Lions well beaten in showdown with relegation rivals

LEICESTER

- writes Michael Howkins.

Lions' hopes of avoiding the drop suffered a major blow after losing to relegation zone rivals Dings CrusadersThe Bristol hosts were quick off the mark with tries by winger Harry Rowson and hooker Sam Cantwell, and fly-half Raff Weston adding a conversion, to storm into a 12-0 lead.

Lions hit back with a try by their winger James Sterland, which was converted by Theo Mannion, to close the gap to 12-7.

But Weston added an unconverted try for Dings, stretching their lead to 17-7.

Lions again put Dings under pressure with an unconverted try by back row Jack Evans to take the score to 17-12. As the game headed to halftime, centre George Boulton scored Dings' fourth try, converted by Weston, to make it 24-12 at the break.