Rugby just managed to defeat Leicester in a hard fought dour game at a dull and dismal Westleigh Park, Blaby to avoid a hat trick of defeats and get their promotion push back on target.

Rugby began well and pressured the home try line straight from the kick-off. They ran the ball following a penalty for offside in front of the posts and Ade Hales almost put Tim Douglas in for a try but the ball was lost forward. An advantage was being played for another offside, however, and this time James Hawken slotted the penalty for an early lead.

Leicester responded strongly and evened the score with another penalty from their fly half William Twelvetrees. Their strength is very much in their pack and Rugby cause was not helped when James Wadey was stamped on in a ruck and had to leave the field. With Karl Braband out for some time with injury this dearth of locks could be a major problem for the Lions. Back row player Nick Sharpe came on to replace Wadey.

Leicester’s 10-man game plan was beginning to exert some severe pressure on Rugby’s defence but they just about managed to hold them out. When Rugby did get into the home team’s half, Michael Rust was freed down the right hand side to dive over the line. His joy was short lived however when he looked up to see the touch judge indicating a foot on the touchline.

The remainder of the first half was more in the visitor’s favour with some strong runs from Wilf Barclay, Tristan Wati and Alex Nash. A further penalty from each side made the half time score even at 6-6.

Toby Handley came on to replace Dave Jackson soon after the restart and won a penalty at the base of Leicester’s scrum, which James Hawken converted for a 9-6 lead. Lion’s stalwart No.8 Paul Thomson was having an excellent game in his fill-in role at lock and was pressurising the home team’s line-out as well as winning the majority of his own, although not always cleanly.

Then two yellow cards in quick succession for Rugby gave the home side the advantage. From the first offence the penalty was converted to tie the scores at 9-9, and following the second, the drive from Leicester’s pack, from a lineout was unstoppable with Tom Evans claiming the score. The conversion was expertly converted by replacement fly half Tony Lintern to give the home side a 16-9 lead.

Despite being two men short, Rugby were beginning to gain the upper hand and a lovely long pass by Hawks to Wareing, allowed Ade Hales a bit of space on the left just inside Leicester’s half. It looked unlikely that Ade could make the line, but somehow he skated past everyone to touch down near the posts to allow Hawks to tie the scores with the conversion.

Shortly after, with Leicester also receiving two yellow cards, James Hawken kept his nerve to slot another penalty to give Rugby the lead. It was not over yet, however and with the light almost gone, Tony Lintern had a chance to tie the scores with a penalty. The kick drifted wide to the relief of the large band of travelling supporters and the final whistle blew to send those fans home happy.

This was a vital win to keep the Lions in contention and in second place in the league. Although far from firing on all cylinders, it is good to know that they can still muster a win when not playing at the top of their game.

Some supporters may have been surprised to find that Rugby had held on to second place, in spite of their having been beaten by as many points as they had scored against Tynedale, but it is only points difference that keeps them there, and that is steadily draining away like sand in an hourglass.