National league 1 - 2023/24

[tigerburnie]

https://www.facebook.com/leicesterlionsrfc/
Oliver Crane on the bench for his first Nat1 game, Simon Koroiyadi returns from England duty and Malalili Satala also starts along with Charlie Davies

[tigerburnie]

Chinnor 21, Leicester 7
Half time

[ay2oh]

BBC says Lions won 42-12

[tigerburnie]

Chinnor 42, Leicester Lions 12 FT
Sadly the BBC are wrong as usual, with both Cinderford and Taunton winning, it really is going down to the wire.

[tigerburnie]

Chinnor 42 Leicester Lions 12
It was always going to be a tough task, away at a side who hadn't lost at home this term and had scored 80 points in both their last two outings there. To add to the challenge the Lions were without Oliver Taylor who sustained an injury against Bishop's Stortford, and without another registered hooker available, Isaac Thompson had to step in to an unfamiliar position for him. It must be said that he, and the rest of the team, did an incredible job of competing with Chinnor's firepower, but the league leaders deservedly took the spoils.
In very blustery conditions Chinnor kicked off against the wind and immediately won the first loose ball as the Lions failed to claim the hanging kick. A powerful carry from the Chinnor prop, Hardwick, led to their number 8, Ryan, crashing over for an early lead. Fly-half Worboys converted for a very early 7-0 lead.
The Lions responded well though, moving the ball wide in very difficult conditions, and had a couple of scoring opportunities from lineouts, but a lack of accuracy let them down. On the other hand, the Chinnor set piece was functioning very well and the Lions pack were struggling to deal with big pack's driving game, and on 19 minutes the pressure told when a clever front peel move led to a try for Chinnor's scrum half, Carter. Again the score was converted by Worboys for 14-0.
The Lions struck back 5 minutes later though after some really neat interplay from the back line released Malelli Satala to score in the corner. Dan Lewis added the very difficult conversion from out wide to half the deficit to 14-7.
With the wind at their backs, the Lions were the dominant force in the game, but their lack of accuracy denied them a number of other scoring opportunities. Chinnor were proving very clinical though, and when a turnover led to a break, the impressive centre Passman hit a hard line and raced away to score, just as he had done at Westleigh Park in the first fixture between these two sides. Worboys added the easy extras for a 21-7 half time lead.
The Lions were always going to struggle in the second half, now playing against the strong wind and the slope, and predictably it was the home side who got on the scoreboard first, on 50 minutes, when Goss crossed to secure the try bonus point. 5 minutes later the contest was certainly ended when the very impressive Worboys ran clear following another effective catch and drive. Worboys converted both for an unassailable 35-7 lead.
To the young Lions' credit they continued to attack with pace and creativity, and it took some excellent and determined scrambling defence from the home side to keep them out. The Lions were eventually rewarded for their efforts on 65 minutes when Isaac Thompson crashed over from close range after a period of exerted pressure. (35-14).
Just had been the case towards the end of the first half, the Lions were dominating the ball and field position, but as they chased a try-bonus point, it was the efficient Chinnor who gained the final score when their captain Willie Ryan crashed over for his second. Worboys completed a flawless afternoon off the tee for a 42-12 victory.
Head coach Gareth Collins commented: “It was always going to be a tough task, especially with the injuries we experienced this week. Our aim was to come here and score 4 tries and I actually felt our performance deserved that. Chinnor are a really powerful side, and are top of the league for a reason, so there was a lot of positives from our performance that we can take in to the two huge games that we now have.”
Chinnor- Feeney, Hughes, Passman, Bourton, Goss, Worboys, Carter, Ryan, Clementson, Stokes, Brocksmidt, Curry, Hardwick, Walker, Lines.
Replacements- Woodward, Darlington, Clarke, Clifford, Chamberlain.
Lions- Patrick, Satala, Hamilton, Bouchier, Davies, Lewis, Stubbs, Williams, Thompson, Dawson, Godefroy, Ward, Koroiyadi, Johnson, Cairns.
Replacements- Roberts, Crane, Coulson, Veebel, Ogden.

[tigerburnie]

Highlights from the Lions visit to Chinnor last weekend
https://www.facebook.com/leicesterlions ... 7238873700

[ay2oh]

How many teams go down from national div. 1 ?

[tigerburnie]

How many teams go down from national div. 1 ?

At the moment due to the collapse of Jersey Reds, no relegation from the Championship, one goes up from Nat 1 to bump the Championship back to even numbers. At present there will be two teams relegated from Nat 1, with three promoted from the three Nat 2 leagues, this however seems not to be written in stone as the RFU have not actually confirmed this as gospel.

[Lutontiger]

Well, considering they were playing away to a v strong home side, and in difficult conditions, they didn’t do too badly imo.

[tigerburnie]

Well, considering they were playing away to a v strong home side, and in difficult conditions, they didn’t do too badly imo.

They seem to be attracting some good comments from the opposition, described as a dangerous side to play against as they have the plan of running the ball from almost anywhere and being quite a young side, pace makes up for lack of size that some of the teams have. The Lions pack however has been excellent all season, someone said they had never seen a side play so well and lose the match. Experience is what they are gaining, should they avoid the drop I fancy a couple of games that got away from them this season, may well go in their favour in future.
National 1 is a very good standard of rugby and the step up from Nat 2 is a large step indeed, young Ollie Crane came off the bench for his first Nat 1 game, quite a step up from what has been a underperforming Loughborough Students side in Nat 2 West, to packing down against a side almost certain to be in the Championship next season, a baptism of fire.

[westwinds31]

Nat 1 is a great league, very competitive and anyone can beat anyone on their day. It's full of players that, for one reason or another, didn't get taken on at Premiership level, then a lot of players moved down to the Championship. Unless you're with one of the few clubs that are full-time, trying to hold down a job and train 2/3 times a week and play on a Friday/Saturday isn't easy, especially with the intensity that the Championship has. National 1 is still a grind, but it's more enjoyable and there's flexibility there to work during the week and still turn out on a Saturday and get reasonably well rewarded for it financially.

Chinnor will no doubt go up, but will find it hard, for reasons already mentioned above. The best way of approaching it I think is the Caldy model, get yourself up into the Championship, then stay there and slowly build into it. Even they have struggled somewhat. A lot of the Nat 1 clubs don't want to go up to the Championship, as they'd lose a lot of players and come straight back down.

[tigerburnie]

Cambridge went up to the Championship last year and have so far only won two games, along with London Scottish, the step between each league seems to be large and gets more difficult the higher you climb. I think it is good for the game that leagues encourage competition and ambition, just as long as clubs don't take too many financial risks like Wasps and London Welsh did.

[tigerburnie]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10 ... 2006712797

Fancy some rugby this weekend? Leicester Lions last home game of the season is against Darlington Mowden Park, who sit 6th in the league with 12 wins, whilst Lions have 9 wins, Park are safe from relegation, but there's plenty for them to play for, so it should be a great contest.

[tigerburnie]

An excellent team with young Tigers on show in the last home game of the season in National 1for Leicester Lions
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10 ... 2006712797

[tigerburnie]

Match day digital program for the last home game of the season in Nat 1
https://publuu.com/flip-book/228604/1046167