By admin 
On Sunday night, Telford Tigers players and supporters celebrate their first-ever lead against Leeds Knights.
Vladimir Luka and Jesse Sutton gave the Tigers two leads, but they lost three straight in the last minutes until Scott McKenzie’s late rallying cry.
And that made it four losses in a row for the Tigers, who play again on Saturday (6.30pm) at home against the Sheffield Steeldogs and on Sunday (6pm) at home against the Bees.
“It was a frustrating finish to the game and disappointing to lose after a really solid 40 minutes where we played with a lot of responsibility and discipline,” head coach Tom Watkins stated.
“We shut down a very strong offensive opposition and took the lead twice.
“I felt that we didn’t play with the same discipline or responsibility in the third period, giving up way too many odd man rushes, shift after shift.
“You can’t play these elite teams if you don’t give it your all throughout the match.
“We lost the points because we didn’t follow our systems on or off the puck.”
The Tigers added James Smith to the lineup despite being without Danny Rose, Jonathan Weaver, Ricky Plant, Sam Watkins, and Lucas Price.
From the first whistle, the opening period was fast-paced and fierce. In just 35 seconds, both man-of-the-match Jaden Peca and Jordan Griffin dropped the gloves, and they were both given five-minute fighting penalties.
In the game’s fifth minute, the Tigers deservedly took the lead.
Sam Gospel stopped Fin Howells’ shot from the slot for Leeds, but Luka was first to the rebound and chipped the puck over the unconscious Gospel to give the home team the lead.