Penalty try drama as Stour go clear at top

Leicester Lions 13pts Stourbridge ........ 27pts

LEICESTER Lions director of rugby Jack Heald hit out at referee Ben Rayner’s decisionmaking after a penalty try proved costly in defeat to Stourbridge.

The visitors maintained their 100 percent start to the season but they were made to work hard for it, despite a penalty try awarded in the second half which came just as the Lions were upping the pressure.

“It bemused me a little bit that penalty try decision,” Heald said.

“We had four penalties in a row at the other end and nothing was done about it when Stourbridge were conceding those penalties, but when we get it there’s an automatic penalty try and a yellow card so there’s a lack of consistency there.”

However, Stourbridge director of rugby Neil Mitchell disagreed with Heald’s view and insists no other decision could have been reached.

He said: “I think that was the right thing to do. We were putting the pressure on but I could see a try coming from us anyway.

“No one wants to come to Leicester Lions away, it’s a tough place to come and we thought they were probably the better side and probably the hardest game we’ve had this season so we’re delighted with the win never mind the bonus point but I was pleased with the performance.”

Stourbridge were dealt a blow just four minutes into the game when their scrum-half Benjamin Tibbetts went off injured. Eight minutes later they fell behind to a Jonathan Boden penalty.

After a tough 25 minutes, Stourbridge began to get forward and they got the first try of the match through Joe Heatley after a lineout which was converted by Nicholas David.

Stourbridge then looked a lot more threatening and it felt like only a matter of time until they scored their next try and it came right on half-time when substitute Jack Lea went over.

They extended their lead three minutes into the second half when Christopher Scott scored a penalty.

Although Leicester responded positively, things got worse for the hosts as they fell further behind on 56 minutes, Nicholas Murphy went over in the corner which gave the Lions a mountain to climb.

But, again, they responded well and were finally rewarded after a good move led to Devon Constant, who scored a hat-trick against Luctonians last weekend, finding a gap and getting the ball over the line.

The controversial moment came with 13 minutes to go as the penalty try was awarded.

It didn’t dampen Leicester’s spirit as they continued to try and fight and pulled back a consolation try with two minutes to go when John Murdoch went over the line.

Heald felt that his side perhaps deserved more from the encounter but believed that it was a game that they gave to the opposition.

He added: “From our perspective, we don’t feel it’s a game Stourbridge won but a game we gifted them through our errors.”