Leicester Lions 49 Westcliff 12

League Points 5-0

Lions in seven try heaven after a gutsy start by Westcliff.

Leicester Lions 49: Tries: Devon Constant (20), Alex WilHuckleberryson (36), Toby Hutchinson (45), Ben Young (48), Jamel Hamilton (53), Jake Sterland (58), Isaac Thompson (61); Conversions: Ben Young (21, 37, 46, 49, 54, 59, 62)

Westcliff 12: Tries: Jack Hogarth (9), Sevi Ajeigbe (14); Conversions: Greg Bannister (15);

It was a cold, chilly and misty afternoon, with little wind, at Westleigh Park for the game between Leicester Lions and Westcliff. Westcliff are based near Southend-on-Sea. Lions played down the slope in the first half.

Play started with some balanced play with both sides testing their opposition. Westcliff launched their first attack of the game when they worked the ball up the right wing, with some smart interchanges between players, for their winger Jack Hogarth to outrun the Lions' defence and score a try in the corner. Soon after Lions took the ball at Westcliff but a handling error by them gave the Westcliff winger, Sevi Ajeigne, an open line for a 60 metre run to score their second try of the game, almost under the posts, converted by Greg Bannister. Fifteen minutes gone and Westcliff were 12-0 in the lead.

Lions then showed their class by coming back into the game. Devon Constant collected the ball mid-field and ran straight through the Westcliff defence for a try to open the Lions score, with Ben Young adding the conversion.
As the game was moving towards half-time Lions took a quick tap penalty giving Alex WilHuckleberryson the opportunity to scythe through the Westcliff defence for a try, with Young again adding the extras, making the score 14-12 approaching the match interval.

On 39 mins Westciff’s Greg Bannister was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on.

Half-Time: Leicester Lions 14 Westcliff 12

After the break, in the third quarter of the game, the Lions had a purple scoring patch with five tries scored in rapid succession in under 20 minutes. Toby Hutchinson crashed through for a typical forwards try, followed by some elegant play by Ben Young drifting through the Westcliff defence to open his try scoring account. Further enterprising back play allowed Jamel Hamilton to drive through the centre for a try, quickly followed by Jake Sterland having a speedy run up the right wing to score a try. This period was finished by Lions prop Isaac Thompson going over for a try following a Lions break from a lineout. Impressive kicking by Ben Young added ten points for the five conversions of the Lions second half tries taking the score to 49-12.

In the final quarter the dynamic Lions play quietened down with Lions attacking the Westcliff line, but unable to break through their defence and pass through the 50 point barrier.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 49 Westcliff 12

A well deserved five point win by Lions, with seven tries, all converted by Ben Young. A gritty start by Westcliff in the first quarter, followed by some effective defence in the last quarter when the game could have easily gone away from them.

Following the game Lions were in sixth position in National League 2 South and Westcliff were in sixteenth position.

Head coach, Gareth Collins, commented: “I was really pleased with the way we responded following last weeks’ loss. We knew Westcliff would be competitive, especially for the first quarter, and they punished us for some early errors. I was actually happy with our attacking intent right from the offset but if you make too many errors in this league then whoever you are playing will punish you. The lads showed some good character though to dig themselves out of the hole having been 12-0 down and some of our attacking play was on excellent. As always we’ll enjoy the victory but quickly our focus will be move to another huge game against Esher next week.”

Lions’ Chairman, Ken Whitehead, said: “We were a little nervous when Westcliff scored the first two tries of the game, but impressed by the way Lions came back into the game. Lions free scoring in the third quarter of the match was a delight to watch. ”

Next week, on Saturday 22nd January 2022, Lions are away at Esher, Molesey Road, Hersham, Surrey, kick off 3.00 pm. Esher are in second position in National League 2 South, one point behind league leaders Clifton, but with two games in hand.

Teams – Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Leicester Lions: Alex WilHuckleberryson, Jake Sterland, Jamel Hamilton, Joe Brock, Devon Constant, Ben Young, Finlay Ogden, Will Spendlove, George Taylor-Walker, Shaun Murray, Toby Hutchinson, Will Ward, Simon Johnson, Jonny Murdoch, Ethan Godefroy
Replacements: Ollie Taylor, Isaac Thompson, Dan Martin, Zach Bean, James Stubbs

Westcliff: Greg Bannister, Jack Hogarth, Paul-Eti Slater, Ross Gladdish, Sevi Ajeigbe, Reece Whiting, Henry Morrant, Rory Lane, Callum Lynch, Ewan Binneman, George Anderson-Brown, Lachlan Doyle, Mason Nicholls, Ed Johnson, James Smith
Replacements: Brad Comber, Conor O’Brien, Oliver Walker, William Morrant, Eric Miller