Match report 21 February

Clawed back at the death – Tykes tame Lions

Leeds Tykes emerged from the Lions’ den with a hard-earned 29-33 victory after a momentum-swinging contest away at Leicester Lions RFC, securing a try bonus point to cap a dramatic afternoon. Leeds used their opportunities well, converting territory into points when they entered the opposition’s half.

On a heavy, boggy surface and with a swirling wind playing its part, it was the hosts who struck first. Leicester’s powerful driving maul set the early tone, with Liam Burrows scoring the opening try and Luke Bouchier converting. Leeds responded with resilience, absorbing pressure in their own 22 despite a mounting penalty count. From a driving maul, Arrin Yorke forced his way over. Sustained pressure told again as Leeds hammered the Lions’ line, Alex Pleasants scoring the try for Eddie Crossland to add the extras. Leeds’ task was made harder by a late yellow card shown to Louis Guthrie before the break, forcing them to defend with 14 men. The interval saw the visitors with their noses in front on the scoreboard.

The Tykes started the second half at pace. Leeds exploited space out wide for Sebi Krippner to extend their advantage, with Crossland again adding the extras. The home side responded in kind, another well-executed maul resulting in another Burrows try, converted by Bouchier. A slick move from a scrum then sent the hosts back in front when Bronson Mellowes crossed for a converted try. The contest was now finely poised, with both sides trading blows and neither willing to back down.

Leeds regained the initiative with a clever hack on by Tom Williams that was chased by Albert Bradshaw to win the foot race and claim the bonus-point try, which was converted. Leicester hit straight back, yet another maul seeing Burrows complete his hat-trick and earn his side their own bonus point. When the extras were added, the scores were level at 26-26. When Bouchier slotted a late penalty, the Lions thought they had edged the contest at 29-26, especially when Eddie Brown was shown a yellow card for a series of team penalties shortly after Leicester took the lead.

But the final twist belonged to the West Yorkshire side. In the dying minutes, Leeds found space out wide once more as Lucas Walsh raced down the wing and passed inside for Krippner to cross for the decisive try, which Crossland converted to seal a 33-29 win.

Speaking after the match, Director of Rugby Pete Seabourne said: “It’s a win, 5 points, but it wasn’t pretty. We’re pleased with the 5 points but it was a tough match and it’s a tough place to come to. The pitch was a bit of a leveller. We went behind twice and towards the end we showed a lot of guts and determination to cover the length of the field twice to score and get in front and stay there.

“The purpose this week was to come here and get 5 points, so job done. That’s what we needed to do. You could tell that we missed a game last week as we looked a bit rusty at times, but we won. It’s the first time we’ve won three on the bounce, which is important, so hopefully we can have a good go at Rosslyn Park next week.”

Captain Ben Dixon added: “It wasn’t our best performance but we showed how much we’ve improved as a team since we last played Lions. If we’d played like we did last time, we would have just fallen away and let them win. It wasn’t pretty, but we stuck in there and managed to get the win.”

Back rower Jonny Teague explained: “That was really hard fought in tough conditions. All credit to Leicester, they pushed us all the way and I am very proud of all the boys for the fight they showed coming back into it over the last five minutes. Happy with the win, but not particularly happy with the performance.”