The Leicester Tigers Academy continued their unbeaten run in this season’s U18 Academy League with a bonus-point, 36-7 away win over Yorkshire Carnegie Academy on Saturday afternoon.
It took more than 20 minutes for the Tigers to get on the scoreboard after fly-half Sam Costelow slotted a penalty attempt in the 23rd minute.
It was just moments before the half-time whistle that they added to the three-point lead when the fly-half added another score, this time going over for a try in the 35th minute. Costelow converted his own score to see the young cubs head in to the break with a 10-0 lead.
Just ten minutes in to the second half and the Tigers scored their second try of the match when lock Xander Purcell crashed over and Costelow converted, stretching their lead to 17-0 with 25 minutes to play.
The Tigers found the line for a third time in the 49th minute when replacement scrum-half Jonny Law dived over and again, Costelow converted which meant the lead was 24-0 with only 20 minutes remaining in the Academy League fixture.
The Tigers made it two successive week’s with a try bonus-point in the 54th minute when wing Will Poland crossed.
Fly-half Costelow continued his impressive form from the tee and added a fifth goal in as many attempts to take the Tigers score to 31 points and his personal tally for the game to 16.
Only minutes after their fourth and the Tigers were in for a fifth when Poland added his second try of the match, stretching the lead to 36 points over Yorkshire in Keighley.
It would end up being the final Tigers score, but not the game’s, with the home side scoring their only try of the game in the final minute of play to see the final deficit at 29 points as the Tigers ran out 36-7 winners.
The Tigers look to finish the regular season without a loss in next week’s final round fixture against Newcastle at Oval Park on Saturday, February 17 before the U18 Academy League Finals Day on Sunday, March 11 at Allianz Park.
Commentary
TIGERS CONTINUE UNBEATEN RUN
Full Time is blown at Keighley RUFC and the Leicester Tigers have continued their unbeaten run in this season's U18 Academy League with a 36-7 victory over Yorkshire.
CONVERSION - YORKSHIRE
The attempt on goal is successful and Yorkshire manage to move their deficit in two the twenties, trailing the Tigers by 29 points with just seconds left in this fixture.
TRY - YORKSHIRE
In the final minute of play here at Keighley, the home side cross for their first try and points of the afternoon which closes their deficit to 31 points with a conversion attempt to come.
TRY - TIGERS
Tigers wing Will Poland crosses for his second try of the match and Costelow misses his first attempt on goal for the game, which keeps the Leicester lead at 36 points with ten minutes left on the clock.
CONVERSION - TIGERS
Tigers fly-half Sam Costelow makes it a personal tally of 16 points for the match so far with a successful conversion attempt, which also sees Leicester's Academy now leading 31-0 with less than fifteen minutes remaining here at Keighley.
TRY - TIGERS
Bonus-point secured by the young cubs as wing Will Poland dives over for the Tigers fourth of the afternoon in the 54th minute.
CONVERSION - TIGERS
Costelow is again on the money with his shot at goal and the Tigers now lead by 24 points over Yorkshire with twenty minutes remaining in the match.
TRY - TIGERS
Replacement scrum-half Jonny Law crosses for the Tigers third of the afternoon not long after entering the match from the bench.
CONVERSION - TIGERS
Costelow has no trouble adding the extra two points and stretches the Tigers lead to 17 points over Yorkshire after 46 minutes.
TRY - TIGERS
Ten minutes in to the second half and Tigers have their second try of the match, this time through lock Xander Purcell.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
We're underway for the second half here at Keighley RUFC in this U18 Academy League fixture.
TIGERS LEAD BY TEN AT HALF TIME
As the teams head in for the half-time break, Tigers lead by ten with all points coming courtesy of fly-half Sam Costelow.
CONVERSION - TIGERS
Costelow converts his own try and stretches the Tigers lead to 10 points over Yorkshire after 36 minutes.
TRY - TIGERS
The first try of the game goes the way of the Tigers as fly-half Sam Costelow goes over.
PENALTY - TIGERS
Fly-half Sam Costelow scores the opening points of this match with a successful shot at goal seeing Tigers take a 3-0 lead.
20
TWENTY GONE AND NO SCORE AS YET
Neither side has had the scoreboard attendant working as yet in this afternoon's Academy League fixture after twenty minutes.
10
TEN GONE AND NO SCORE AS YET
Both sides are pressing for points but with ten minutes gone, neither have managed to score as yet.
Can this unbeaten Tigers side continue their winning ways in this season's Academy League?
ACADEMY LEAGUE ACTION UNDERWAY
We have kicked off in today's U18 Academy League clash between Tigers and Yorkshire at Keighley RUFC.