Leicester Storm welcomed the doggies from Birmingham to The Thunderdome, in Round 3 of the Midlands Premier League. After The Storm received a bye last week for the Magaluf Beach 5's, this was the second game of their season and it was always going to be a physical game. Farnden was without influential players Greg Hurst, Simon Anniss, Scott Castell, Mahmood Saad, Demetrious Gonsalves and Callum Corely. But he did hand first grade debuts to Alex Sanderson, Matt Laursen and Francis Cummings, the three forwards putting in strong performances.

It was the home side that scored first; Fletcher running down the wing like a gazzelle in the outback. From the resulting run Spokes (operating at hooker) floated the ball into five-eights Jones and he strolled through the gap for the opening try. The Storm seemed to be continuing their good form, from Gloucester in Round 1. Tom Knott converted the try and it proved to be a successful afternoon with the boot for the current young player of the year. Dan Hay starting the game at second-row, was powering down the field all afternoon with some barn-storming rampages; earning him the Man-of-the Match Award.

Big hits from Max Oxton Morris and Liam Barnes in the middle of the park halted the Bulldogs, but then the away side through a breakaway with Jermone Bernard, using his pace, to dart over the line. The Bulldogs then hit 2 more brake away tries and a powerful effort from the away side man of the match Edwards. The Bulldogs certainly had the upper hand coming in to the half time whistle.

Four tries to one down at half-time and the Storm needed a big second half and they didn’t disappoint! The game seemed to change with introduction of Greg Harris (GHD) and Patrick Thomson (Paddy). Harris played a wonderful Rugby League game at hooker, controlling the ruck area and dictating the pace of the game; surely pushing Simon Anniss for a starting number 9 shirt. His quick play of the ball opened up the Birmingham defense and Josh Hull powered the over the try line and running it down the throats of the doggies. Knott converting.

The Storm train was really steaming now and interchange Josh Mclaurin, who must of been drinking from the teet of wisdom, broke 3 tackles and fed a beautiful pass into the hungry Jordan Connell; who shifted into fifth gear and outpaced the field, bringing The Storm back to within four points. Knott again converting.

Birmingham play-maker, Woodcock, made a fantastic breakaway from his own 20 yard line, out gasing the entire field. But Mark Etherington managed to chase him down a make match saving tackle on his 20 yard line. The Bulldogs went even closer to taking the game away from the home side. The winger going ever so close in the corner but Tom Fletcher made a match saving tackle at the death.

Their tackles seemed to inspire his side! Storm smashed their way down field, and camped on the away team try line; 2 sets of 6 and then Ben Spokes sent a horrific rainbow pass out to Tom Fletcher who cut inside and beautifully off-loaded to Adam Welsh, and he broke bulldogs hearts with a bulldozing try. Knott converting with 6 minutes to go.

Leicester Storm could of made sure of the points, but errors from Max Oxton Morris and Tom Knott prevented this. The game was made sure in the final seconds, a big double hit from Thomson and Hay, had the ball bounce up and Etherington put the icing on the cake with arrogant, showboating try. Jones having to convert as Knott was in the Sin-Bin for the final 2 minutes.

Storm winning 30 – 22.

Man of the Match: Dan Hay - rampaging runs and solid tackles, earned the Scotland trialist 2 tickets to Entropy... hopefully his mum will enjoy the food.

Toilet of the Day: Tom Knott - 2 sin bins, for a cynical off side tackle and one for dissent. Theres a toilet waiting for you son!

Next week the 1st Grade host Bedford Tigers in a Midlands Cup 1st Round Clash, welcoming back ex-Academy player Fionnbharr Carter to The Thunderdome.