Leicester Lions maintained their perfect start to their National 2 West campaign, but were pushed all the way in the end by a resolute Luctonians side, who refused to give in.

However, Ryan Watkins’ side were eventually beaten 37-43 in a high scoring encounter which entertained the Mortimer Park faithful.

Lions started the game far sharper and heavy forward pressure at scrum and lineout allowed them to score twice through Edward Sumpter and John Murdoch, with fly-half Ben Young getting one conversion, giving the visitors a 5-12 lead after 20 minutes, with Tom Jones scoring an unconverted try for the hosts in between.

A pair of Louis Silver penalties for Lucs, either side of an Alex Wilcockson score (converted) for Lions took the score to 11-19, before man of the match Devon Constant, whose destructive running throughout caused problems for the home side, went over in the corner for an unconverted score and an 11-24 lead at the break.

The game looked all but dead a minute into the second period, as Luke Bouchier went over with the first possession for 11-31, before the Herefordshire men finally kicked into gear.

Lucs tries from Owien Harriott-Davis, Josh Nott and two for Charlie Grimes, including a wonderful solo effort for his first, were separated by Jamel Hamilton and Aston Gradwick-Light efforts for Lions, Silver converting three of those for Lucs and Young one more for the visitors.

What could have been, had Lucs had another five minutes to play, as they were totally in the ascendency for the final quarter, but Lions come away, just about deserved, 37-43 winners of a truly entertaining game.

Luctonians 2nd XV won the top of the table clash in Counties Midlands 2 West (North) with a 31-29 victory of Edwardians FC, in what turned out to be a very entertaining fixture.

 Lucs opened the scoring with centre James Farrell going over, converted by Tyler Morris, before the visitors would hit back almost immediately through Scrum Half Adam Boot, converted by Brandon Lea.

The hosts retook the lead on 20 minutes through Mark Roberts converted effort, before the Ed’s responded again immediately with a converted score from Gary Hawkins.

Once again Lucs 2nds took the lead through another converted score, this time from Richard Spencer on the half hour, before the Birmingham visitors again hot back instantly, this time through a Lea penalty, meaning the hosts lead 21-17 at the break. 

Benjamin Cooper scored a converted try for Edwardians at the beginning of the second period to give them the lead for the first time in the game, 21-24, before things got even better for the visitors as skipper George Rea went over to secure them a four-try bonus point and a 21-29 lead, with half an hour to play.

Lucs came back again with two unconverted tries from Giles Morell to lead 31-29 with 10 minutes to play and the hosts held on.