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Defeat cannot deny Tigers a Final spot

Figure image

Leicester Tigers Academy suffered a first defeat of the Under-18 League season when they went down 34-20 against Wasps on Saturday.

In a game played at Aylesbury RFC, Tigers trailed 17-15 at half-time but it was Wasps who pulled away in the second half to take the win.

Tigers, with five wins from five previous rounds, had already secured top spot in the league’s Northern Conference before kick-off, while Wasps finished in fourth place, just a point short of claiming a place at Finals Day.

The hosts opened the scoring with a try from full-back Olly Hartley inside the opening two minutes before a Jack Vernum penalty got Tigers on the scoreboard.

Tries just five minutes apart from Ollie Dawkins and Kofi Cripps took the hsts into a 17-3 lead but Tigers got back into the game with scores from flanker Jordan Tebbatt and hooker Joe Plunkett to cut the deficit to just two points at the break.

Cripps completed his hat-trick with tries either side of a score from fly-half Charlie Atkinson as wasps bagged their bonus point and stretched the lead to 34-15 before wing Josh Lugsden scored a third for the visitors from some neat play by the backs.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

WAS 17-15 LEI

FT ScoreFull Time Score

WAS 34-20 LEI

Attendance

431

Referee

Ivan Kennedy

Wasps U18s

WAS

Wasps U18s
34

Full Time

Leicester Tigers Academy
Leicester Tigers Academy
20
Wasps U18s

WAS

KOHTFT
Leicester Tigers Academy

Commentary

FULL TIME | 34-20

The young cubs’ winning streak is over, though defeat to Wasps cannot deny Tigers a place in next Sunday’s Grand Final; with their opponent from the southern conference still to be confirmed.

HALF TIME | 17-15

Tigers are back in this game at the break, trailing by just two points after tries to Jordan Tebbatt and Joe Plunkett.

KICK-OFF AT AYLESBURY RFC

The Tigers Academy are underway in their final regular-season match of this campaign.


Team news | Academy side for last conference fixture of season

Figure image

Billy Hull will lead the Tigers Academy in their last Northern Conference fixture of the Under-18 League season against Wasps on Saturday in Aylesbury.

Hull has been named at inside-centre alongside Jack Taylor in the midfield, with Henry Joule at full-back, and Harry Sturmey and Josh Lugsden making up the outside-backs.

Jed Gelderbloom starts at scrum-half with Jack Vernum at fly-half.

In the front row, Lynx Noumey and Tim Hoyt start at prop, with Joe Plunkett at hooker.

Callum Oakden and Phil Tandoh make up the second row, with Ben Muncaster, Jordan Tebbatt and Bobby Singer completing the Tigers pack.

Academy head coach Matt Smith, whose side has already secured top spot in the conference ahead of Academy Finals Day next Sunday (February 16) at Sixways Stadium in Worcester, poured water on any idea of the team getting ahead of themselves with one game remaining in the league programme.

“We have no eyes on the Finals Days, we are solely focused on this weekend’s game against Wasps,” said Smith.

“Our strategy all season has been week by week, game by game, and that doesn’t change this weekend, whatever our position in the conference may be.

“The team selected for this weekend need to go out and put in a shift up to our standards and continue the strong work done by the group so far during this campaign.”

Leicester Tigers Academy XV: O Henry Joule, N Harry Sturmey, M Jack Taylor, L Billy Hull (c), K Josh Lugsden, J Jack Vernum, I Jed Gelderbloom; A Lynx Noumey, B Joe Plunkett, C Tim Hoyt, D Callum Oakden, E Phil Tandoh, F Ben Muncaster, H Jordan Tebbatt, G Bobby Singer

Replacements: P Tom Coton, Q Dan Clements, R Seb Smith, S Archie Benford, T Noah Leo, U Danny O'Regan, V Harry Read, W Felix Martin

Form Guide

UNKNOWN

Form
LLW--
Last Match
Beat Leicester Tigers Academy 34-20
Past Meeting
Won 34-20
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
WWWLL
Last Match
Lost to Northampton Saints U18s 22-35
Past Meeting
Lost 20-34

Matchday Live

Wasps U18s

WAS

34
Wasps U18s
Leicester Tigers Academy20
Leicester Tigers Academy
Full Time