Match report 7/3/20

Old Redcliffians 10 Leicester Lions 13
Saturday 7th March 2020
Lions take victory with last minute drop goal
League Points 1-4
Old Redcliffians 10: Tries: Eddie Boxall (47); Conversions: Dominic Sprague (47) Penalties: Dominic Sprague (29);
Leicester Lions 13: Tries: James Stubbs (55), Ethan Godefroy (68); Drop Goals: Ben Young (80);
Lions had their first visit to Old Redcliffians, at Scotland Lane, Brislington, Bristol.
The game started with some well contested play, with both sides having opportunities, but it took until the 29th minute for Reds to open the scoring with a penalty by Dominic Sprague. Two well matched teams and good defensive play made this the only score of the first half.
Half Time: Old Redcliffians 3 Leicester Lions 0
On 47 minutes Reds had a period of inspired play when a movement involving backs and forwards led to centre Eddie Boxall going over for a try in the corner, with Sprague adding the extras to open up a 10-0 lead.
This just seemed to inspire Lions who had some powerful forward play with scrum-half James Stubbs, nipping over for a try on 55 minutes from the back of a scrum, closing the score to 10-5.
On 68 minutes continued forward pressure from Lions led to back-row Ethan Godefroy driving over for Lions’ second try of the afternoon, closing the score at 10-10.
On 78 minutes Red’s Mason Gill-Watkins was yellow carded for a technical offence.
In the dying minutes of the game Lions pressurised Reds at a scrum close to Red’s try line. The ball was fed out to Lions’ fly-half Ben Young who produced an elegant dropped goal for Lions to take the lead and win the game, 10-13.
Full Time: Old Redcliffians 10 Leicester Lions 13
This was a well contested game, with Lions powerful forward play getting the upper hand in the second half.
Following the game Lions were in seventh place National League 2 South and Old Redcliffians were in fifteenth position.
Lions’ head coach, Gareth Collins, said, “This was a competitive game in which Reds showed ability early on, but I felt that we showed some class by coming back with powerful play in the final half hour of the game, Again it is good to see how we can hold our own at the end of a close game”.
Lions are continuing their successful season so far, having played 23 games, won 16, drawn 0 and lost 7.
Next week, on Saturday 14th March 2020, Lions are home to Redruth, from Cornwall, at Westleigh Park, Blaby. Redruth are in fourth position in the league as part of the top four teams who seem to be challenging for the league champion and runner-up positions
Teams – Order 15-9, 1-8, 16-20
Old Redcliffians: Luke Rapson, Finn Murphy, Eddie Boxall, Don Farmer, James Clements, Dominic Sprague, Alex Gapper, Alex Harvey, Kieran Ward, Josh Rasor, Chris Pursall, Mitch Pursall, Mason Gill-Watkins, Jack Mackay, Ethan Doyle
Replacements: Angus Green, Leighton Freeman, Alex Dewhurst-Chapman, Brandon Dorrington, Owen Craig
Leicester Lions: Max Johnson, Kaz Henderson, Luke Veebel, Ed Sumpter, Devon Constant, Ben Young, James Stubbs, George Taylor-Walker, Oli Taylor, Charlie Loveday, Ollie Tapscott, Will Ward, Ethan Godefroy, Jonny Murdoch, Nick Cairns
Replacements: Rhod McNaughton, Shaun Murray, Simon Johnson, Toby Hutchinson, Alex Smit