REPORT – Leicester Tigers U18 12-22 Warriors U18

Warriors Under 18s made it two wins from two in the Aviva Premiership Under 18 Academy Northern Conference after an impressive victory over Leicester Tigers at Oval Park.

Stan Maine was the first to touch down before James Page crossed and three successful kicks from Jamie Shillcock made it 17-0 at half-time.

Sam Yawayawa got Leicester back into the game just before the break and Fred Tuilagi touched down in the second period to put just five points between the sides, but Ted Hill went over to seal victory for Warriors.

Neither side could make the most of the opening exchanges as a swirling wind played havoc with the ball in the air but Shillcock kept his nerve to slot over a long-range penalty on 13 minutes.

Maine then got the game's first try moments later after Shillcock threw a long pass out wide and the scrum-half added the extras with a difficult touchline conversion.

Page made an instant impact after coming on for Joe Morris, with the front-row making the most of a pick-and-go following a Warriors lineout to squeeze past the defence before Shillcock added another two.

Warriors conceded their first points of the season just before the break when Tigers moved the ball across the park after winning a lineout and Yawayawa finished in the corner.

Leicester received a yellow card for dissent just before the break after losing a penalty but Shillcock's kick dropped short.

Tigers started the second-half strongly, dominating scrums and possession and scored their second try with a lineout drive finished by Manu Tuilagi's nephew Fred, before it was converted by Jacob Umaga – son of former All Black captain Tana.

But Warriors were able to halt the Tigers ascendancy and scored a drive of their own with Hill touching down. Shillcock's kick looked good but was held up by the wind at the last moment. 

Despite an intense finish to the game, neither team could add to the scoreboard and Warriors showed solid defence to hold on to victory. 

Academy Backs Development Coach Gordon Ross said: "Our energy and physicality were great. We outmuscled a very physical team with an excellent mauling game, backed up by some strong kicking from our half-backs.

"We're very confident after two wins and looking forward to a local derby next week."

Warriors U18s face Gloucester Rugby at Luctonians RFC next Saturday in their third league match of the Northern Conference (kick-off 12pm).

Warriors U18: 15 Max Craven, 14 Alex Hearle, 13 Dion King, 12 Will Butler, 11 Stan Maine, 10 Ollie Allsopp, 9 Jamie Shillcock; 1 Freddie Hemmingway, 2 George Newman, 3 Joe Morris, 4 Lawrence Weston, 5 James Scott, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Tom Ford, 8 Ben Fowles (C) 

Replacements: 16 George Radburn, 17 James Page, 18 Ben Davies-Moore, 19 Max Hill, 20 Jacob Ham, 21 Sam Hollingsworth, 22 Baron Abraham

Timeline:
13m: Shillcock pen 0-3
15m: Maine try 0-8
16m: Shillcock con 0-10
25m: Page try 0-15
26m: Shillcock con 0-17
30m: Yawayawa try 5-17
48m: Tuilagi try 10-17
49m: Umaga con 12-17
54m: Hill try 12-22


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