Leicester Lions 33: Tries: Oli Taylor (13), Nick Cairns (27, 72), Devon Constant (50), Dan Martin (76); Conversions: Ben Young (14, 28, 73, 77);
Loughborough Students 5: Tries: Calum Smyth (45);

Leicester Lions – Five tries, five points and league champions. A superb afternoon’s work.

It was a mixed weather afternoon at Westleigh Park for the visit of Loughborough Students to play Leicester Lions, with a stiff breeze running down the pitch, but the rain held off for the duration of the game. This was Leicester Lions’ second local derby opponents of the season. Leicester Lions had beaten Loughborough University 34-28 in a close game in the reverse fixture at East Park, Loughborough at the end of November 2022.

Lions kicked off playing up hill into the breeze. During the first ten minutes of play there were balanced opportunities for both sides. Lions started to pressurise Loughborough in tight play. Loughborough conceded a penalty, with Lions taking the following lineout and drove the maul over for Oli Taylor to score a typical hooker’s try, with Ben Young adding the conversion.

Lions’ power continued to pressurise Loughborough, with the visitors having to give ground in scrums and mauls.

Another lineout take by Lions led to their No 8 Nick Cairns crashing his way through the Loughborough defence for a try, with Young again adding the extras.

Following an attempted clearance kick by Lions, the ball was caught by Loughborough, who seemed to have an open try line in front of them, but George Watkins stripped the ball from Loughborough’s possession to relieve the pressure on Lions.

Half-Time: Leicester Lions 14 Loughborough Students 0

Loughborough came out after the break in a determined mood and started to successfully move the ball round the pitch, testing Lions. They put Lions under pressure with Calum Smyth driving over for a try, closing the gap to 14-5.

Again Lions obtained clean possession from a lineout, with a driving maul allowing their winger Devon Constant to join in the forward action, adding the third Lions’ try of the afternoon.

In the last ten minutes Nick Cairns, took the ball off Loughborough to charge through their defence to score the try which gave Lions the bonus point that ensured that, with a win, they would be in an unassailable position at the top of the league.

To complete the afternoon a chip out to the right wing gave Lions’ Dan Martin a straight run in for the fifth and last try of the afternoon.

Full Time: Leicester Lions 33 Loughborough Students 5

Teams: 15-9, 1-8, Replacements:-

Leicester Lions: Watkins, Bean, Hamilton, Bouchier, Constant, Young, Stubbs, Williams, Taylor, Thompson, Tapscott, Ward, Johnson, Murdoch, Cairns
Replacements: Rudkin, Murray, Godefroy, Martin, Helliwell

Loughborough Students: Daniel, Barber, Tusler, Pyle, Metcalfe, Smith T, Mason, Nixon-Castillo, Bell, Crane, Hunter, Jennings, Pill, Bloomer, Agbongbon
Replacements: Smith S, Smyth C, Taylor, Nayor, Meredith

Lions’ Head Coach, Gareth Collins, commented:- “This was a professional performance by the lads. As expected Loughborough did not make it easy for us so we had to deal with that as well as the occasion. The lads stuck to the game plan though, which may not have been pretty, and we got the necessary rewards from that. It’s been four years of hard work to get here so to win the league at home, in front of a big crowd, was incredible. The support we’ve received this season really has made the difference. It’s difficult to comprehend what we’ve actually achieved.’’
Lions’ Chair, Ken Whitehead, said:- “The team has been playing well together all season and everyone is pleased that they achieved their deserved success.”

Other local National League 2 West results were:- Luctonians 40 Hinckley 12

As a result of this weekend’s games the local teams league positions are:-
Leicester Lions: Played 23, Points 108, Position 1st
Hinckley: Played 23, Points 77, Position 5th
Loughborough Students: Played 23, Points 68, Position 7th

Next weekend, Saturday 1st April 2023, Leicester Lions welcome Stourbridge to Westleigh Park, Blaby, with a 2.00 pm kick off.
The other local National League 2 West fixtures are:-
Hinckley v Dings Crusaders (from Bristol), 3.00 pm kick off
Loughborough Students v Barnstaple, 2.00 pm kick off

For further league information, please consult www.ncarugby.com

Mike Howkins, Press Officer and Fourth Official Leicester Lions RFC