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Report: Academy beat Wasps to take top spot

Leicester Tigers produced a dominant display against Wasps in a 52-5 win to maintain the teams unbeaten season in the U18 Academy League.

Four first half tries to no reply provided the foundations to a clinical 47-point victory which sees them overtake Wasps as league leaders after four rounds of fixtures.

A cagey opening ten minutes saw both teams push for territory but it was Tigers who made the breakthrough on 15 minutes. Full back Freddie Steward showed his pace and strength close to the line before fly half Sam Costelow added the points from the kicking tee.

Tigers began to dominate proceedings and it was the Leicester forward pack who would do the damage.

Tigers lock George Martin crashed over on the twenty minute mark and four minutes later prop James Whitcombe dived on a loose ball after a mistake from the Wasps fly half on their own touchline.

No.8 Dave Koelman then burst over the line following off the back of a line out on the Wasps five metre line. Costelow kicked the points on each occasion to give Tigers a 29-0 lead at the half way point.

A minute into the first half, lock Martin secured his second try of the match in front of the posts, giving Costelow an easy kick.

Tigers academy coaches made a number of replacements as Jack Van Poortvliet getting in on the scoring action with Costelow kicking the conversion.

Costelow and the impressive Will Poland then made way for Harry Glynn and Zack Godfrey.

Wasps got their only points of the game on 57 minutes through Winger Taju Atta but Tigers replied with a well worked try to the right of the posts which replacement Thom Smith finished off.

With the scores at 48-5, Tigers finished off the game through an interception by replacement Harry Glynn judging an interception inside the Tigers half way and running over 50 metres to score.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

WAS 0-28 LEI

FT ScoreFull Time Score

WAS 5-52 LEI

Attendance

Not available

Referee

Greg MacDonald

Wasps U18s

WAS

Wasps U18s
5

Full Time

Leicester Tigers Academy
Leicester Tigers Academy
52
Wasps U18s

WAS

T
KOHTFT
Leicester Tigers Academy
T
C
T
C
T
C
T
C
T
C
T
C
T
T

Commentary

FULL TIME - YOUNG TIGERS GO TOP

The Leicester Tigers have beaten Wasps in today's Academy League fixture at Whitelands Farm Sports Ground, continuing the young 'cubs' unbeaten run so far this season and seeing them now go clear at the top of the competition table. 

TRY - TIGERS

As we enter the final sixty seconds of the match, Wasps find themselves in attack but being forced backwards due to the high-energy and intensity of the Tigers defence near the half-way line. 

The ball is moved to the right by the home team, looking for a gap in the Leicester defence, and in the panic a rushed pass is intercepted by Leicester's replacement fly-half Glynn who races 55m to score in the final play of the match. 

Conversion attempt again narrowly misses. 

TRY - TIGERS

Leicester cross for what is their seventh try of the match, after the ball is shifted wide to the right quickly from the set-piece before strong running off the ruck for three phases sees them crash over through replacement Thom Smith. 

Harry Glynn's conversion attempt narrowly misses. 

TRY - WASPS

As the clock approaches the hour mark, the home side cross for their first of the afternoon through winger Taju Atta. 

The conversion attempt is unsuccessful and the Tigers lead is now thirty-seven points with thirteen minutes remaining. 

SUBSTITUTIONS - TIGERS

Leicester's Academy coaches make a double change. 

OFF - Sam Costelow and Will Poland

ON - Harry Glynn and Zack Godfrey

CONVERSION - TIGERS

Costelow kicks the conversion and stretches the Tigers lead to forty-two points after just shy of the same amount of minutes. 

TRY - TIGERS

Less than sixty seconds after entering the match, replacement Jack Van Poortvliet is over for the Tigers sixth try of the match. 

SUBSTITUTIONS - TIGERS

Nine minutes in to the second-half, leading by thirty-five points, the visitors make three changes to their side. 

OFF - Jamie Harding, Jonny Law and Luke Phoenix

ON - Fin Gibson, Joe Browning and Jack Van Poortvliet

CONVERSION - TIGERS

Fly-half Sam Costelow adds another conversion, his fifth of the day, and Tigers lead by thirty-five over Wasps. 

TRY - TIGERS

Just one minute in to the second chapter of this top of the table clash and Leicester are over for their fifth try, with second-rower George Martin making it a double as he crashes over the line for Tigers. 

SUBSTITUTIONS - TIGERS

The visitors make two changes at the half-time break. 

OFF - James Whitcombe and Dave Koelman

ON - Joe Latham and Thom Smith

HALF TIME AT WHITELANDS FARM

The visitors head in to the break with a 28-point lead over their hosts here at Whitelands Farm Sports Ground, with the bonus-point try coming on the stroke of half an hour. 

CONVERSION - TIGERS

The Tigers make it a twenty-eight point lead in half an hour over Wasps, with fly-half Costelow kicking his fourth conversion from as many attempts following the bonus-point score. 

TRY - TIGERS

Leicester cross for the bonus-point score before the half an hour mark here at Whitelands Farm as No.8 Dave Koelman bursts his way through the Wasps defence, under the posts, after persistent pressure of the home side pays off following a well executed 5m line-out. 

CONVERSION - TIGERS

Costelow again with the extra two points, sending the conversion attempt through the posts and the lead is now twenty-one after twenty-five minutes. 

TRY - TIGERS

Leicester cross for their third try just three minutes after registering the second, with front-rower James Whitecombe this time the scorer. 

The prop had very little to do after an error from the Wasps fly-half on their hosts try-line in the attempt to clear with a kick saw the ball cough up and in to the running path of Whitcombe.

CONVERSION - TIGERS

Costelow again adds the extras from the tee and the lead is now out to fourteen points after twenty-one minutes.

TRY - TIGERS

Not five minutes after their first try and Tigers are in for their second, this time through second-rower George Martin. 

The lock crashes over from close range after a brilliant lead up from the Leicester forwards, who worked their way towards the line with patience. 

CONVERSION - TIGERS

Fly-half Costelow converts the opening score and Tigers lead Wasps by seven after sixteen minutes.

TRY - TIGERS

Leicester cross for the first try of the game through fullback Freddie Steward, who shows his strength and speed out wide after a brilliant pass from fly-half Sam Costelow.

10

NO CHANGE AFTER TEN

The clock has ticked past the ten minute mark here at Whitelands Farm and neither side is yet to score, despite some exciting and inventive play in the damp conditions.

KICK-OFF AT WHITELANDS

Wasps get us underway at Whitelands Farm Sports Ground in today's Academy League top of the table clash, kicking off to the Tigers with a shallow but high kick-off.


Academy ready for top-of-table test

George Martin secures lineout ball in the Under-18 win over Worcester
George Martin secures lineout ball in the Under-18 win over Worcester

Leicester Tigers face Wasps in the fourth round of the Under-18 Academy League on Saturday (1.00pm kick-off).

Both teams have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the campaign and fill the top two places in the league table with Wasps having played one game more ahead of this weekend’s encounter which is being played at Whitelands Farm Sports Ground in Bicester.

For the under-18 clash, Tigers are without four players who are involved in the senior team squad for the Anglo-Welsh Cup trip to Wasps on Sunday with Cameron Jordan in line for his debut and colleagues Henri Lavin, Will Yarnell and Sam Wager among the replacements.

Will Poland, Jonny Law, Sam Eveleigh and Dave Koelman all come into the starting XV for Saturday with back-rower Taylor Gough named as captain.

Leicester Tigers team (v Wasps, away, Saturday 1.00pm)

15 Freddie Steward (Norwich School)

14 Will Poland (Bishop Vesey)

13 Ronnie Du Randt (Denstone College)

12 Andre Dunn (Langley School)

11 Luke Phoenix (Langley School)

10 Sam Costelow (Oakham School)

9 Jonny Law (Rugby School)

1 Keston Lines (Wyggeston & QE College)

2 Jamie Harding (Denstone College)

3 James Whitcombe (Woodhouse Grove School)

4 George Martin (Brooksby Melton College)

5 Xander Purcell (Wyggeston & QE College)

6 Taylor Gough (Wyggeston & QE College)(c)

7 Sam Eveleigh (Leicester Grammar School)

8 Dave Koelman (Stamford School)

Replacements

16 Finlay Gibson (Brooksby Melton College)

17 Alex Maxwell (Brooksby Melton College)

18 Joe Latham (Wyggeston & QE College)

19 Thom Smith (Langley School)

20 Joe Browning (Denstone College)

21 Jack Van Poortvliet (Oakham School)

22 Harry Glynn (Leicester Grammar School)

23 Zack Godfrey (Stamford School)

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

5
Wasps U18s
Leicester Tigers Academy52
Leicester Tigers Academy
Full Time