Preston Grasshoppers vs. Leicester Lions
Saturday 9th February, Lightfoot Green, 2.30pm
After the postponement of last weeks game at Macclesfield, Hoppers welcome long standing opponents Leicester Lions to Lightfoot Green this Saturday hopeful that the ice bound AGP from last weekend will be clear and ready for action.
Earlier in the season Hoppers fell to a last minute try by the home side in a game they had looked likely to win after clawing their way back into the lead late on in the game, something of a familiar story this season!
Our visitors have had something of a resurgence since the end of November after looking down and out before then. Five wins during this period have included the notable scalps of Sedgley Park, Chester and league leaders Hull Ionians plus bottom club Peterborough Lions and local rivals South Leicester. On the reverse they’ve suffered defeat at the hands of Fylde, Huddersfield and Hinckley plus Otley last Saturday at Westleigh Park since the beginning of December.
Hoppers will want to get back on the winning track with Saturday’s opponents just three points behind being a big incentive. With three of their eight victories this season coming on the road, their reputation as a side that doesn’t travel too well appears to be a long way behind them these days!
After being in competition with the leading N2N promotion group during many recent seasons, Leicester Lions currently find themselves at the other end of the table, although their recent successes have lifted them ten points away from the danger zone.
National League Two matches against Leicester Lions began relatively recently when this week’s opponents gained promotion into the RFU’s Level 4 as Champions of Midlands 1 at the end of the 2004/5 season which coincided with Preston Grasshoppers promotion from North 1. Apart from Hoppers last season, both clubs have always occupied places at Level 4 of the rugby leagues during this period.
The share of victories in the resulting encounters lies in favour of the Midlands side, and even though our hosts have won all but two of the encounters at Westleigh Park, the tally is a fairly close fourteen wins to Hoppers eleven.
Team News
Hoppers name the same team that was due to line up at the postponed Macclesfield game last week
1. Oga MABAYA
2. PJ MILLEA (C)
3. Peter ALTHAM
4. Adam HOWARD
5. Ryan CARLSON
6. Ally MURRAY
7. Teddy LEATHERBARROW
8. Matt LAMPREY
9. James GOUGH
10. Thomas DAVIDSON
11. Scott JORDAN
12. James FITZPATRICK
13. Alex HURST
14. Tyler SPENCE
15. Nathan POPE
16. Oli TRIPPIER
17. Noah MILLER
18. Luke PROCTER
19. Conor TRUEMAN
20. Sam STOTT
