Leicester Lions outmuscled by hard-driving Reds

National League 2 South

Redruth 27 Leicester Lions 5

LEICESTER Lions started their 2021-22 season with a fruitless away trip to Redruth, in Cornwall, writes Mike Howkins.

West Country rugby has a reputation for teams with strong packs and Reds started taking the game to Lions, almost scoring during the opening phase of the game.

The visitors put some play together to pressurise the Reds’ line, but the hosts opened up their game, scoring three tries, a conversion and a penalty to lead 20-0 at half time.

Redruth continued their driving forward play after the break and added a fourth and conversion.

Lions showed some resolution towards the end of the second half. with scrum-half James Stubbs skipping past the Redruth defence for an unconverted try.

On 79 minutes, Reds’ Jack Oulton was yellow carded for a technical offence, but it was far too late to influence the outcome of a game that finished 27-5 in favour of the hosts.

Lions head coach Gareth Collins said: “Redruth made a good start with some effective open forwards play. Lions stuck well to their game and much to their credit they came back to compete and score in the second half.”

Next Saturday, Lions open their home season playing Clifton at Westleigh Park, Blaby, with a 2pm kick-off.

REDRUTH: William Trewin, Kyle Bradley, Jack Simmons, Joel Matavesi, Matthew Blee, Fraser Honey, Jack Oulton, Tommy Phillips, Richard Brown, Craig Williams, Todd Prisk, Edward Pascoe, Ben Fox, Mark Grubb, Sam Stevens. Replacements: Mackenzie Oliver, Jess Tompsett, Christopher Fuca, Bradley Howe, Sam Parsons.

LEICESTER LIONS: Alex Wilcockson, Jack Sterland, Dan Martin, Jamel Hamilton, Devon Constant, Cameron Coates, James Stubbs, Rhod McNaughton, Oli Taylor, Shaun Murray, Ollie Tapscott, Will Ward, Edward Sumpter, Jonny Murdoch, Nick Cairns.

Replacements: George TaylorWalker, Isaac Thompson, Ethan Godefroy, Simon Johnson, Jack Vernum.