Rugby claimed that important first win of the season with a really impressive display against an uncompromising Preston Grasshoppers side.

Lions made seven changes from the previous game but got straight into their stride on a very good pitch with a slick passing move that sent debutant winger Jeff Gregson racing in for a first-minute try converted from out wide by Lloyd Warner.

The game wasn’t always so easy for Lions and an early response came when Preston kicked a penalty for 3-7.

But although Preston presented a stern challenge that was sometimes physically intimidating, the Lions forwards, with first starts for prop Tom Williams and former Minis and Juniors Lion Nick Walton, seemed determined not to take a step back.

Their full-blooded contest overcooked when a brawl broke out and Karl Braband suffered a cut to the side of his face.

But Lions stood up to the challenge and started to take control towards the end of the half.

First, Warner kicked a penalty after yet another slick Lions passing move and then he converted Gregson’s second try having also supplied the final pass as Lions showed themselves quicker in thought and action than their opponents.

So in sharp contrast to their previous two games, Lions led at half time by 3-17.

In the second half, Rugby’s half back pairing Jack Green and Lewis Barker really came into their own, with Green forming an effective kicking partnership with Matt Goode and Barker’s performance bearing comparison with his opposition no.9 Darren Wilson who was the home side’s best player.

Lions extended their lead with that man Warner racing home although his place kicking lost its edge somewhat in the second half. Preston responded by bringing on four replacements at once – a testament to the way Lions were forcing Grasshoppers into errors.

Just before the hour mark and after another fight, Preston scored a converted try after heavy pressure so, at 10-22, Rugby knew they couldn’t afford to relax.

They went close as the backs continued to outpace and out pass the home defence but the decisive score didn’t come, even if Tom Harris was only a finger’s length short after one explosive burst.

Wilson profited from a Lions attack going awry to race home for a converted try to tighten the scores at 17-22 on 76 minutes and Rugby faced the prospect of losing a match they looked sure to win.

But another fight gave Warner a penalty kick and then Gregson finished off the game in the most emphatic style with a 60-metre break to claim his third try.

This was an outstanding Lions display where they put in the full 80-minute performance after previously only coming alive when looking dead and buried.

The players drafted in for their first appearances this season all performed excellently to demonstrate the depth and the quality of this young Lions squad.

Rugby Lions: Warner, Gregson, Goode, Reed, Harris, Williams, Price, Burchnall, Weaver, Braband, Saunders, Nash, Walton. Reps: Pateman, Parker, Campton, Warrilow, Andrews