Big win boosts Lions’ hopes of staying up

LEICESTER Lions moved a step closer to safety with a convincing bonus point home victory over Darlington Mowden Park.

The visitors dominated the early exchanges but resolute Lions defence held them out and it was the home side who scored first when a driving maul was finished off by Oliver Taylor on 18 minutes.

Mowden levelled ten minutes later when centre Ben Frankland crossed following a nice line in midfield.

The Lions scored a crucial try with the last play of the first half when the impressive Nick Cairns crashed over in the corner and Dan Lewis converted for a deserved 12-5 lead at the break.

Playing with the wind at their backs, Lions dominated territory, and were rewarded with three unanswered tries from Joey Patrick, England Under-20 starlet Toby Cousins, and Jamel Hamilton who profited from an interception to give the home side a commanding 29-5 lead.

Lions’ scrum was proving too strong for Mowden, and with two of their players in the sin bin, Lewis scored under the posts and then converted his own score to take the home side into an unassailable 36-5 lead.

Darlington scored a consolation try with five minutes left when replacement winger Nathan Greenwood outstripped the covering defence to cross in the corner but Lions got the last score when Dan Lewis intercepted and ran in from distance.

He converted again to take his personal haul to 18 points.

Lions visit Sale on Saturday, April 27, with four sides still facing a battle to avoid relegation from National League 1.

Head coach Gareth Collins said: “Whatever happens next week we can be really proud of what we’ve achieved this season.

“However, we’ll be going to Sale desperate to stay up and will give it everything we’ve got to try and make that happen.’’