lions defence to crash over a try, with the extras added by Wilson, taking the score to 26-17.

Good defence by Lions saw the game out allowing them to take a deserved victory.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 26 Hinckley 17

A well competed match, with Lions showing determination against testing opposition. Congratulations to both sides for enthralling nail-biting game.

Two tries apiece, produced by some exciting attacking moves in the second half.

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

Lions Head Coach, Gareth Collins, commented: “In all honesty we probably should have won by more as we were the better side but in a local derby it’s all about the result. We knew that Hinckley that would try and slow the game down and disrupt our set piece, and to be fair to them they did a good job of that. When we did manage to launch our attacking shapes we looked good and caused them lots of problems. Hinckley have always been a strong scrummaging side so was delighted for our young props, Isaac [Thompson] and Will [Roberts], and our not so young prop Muzza [Shaun Murray], who all did a great job getting dominance in their aspect of the game”.

Lions Chair, Ken Whitehead, commented: “Any game against our local rivals Hinckley is always going to be testing. I was extremely delighted with the way the lads responded to the challenge. A good afternoon, as part of the pleasing season we have been having”.

Next week, on Saturday 26th March 2022, Lions are again at home to Barnstaple at Westleigh Park, Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicester LE8 4DY, with kick off 2.00 pm.

Teams: 15-9, 1-8, Replacements
Leicester Lions: Alex Wilc*ckson, Jake Sterland, Zach Bean, Jamel Hamilton, Devon Constant, Ben Young, James Stubbs, Will Roberts, Oli Taylor, Isaac Thompson, Toby Hutchinson, Will Ward, Simon Johnson, Johnny Murdoch, Ethan Godefroy
Replacements: George Taylor-Walker, Shaun Murray, Ollie Tapscott, Nick Cairns, Joe Brock

Hinckley: Rory Vowles, Euan Kelly, Shae Nixon, Mitchell Lamb, Callum Dacey, Joe Wilson, Ben Pointon, Oscar Harper, Dale Bowyer, Sam Greening, Ben Marshall, Andy Weaver, Adam GrooHuckleberry, Aaron Florestein, Alex Salt
Replacements: Luke Coltman, Stephen Harvey, Adam Johnson, Harry Bower, Dylan Weddle