Tigers 52 – 29 Leicester Lions
Match Report by Steve Hazz
On Saturday, we welcomed old rivals Leicester Lions to Park Lane for our sixth game of the season, looking to build on last week’s away win at Bishop’s Stortford. Games between the two sides have always been tight, and we knew a big performance was needed to take the points. The Lions, despite a tough start to the season, had pushed league leaders Rotherham close the previous week, so we were well aware of the challenge.
Conditions were perfect for open rugby — warm sunshine and a dry surface. Playing down the slope, we started strongly, keeping possession and applying pressure deep in their twenty-two. From a five-metre scrum, winger Rhys Henderson went close, and from the ruck, second row Bob Birtwell powered over for the opening try. Full-back Oli Glasse converted, and after eight minutes we led 7–0.
Five minutes later, slick hands across the backline sent winger Bertie Bradshaw over in the corner. Oli again added the extras, extending the lead to 14–0. Against the run of play, Leicester hit back with a try from a turnover, reducing the gap to 14–5. But Bertie soon struck again, finishing off a lovely break to make it 19–5, though the conversion was missed.
Leicester’s forwards replied with a catch-and-drive try, narrowing it to 19–10, before centre Joe Bedlow produced one of the tries of the season — a blistering 55-metre solo effort beating four defenders. Oli’s conversion gave us a 26–10 halftime lead and the bonus point secured.
Just two minutes into the second half, Bertie burst through the middle to claim his hat-trick, converted by Oli for 33–10. The Lions responded with a converted try, but relentless Tigers pressure forced turnovers, and Bertie pounced again — chipping, chasing, and grounding his fourth. 40–17.
Flanker Lewis Bradley then finished a flowing move, again converted by Oli, to make it 47–17. The Lions refused to fold, adding two late tries through their pack to earn a deserved bonus, before scrum-half Jacob Tansey crossed in the final moments to seal a superb 52–29 win.