The Saxons now enjoy a well-deserved week’s rest as others play catch up, returning to action on March 1st with a crunch fixture at Macclesfield who, like Mowden Park, lie 2 points behind but with a game in hand.

The kickoff had been brought forward to give the option of moving to the equally wet but less muddy roadside pitch, an option that was taken after a captains’ pitch inspection. The Saxons’ got first use of the strong westerly wind that kept play at the drier end of the pitch first half but then conveniently dropped after half time. Leicester saw a hard job made even more difficult when they had a man dismissed after 20min for a dangerous hit on Pete White that makes him an injury worry for the Macclesfield game.

The Saxons welcomed centre Ben Barkley back from injury, slotting in alongside Gary Dipple who moved to the outside half berth. Also back after an extended layoff was 2nd row Nile Dacres. James Rodley started in the back row giving Drew Harper a first home appearance of the season from the bench.

The Saxons pressed the attack from the kick off, Chris Depper held up over the line in the early exchanges and a steady supply of penalties in kicking range all kicked to the corners in pursuit of the bonus point victory. First to score was flanker Nigel Mukarati at the base of a lineout catch & drive the visitors couldn’t hold out.

Leicester’s defences held firm for the next set of drives, and they looked likely to make a first foray into Saxons’ territory when awarded a penalty in the scrum, but player-coach Jon Boden’s kick missed touch. In his frustration he poleaxed Pete White with a late neck-high flailing arm in full view of referee Jamie Leahy who brandished a red card after a brief consultation with his assistants.

Gary Dipple was hauled down just short of the line but a careless penalty allowed the visitors to clear their lines and wind the clock down by keeping ball in hand. But the Saxons recovered possession and kicked a scrum penalty back into the corner from where Mike Hill crashed over out wide for his 2nd try in successive weeks. Halftime score just 14-0 with Saxons a lot left to do into the wind but crucially Leicester’s indiscipline in defence having drawn a warning from Mr Leahy.

A further transgression early in the 2nd half saw a Lions’ flanker depart for 10min, leaving their further depleted defences vulnerable to the Saxons’ wide game. Inevitably it was winger Nathan Bressington who scored next, running outside his defender as the Saxons backs moved the ball right from a lineout.

The visitors were stretched again shortly after, replacement Drew Harper barging his way over from short range for the bonus point try. With their flanker still off the pitch Leicester shot themselves in the foot by dropping the ball running out of their own 22, Stef Shillingford deftly seizing possession and feeding a grateful Bressington who crossed for his 2nd try.

With the job done the remainder of the game was played predominantly in the saturated visitors’ 22, losing its shape as the replacements benches were emptied and the error count crept up. The Saxons lost momentum by conceding needless penalties as ball carriers got isolated, and were held out until the final whistle was imminent when fullback Tom Jarvis took a neat draw & give from Shillingford to cross for the final try.

Coach Mike Umaga commented ‘I’m clearly happy with another bonus point win and clean sheet, it was a great effort from the entire squad because we had to cope with some late withdrawls and the change of pitch. The tight 5 in particular worked really well, none more so than my man of the match hooker Scott Wright’.