Barnes' attack seriously blunted; the final score does not reflect the actual contest

The first quarter consisted of 2 penalties each then an interception early in the second quarter created the first try for Leicester. Line-out problems prevented Barnes from setting up attacks. With 11 minutes to go the only yellow card led to 2 more converted tries for the visitors.

Leicester returned the home team's kick-off with an up-and-under then forced the first error to get the ball back. They advanced strongly with 6 mostly wide phases into the other half and further until penalised 18 metres out. Barnes kicked for a line-out near their 10 metre line then had that stolen. Next the visitors kept the ball close recycling 3 times before being penalised some metres back. Barnes kicked for a line-out 18 metres from the opposition line and had another stolen from a poor throw. Leicester cleared to touch past halfway and Barnes won their first then made ground before kicking to the line. This resulted in a long 22 drop-out which Barnes ran back to get a penalty for a high tackle 4 metres past halfway. Fly-half Strang kicked the points at 6 minutes.

Barnes regained from their up-and-under following the restart and soon chipped to the wing. This was followed by a scrum for the opposition 5 metres inside their half. After it the Lions were penalised 5 metres back for obstruction and the fly-half kicked for the points at 11 minutes. The home team secured the restart before being turned over at the next breakdown. Leicester recycled 3 times to get a penalty at the 22 and their fly-half Young kicked at 13 minutes. They secured the restart and kicked back long; Barnes used an up-and-under that resulted in a penalty against them for offside 11 metres past halfway. They kick gained 20 metres and from the line-out Leicester advanced some metres with 3 phases to get another penalty at 17 metres and Young levelled the scores.

Two kicks followed the restart with Barnes regaining their up-and-under. They put together 7 mixed phases before being forced into touch 20 metres from the visitors' line. The Lions soon kicked long from the line-out; Barnes ran wide before being forced into touch again 4 metres past halfway. Next they stole the line-out and soon kicked to the 22. Leicester tried a chip over the oncoming opposition; Barnes got the ball and recycled close 4 times; the last resulted in an interception by centre Veebel. He ran off and in the other half kicked to the line. Scrumhalf Stubbs got to the ball first for a try at the corner after 23 minutes. An excellent conversion followed.

After the restart and 3 kicks Barnes were penalised while attacking for obstruction. The kick took the visitors to the opposition 10 metre line where their line-out resulted in a scrum for the home team. From that Barnes kept the ball recycling mostly close 7 times to get a penalty a metre inside their half. The kick took them to 27 metres from Leicester's line where a badly not-straight throw gave the visitors a scrum. Kicks were exchanged after than there were three turnovers before a penalty for Barnes at the last one. Their kick didn't find touch and Leicester did to 18 metres from halfway. The line-out resulted in a penalty for Barnes which they ran and soon chipped to the wing but into touch 15 metres from their opponents' line. The Lions ran out of their 22 with the help of a dummy threat to kick and advanced into the other half with 3 wide phases before passing forward at the home team's 10 metre line. After their scrum Barnes kept the ball close recycling 4 times before kicking into the 22. Leicester cleared well to touch and Barnes threw a quick line-out. Kicks were exchanged then Barnes made a break near touch then put together 6 close phases with some passes in between to get a penalty 17 metres out in centre field and Strang took the points before the halftime whistle to make the scores 9 - 13.

The Lions' second half restart was followed by 4 kicks before a line-out for the home team 18 metres into the visitors' half. From that Barnes were forced back 11 metres while recycling 3 times and recovering from an error then were penalised. A very good kick took Leicester to just outside the other 22. Their pack kept the ball in from the line-out and advanced 10 metres to get another penalty that was kicked for a line-out 9 metres out. Their next drive was held and they released to centre then 3 recycled resulted in their scrum 10 metres back. They released to centre then recycled twice close; at the third breakdown Barnes seemed to counter-ruck over the ball but were penalised giving Young an easy kick 17 metres out at 7 minutes.

Two kicks followed the restart before a penalty for Barnes 10 metres into the opposition half. Strang's low flat kick from quite near touch was unsuccessful. After the drop-out and two more kicks Barnes had their line-out, 15 metres into the visitors' half, stolen. The Lions used an up-and-under that Barnes dropped; the ball was hacked on to their 22. They got back and soon cleared to touch 22 metres from halfway. The line-out was thrown not-straight and from the scrum Barnes advanced well with a couple of phases before kicking to the line. They ran back the 22 drop-out with 9 phases before being penalised 6 metres out. Leicester kicked for a line-out 20 metres from halfway and from that kept the ball close advancing before using an up-and-under. Barnes soon used another and the visitors cleared to touch 4 metres from halfway. An error after the line-out resulted in a scrum for the Lions. Now, at the start of the final quarter, injuries meant that Barnes could not supply a front row, so scrums had to be uncontested. Before this they had had an advantage in those, but none that resulted in penalties. Kicks were exchanged leading to a line-out for the visitors 10 metres past halfway. They got a free-kick at that which they ran; after recycling once they recovered from having a kick charged down and recycled wide to break through to 8 metres out where they were turned over. Barnes cleared to touch 15 metres from halfway then the Lions' pack kept the ball in from their line-out and made ground. This resulted in their penalty and a man advantage for 10 minutes. The kick took them to 5 metres out from where their forwards drove to the line where the ball was released to wing Constant who touched down after 71 minutes. Replacement fly-half Glynn added.

Leicester secured the restart and directly broke out and away to the other 22 with 4 phases before being penalised just outside the 22. Barnes' kick didn't find touch; the visitors kicked back then Barnes kicked to the wing. That was successful and the wing ran then kicked ahead. This resulted in a penalty for the home team 11 metres past halfway. The kick took them to the opposition 22. From there they advanced 9 metres with 6 close phases to scrum for the visitors. Three kicks followed that; the last was charged down then recovered and cleared to touch 24 metres out. From the line-out Barnes went wide twice, but backwards, and the Lions forced an error to get a scrum just past halfway. After that their last try scorer was put through a hole and away. Five metres out Barnes were penalised; the visitors chose a scrum (uncontested) and chipped to the corner for the same wing to go over at the corner after 74 minutes. A very good conversion by Glynn followed.

Leicester ran from the restart with 6 mixed phases to their penalty at their 10 metre line. They kicked for a line-out 29 metres from their opponents' line. From that they went wide, recovered from an error, then kicked over the defence. The home team got the ball and passed it into touch 7 metres from halfway. The line-out was thrown not-straight; from the scrum Barnes went wide and advanced then recycled once before being turned over. The Lions kept the ball for 2 phases to get a penalty 13 metres inside their half. Their kick didn't find touch; Barnes ran from their 22 and were turned over again before the final whistle.

Dry, overcast, cold with some wind; the pitch good.