MATCH REPORT: RAMS BEATEN LATE ON AT LEICESTER

RAMS suffered late heartbreak as their unbeaten start to the National One campaign came to an end with a 26-24 reverse at Leicester Lions.

The hosts came out of the blocks quickly, but having withstood an early assault Rams hit the front at the end of the first quarter when Ben Atkins went over at the back of a maul for his fifth try of the campaign.

Fraser Honey added the extras, but the Lions roared back with a devastating three-try barrage to take control of proceedings.

Firstly the visitors gave away a soft penalty five metres from their own line, a quick tap-and-go ending with hooker Aston Gradwick-Light burrowing over from close range for a score added to by Dan Lewis.

Leicester went ahead four minutes later as man-of-the-match Geordie Irvine snaffled a line-out before running in from 40 metres, Lewis again on target for 14-7.

They nearly moved further in front as Toby Cousins was stopped just short of the line after scorching down the left, but the third try arrived not soon after as Nick Cairns threw a dummy before strolling in.

Lewis converted and Lions continued to attack, but Rams threw off the shackles with a brilliant try from inside their own 22, finished by Zach Clow, to cut the gap on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors then bossed the early stages of the second period, gaining due reward on 49 minutes as some nice handling freed Jak Rossiter to beat two men for a score on the right.

And after Cairns was sin-binned following a string of home penalties, Rams grabbed the lead at the end of the third quarter when Max Hayman rode over at the back of another surging rolling maul.

Honey landed a fine kick for 24-21, and the visitors continued to enjoy the better of both territory and possession.

Yet Leicester showed their teeth a couple of times to fire some warning shots, only for Rams to repel the danger.

They then camped inside the Lions’ 22 towards the end, Rossiter nearly doubling his tally, only for a sparkling move to be finished by Lewis as the hosts broke down the right.

The away side had one final chance to snatch victory, going through the phases in their opponents’ 22, but they were unable to strike a winning drop-goal as Leicester secured a second win of the campaign.