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[MidlandsRugbyLeague]

www.midlandsrugbyleague.co.uk


Heavy rains dampened the beginning of the 2012 3vSport.com Midlands Rugby League season, with Northampton Demons’ Premier Division encounter with Coventry Bears A and Wolverhampton’s Division 1 clash with Coventry Dragons falling foul of the weather.

Leicester Storm eased to a comfortable 42-7 win over newcomers Gloucestershire Warriors at Sandyleaze thanks to a hat-trick of close-range tries from Simon Anniss and a brace from powerful prop Mahmood Saad in the Premier Division.

The Warriors were under pressure from the start and struggled to get decent field position. The Storm capitalised on their dominance and led 16-6 at the break with tries from Anniss (2) and Saad and two goals from Tom Knott. The Warriors steadily got into the contest and replied through a Matt Williams try converted by Ash Lewis.

The game was in the balance at the break but the visitors cut loose in the third quarter, as tries from Saad, Knott, Josh McLaurin and Adam Jones put the game to bed. The Warriors could only respond through an Alex McEwan drop goal as they continued to battle hard without reward on the scoreboard.

The Storm defence was in no mood to give in and withstood plenty of pressure before finishing the scoring in the final few minutes with Anniss completing his treble and Greg Harris securing a good start to the campaign for Leicester Storm.

Warriors: Tries; Matt Williams, Goals; Ash Lewis 1 from 1, Drop Goals; Alex McEwan.
Storm: Tries; Simon Anniss (3), Mahmood Saad (2), Tom Knott, John McLaurin, Adam Jones, Greg Harris, Goals; Tom Knott 2 from 3, Ben Spokes 0 from 1, Adam Jones 1 from 4, Liam Barnes 0 from 1.


Meanwhile, 2011 regional champions Telford Raiders kept Leamington Royals scoreless at The Crofts, running up a 68-0 victory in their Division 1 game with impressive youngster Liam Evans making a personal haul of five tries and six goals.

Joining him on the team sheet were Matt Evans (2), Luke Edwards (2), Alex Hazeldine (2), Ryan Holme, Ross MacKaill and Jamie Derry.


Next weekend see’s the East Midlands Division 1 sides enter the fray and the commencement of the junior programme.


Results Summary (28th April 2012):

Men’s Premier: Northampton Demons P – P Coventry Bears A (Waterlogged Pitch), Gloucestershire Warriors 7 – 42 Leicester Storm
Men’s Division 1: Wolverhampton RLFC P – P Coventry Dragons (Waterlogged Pitch), Leamington Royals 0 – 68 Telford Raiders


Next Week’s Fixtures (5th / 6th May 2012):

Men’s Premier: Birmingham Bulldogs v Northampton Demons, Coventry Bears A v Gloucestershire Warriors (All Sat 5th)

Men’s Division 1: NEW Raves v Sleaford Spartans, Leamington Royals v Nottingham Outlaws A, Northampton Demons A v Leicester Storm A, Coventry Dragons v Telford Raiders (All Sat 5th)

Men’s Division 2 (Entry): Hope Valley Hawks v Wolverhampton (Sun 6th)

Under 16s: NEW Ravens v Northampton Knights, Coventry Bears v Gloucestershire All Golds, Birmingham Bullodgs v Derby City, Nottingham Outlaws v Telford Raiders, Northampton Patriots v Leicester Storm (All Sun 6th)

U11s, U13s, U14s: Festival 1 @ Nottingham - Nottingham Outlaws, Derby City, North Derbyshire Chargers, Leicester Storm, Northampton Knights. Festival 2 @ Coventry - Coventry Bears, Wolverhampton Wasps, Telford Raiders, Birmingham Bulldogs, NEW Ravens, Leamington Royals. (Both Sun 6th)

U9s: Festival @ Nottingham – Nottingham Outlaws, Derby City, North Derbyshire Chargers, Telford Raiders (Sun 6th)