National league 1 - 2023/24

[tigerburnie]

National league 1 rugby returns to Leicestershire this Saturday afternoon

Lions welcome Blackheath to Westleigh Park
On Saturday Lions welcome Blackheath to Westleigh Park for the National League 1 fixture:-

Date: Saturday 16th September 2023
Fixture: Leicester Lions v Blackheath
Venue: Westleigh Park, Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicester LE18 4DY
Kick Off: 2.00 pm

This will be Blackheath's first visit to Leicester Lions

[tigerburnie]

Three Tiger cubs starting in the home game at Leicester Lions
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[tigerburnie]

Digital program for this afternoons game

https://publuu.com/flip-book/228604/569696/page/1

[tigerburnie]

I'm hearing the final score was 3-34 in favour of Blackheath, not got the gory details yet.

[tigerburnie]

Yesterdays match report
Blackheath ended the Lions' unbeaten home run that stretched back almost 12 months
Blackheath fired out of the blocks and in to a commanding lead after two tries in the first 8 minutes.

The first came from former Exeter Chiefs centre Sam Hill, making his debut start for the club, who crossed out wide following a five-metre scrum. Just three minutes later Jake Lloyd broke down the right flank and winger Shae Tucker scored under the uprights. Tom Ffitch added the extras to take an early 0-12 lead.

The Lions quickly responded though and after a turnover penalty was won in typical fashion by Will Ward, the ever reliable fly-half Daniel Lewis kicked the penalty to reduce the arrears to 3-12. However two further penalties from Ffitch and another try by Lloyd gave the visitors a commanding 3-23.


The Lions ended the first half with a period of pressure in the Blackheath 22 but were unable to convert the pressure in to points as time after time their driving lineout was repelled by a determined and resolute Blackheath pack, despite the loss of their captain Tom Baldwins to the sin bin.

The Lions continued to dominated territory in the second half and had a number of good opportunities in the Blackheath 22 but the London based side continued to hold firm despite two further yellow cards.

With 10 minutes left on the clock Blackheath secured the bonus point try following a break in midfield from full back Jake Hennessey which was converted by Ffitch who then added a fourth penalty with the last kick of the game to secure a comprehensive and well deserved 3-34 victory.

Head coach Gareth Collins commented afterwards: ''It's a tough one to take today. To lose the home record is disappointing of course but to lose it in that manner is especially disappointing. We pride ourselves on our character and attitude, and being hard to beat, but today we were out-played but also out-fought which is rare. We always knew that this year would be tough and I think the win against Sale has led to a bit of complacency which will certainly have gone after today. Hopefully we can get the edge back that we had in that first game and make a better account of ourselves next week at Plymouth.''

Things will not get much easier for the Lions as they travel to Plymouth Albion who currently sit 3rd in the table on 11 points and have scored 114 points in their opening three games.

[tigerburnie]

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[tigerburnie]

Plymouth Albion 45-21 Leicester Lions FT

[tigerburnie]

Brave Lions lose to Plymouth Albion
Gareth Collins

High flying Plymouth get the result in the end but the Lions showed much improvement from last week
A relatively cagey first 10 minutes from both sides saw a lot of kicking as they both tried to win a territorial battle. This was largely won by the Lions who continuously put the ball in to the Albion 22. A penalty conceded on half way for holding on gave the home side their first visit in to the Lions 22 though and the huge pack rumbled over the line with hooker Harry Wilkinson dotting down at the back of the maul. Tom Putt added the extras.

The lead was quickly doubled when Albion centre Pita Ratukadreu crossed after some good hands across the pitch from the home side, and then prop Dan Pullinger made a break down the blindside when the Lions were on the attack to score the third. The bonus point was secured with just over 20 minutes gone when Wilkinson drove over again for his second. Putt adding two of the conversion for a commanding 26-0 lead.

The Lions responded well though and a superbly worked team move was eventually finished off in the left corner by winger Joey Patrick. Shortly afterwards lock Geordie Irvine, on debut, showed quick thinking by tapping and going on the Plymouth 22 to cross under the sticks. Dan Lewis adding the extras on both occasions to leave the half time score at 26-14.

The Lions continued on the foot foot at the start of the second half and when the pack pushed the notorious Plymouth scrum off their own ball, number 8 Simon Koroiyadi dived over from close range. Lewis adding the extras again. The hosts soon restored their 12 point advantage though through another catch and drive that was again finished off by Wilkinson for his hattrick try. Putt with the extras once more.

The Lions pushed hard in the next period and spent a large amount of time in the opponents 22 but although there was no shortage of effort their lack of accuracy at key moments meant the home side were able to survive unscathed. The game ended with two late scored for Albion that put a slightly unfair reflection on the scoreline although the result was fully deserved.

The Lions will rue missed chances again to leave without at least one bonus point but can take heart from a spirited performance against a very strong Plymouth side who will probably have eyes on a potential promotion to the Championship.

Head coach Gareth Collins commented; ''We needed a response after last week as we felt we lacked the fight that we'd like to think characterises us. We showed a huge amount of that today to get ourselves back in the contest. We also created much more than last week and had our chances but unfortunately our accuracy in those key areas let us down again. Ultimately their efficiency in the 22 was much better than ours and that was the difference. We are desperately disappointed not to have got something from the game but we pushed a top side away from home really hard and we will take the positivity of that in to next week.''

Teams:

Plymouth Albion (1-15:
Dan Pullinger, Harry Wilkinson, Jenson Boughton, Brad Howe, Angus Hodges, Sonny Hirini, Torin Clarke, Sam Daly ©, Morgan Stone, Phil Jones, Craig Duncan, Archie Hill, Seta Raumakita, Pita Ratukadreu, Tom Putt
Replacements: Gabe Mead, Ramaz Rukhadze, Dan Collier, Jack Oulton, Connor Eastgate

Leicester Lions (1-15):
Will Roberts, Olly Taylor, Aaron Dawson, Ethan Godfrey, Geordie Irvine, Simon Johnson, Johnny Murdoch, Simon Koroiyadi, James Stubbs, Dan Lewis, Joey Patrick, Dan Martin, Jamel Hamilton, Jake Sterland, Luke Bourchier
Replacements: Drew Rudkin, Isaac Thompson, Devon Coulson, Oscar McCarthy, Joe Brock

[tigerburnie]

Another tough day at the office for Leicester Lions
FT Lions 22 Richmond 35

[Rugbygramps]

Another tough day at the office for Leicester Lions
FT Lions 22 Richmond 35

Was always going to be a big step. Still early in the season so hopefully will start picking some wins up

[tigerburnie]

They are scoring some good tries and applying plenty of pressure, but just can't get over the winning line since the first game, already some clubs are looking to be in a different league and some are going to be fighting for every point

[tigerburnie]

Lions lose entertaining game with Richmond
Gareth Collins
Leicester Lions 22 Richmond 35
Richmond struck first, scoring straight from the kick off when Luke Springs finished following a number of phases. The try was converted by Sean Kerr for an early 0-7 lead.The rest of the first half was dominated by the Lions and they had a number of good scoring chances including winger Toby Cousins getting over the line only to be adjudged to have knocked on in the process of scoring. Dan Lewis kicked a penalty for the home side though to leave the half time score 3-7.The visitors started the second half the same as the first when a loose kick was capitalised on and a try scored in the corner by winger James Whitehouse. The lead was then extended shortly after when scrum half Luc Jones crossed after some efficient play in the Lions 22. Both tries were converted by Kerr to take the score to 3-21.The game then swung from one way to the other as the Lions threw caution to the wind. The deficit was cut after centre Charlie Myall made an impressive line break to score under the posts which Lewis converted.Richmond hit back immediately though as they again won their own kick off and Alex Post went in from distance to secure the try bonus point. The result was secured shortly after when replacement prop Ntinga Mpiko crossed from close range. Kerr converted both for a commanding 10-35 lead.The Lions finished strongly though and replacement full back Joe Brock powered over after some attractive and expansive rugby by the hosts, and then second row Geordie Irvine galloped in from distance for his second try in as many games. Lewis converted both.The Lions pushed for a fourth try, that would of earned them two well deserved and much needed bonus points, and it seemed they were going to get it when James Stubbs made a line break with the last play of the game but a slap down by the last defender prevented an almost certain score. A frustrating end to another frustrating game for the Lions.
Head coach Gareth Collins commented: ''We did a lot of good things again today and I felt we deserved more from the game. We responded well to the early try and dominated both territory and possession for most of the game but just lacked accuracy in key areas at key times again. Unfortunately you can't afford to give easy scores at this level and that's what we did today. Richmond are a very good side though, who were playing in the Championship last season, so there's a lot of positives to take from the game for us too.''

[tigerburnie]

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[tigerburnie]

With the Tigers taking all the cubs to Goldington Road, the Lions are all their own squad apart from two young Saints
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[tigerburnie]

Midlands derby result
Full time: Moseley 25 (3t) Leicester Lions 18 (2t)