Lions tamed as Clifton hit the max

LEICESTER LIONS salvaged a bonus point as Clifton took all five from a physical and brutal encounter,

The hosts started well with quick penalties from Ben Young before Henry Harper hit back for Clifton after good momentum in the Lions 22, Luke Cozens adding the extras.

And Clifton soon struck again as Marcus Nel barged over.

All of a sudden, the sting came out of the game as reset scrums and penalties saw Murray sent to the sin-bin.

Clifton were unable to capitalise and, following a turnover, Lions loosehead McNaughton scored and Young converted to take the lead into half-time.

The second half was played predominantly in the Lions half. Cozins and Youngs exchanged penalties as the physicality was beginning to take its toll on both sets of forwards.

Clifton established some dominance in the set piece and Harry Bate scored from a driving line-out.

Clifton hit again as Niall Gibbons picked off a wide pass from a turnover and ran down the right to finish.

But Leicester were determined to get something from the game and Hamilton scored, before Young slotted a 82nd minute penalty to clinch a bonus point.

TEAMS

LEICESTER: McNaughton, Taylor, Murray, Tapscott, Ward, Godefroy, Cairns, Murdoch, Stubbs, Young, Martin, Hamilton, Constant, Wilcockson, Sterland

Replacements: Taylor Walker, Thompson, Sumpter, Johnson, Coates

CLIFTON: Cano, Williams, Giltrow, Harper, Owen, Wilson, Bate, Gibbons, Spencer, Cozens, Howman, Nel, Hamid, Sharp, Kilbane

Replacements: Herbert, Bullimore, Talbot, Simmers, Ward

REFEREE: Carl Adams

ATTENDANCE: 238 Star man

Joe Owen - Clifton