Leicester Lions 38 Old Albanian 7
Saturday 14th September 2019

League Points: 5-0

Lions’ power play gives them a deserved victory over Old Albanian

Leicester Lions 38: Tries: Luke Veebel (6), Nick Cairns (20), Ed Sumpter (25, 38, 52), Will Ward (62); Conversions: Greg Loydall (7, 26, 39), Oli Taylor (63);

Old Albanian 7: Tries: Ashley Illston (57); Conversions: Joe Butler (58);

Lions started their home fixtures in National League 2 South with a game against Old Albanian.

It was a pleasant warm afternoon with a zephyr of a wind across the pitch at TMDP Park, Blaby, Leicester.

On 6 mins Lions worked the ball out to the left, when Luke Veebel produced a dummying run to shimmy his way through the OA's defence to score a try, converted by Greg Loydall.

After 20 mins Lions put forward pressure on OA for No 8 Nick Cairns to drive from tight play for a try taking the score to 12-0.

On 25 mins Lions repeated their forward pressure with a powerful drive, with Ed Sumpter bursting through the OA's defence for a try converted by Greg Loydall.

On 29 mins OA’s Kay Minkiewicz was yellow carded for a technical offence.

To complete the first half Lions worked the ball up the right wing, with second row Ed Sumpter magically appearing as a winger to outpace the OA's defence, going over for his second try, with Greg Loydall adding the extras and taking the half time score to 26-0.

Lions had scored four tries to ensure the bonus point.

Half Time - Leicester Lions 26 Old Albanian 0

On 44 mins OA’s Jamie Townsend was yellow carded for a technical offence.

On 52 mins Lions’ forward pressure again came to the fore, with Ed Sumpter driving over to score his hat trick try to consolidate their lead.

On 58 mins OA put Lions under pressure for their second row, Ashley Illston, to drive over for a try converted by Joe Butler, taking the score to 31-7.

On 62 mins Lions completed the scoring for the afternoon with Will Ward forcing his way over from short distance for Lions sixth try, with a classy conversion from their stand-in kicker, hooker and captain, Oli Taylor.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 38 Old Albanian 7

Seven tries in the game – six to Lions and one to Old Albanian. A hat trick of tries for Lions’ second row, Ed Sumpter, including one with him popping up on the wing to score.
A good performance by Leicester Lions keeping forward pressure on OA throughout the game.

Lions' head coach, Gareth Collins said 'It was an exciting and dynamic performance from the team, who are starting to mould together as an effective unit. I was proud of the way the lads came back after a disappointing result last week away at Tonbridge Juddians. It was good to give all the lads on the bench a chance of having some game time.'

Following the game Leicester Lions were in eighth position in the league table, with Old Albanian in ninth position.

Teams: Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Leicester Lions: Sam Benjamin, Kaz Henderson, Jamel Hamilton, Luke Veebel, Devon Constant, Greg Loydall, Alex Smit, Will Roberts, Oli Taylor, Shaun Murray, Ed Sumpter, Will Ward, Ethan Godefroy, Jonny Murdoch, Nick Cairns
Replacements: George Turner, Charlie Loveday, Drew Rudkin, Simon Johnson, James Stubbs

Old Albanian: Tom Bednall, Alessandro Ricci, Thomson Holdsworth, Dan Watt, Peter Warne, Joe Butler, Jonathon Wicks, Matthew Ramzanpour, Jamie Townsend, Aaron Martinez-White, Ashley Illston, Tim Bond, Conor Gracey, Kay Minkiewicz, Oliver Moody
Replacements: Oghenetejiri Ajuchi, Harry Samuel, Reuben Pritchard, Luke Barber, Ross Lewis