Hoppers halted by South power
S Leicester …23
Preston G …10
SOUTH Leicester overpowered Preston Grasshoppers, despite losing replacement Josh McLaurin to two yellow cards.
The home side went in at half-time with 20-0 lead, but Preston came back into the game in the second half.
South started quickly with Jake Heath and Matt Cooke running from their 22 and sending Blane Howe over, Rickie Aley converting.
Aley added a penalty following a scrum offence to extend the hosts' advantage. Minutes later, Gaz Turner raced 50 metres following a breakdown, to score, before Aley's chip over the visitors defence enabled Howe to collect and saunter over as the home side took control.
Preston started the second half brightly, with Niall Crosley and Tom Hurst in particular putting pressure on South.
The home side lost replacement McLaurin to a yellow, before Alastair Murray scored for the visitors, which was converted by Michael Searle.
Aley kicked another penalty for South, but was soon sent from the field after picking up a yellow card of his own. McLaurin received red after his second yellow. Searle kicked a Preston penalty, but it was too little, too late as the home team saw out the victory.
TEAMS
SOUTH LEICESTER: Heath, Cooke, Gunn, Martin, Howe, Aley, Gibbs, McNaughton, Ager, Murray, Wolfenden, Cheney, Ward, Cairns, Turner.
Replacements: Shaw, Warren, Holford, McLaurin, Cope.
PRESTON G: Crosley, Forster, Taylorson, Hurst, Mayor, Murray M, Glynn, Mabaya, Beaty, Altham, Roddy, Murray A, Frings, Edwards, Logan.
Replacements: Taylor, Wilkinson, Gale, Akrigg, Searle.
REFEREE: Benjamin Davis
ATTENDANCE: 75
Star man
Gaz Turner – South Leicester
