LEICESTER LIONS RFC 23 v DMPRFC 28

Regardless of some of their recent results, Leicester Lions appear to be seeing the return of key players from injuries and may be about to mount a rearguard assault on their remaining fixtures.

From the determination of their players on the paddock on Saturday against DMPRFC, their Westleigh Park HQ may prove a difficult proposition for teams visiting for their remaining fixtures.

On a fine, but bitterly cold day, DMPRFC, who had travelled the previous day for ease of preparation, made the best possible start to an away game, by stinging the opposition early, when after only 35 seconds on the clock, fly half Grant CONNON displayed his wizardry, ghosting through a gap on the first attack, to score near to the posts (0 – 5). He finished off the early score with a conversion (0 – 7), before the home side had hardly drew breath.

Matters further worsened for Leicester Lions, when Cameron MITCHELL was as equally mesmerising, beating several defenders, then finding full back Henry ROBINSON in close support for the score, after only 5 minutes had elapsed (0 – 12), with Grant CONNON supplying the extras (0 – 14).

A penalty on 17 minutes (3 – 14), reduced the arrears for the home side, who were gradually able to force their way into the game through powerful running and a strong scrummage. DMPRFC endeavoured to compete in that department, battling on gamely, but with the loss of four forwards from the previous week’s win against Stourbridge through injury and unavailability, it was always going to be a hard day ‘at the coalface’.

Leicester Lions scored a try themselves, on 32 minutes, which was not converted (8 – 14), but DMPRFC responded in kind just before oranges, with a try by scrum half Zylon McGAFFIN (8 – 19), which was again converted by Grant CONNON (8 – 21), ensuring that the first half belonged to the visitors from the North East.

Strangely enough, even with a reasonably comfortable score line at the interval, DMPRFC connections thought that it was important to be first on the score sheet after the break, but they were disappointed when it came early on, in the form of another converted try for the home side (15 – 21). Another penalty galvanised the home side and crowd even more, as the score had moved them to within three points (18 – 21).

DMPRFC needed to address the slide and fittingly, their top try scorer, winger Chris McTURK fashioned a great score for himself and the team, when receiving the ball, with 3 defenders between him and the try line. He cleverly chipped and chased passed the first two, then hacked on passed the last one, winning the race for the score (18 – 26). He had made the afters easy for his compatriot Grant Connon, who duly obliged (18 – 28).

Again the home side responded with a close quarter try (23 – 28), but with the conversion missed, more than a penalty was required to win the game, with 13 minutes of the game left to play.

Leicester Lions threw ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ at DMPRFC and were awarded several kickable penalties, which they ignored in an attempt to go for the win, through scrummage and ‘catch and drive’.

However, DMPRFC have had other teams lay siege to their line before and subsequently defended manfully to keep out Leicester Lions for the win.

The home side probably will think themselves unlucky not to win the game, whereas the visitors will have returned back up the M1 with the requisite 5 league points in the bag, even though enduring somewhat of a ‘close shave’ on the road.