Head coach Steve Booth was left both proud and frustrated after South Leicester retained the County Cup by beating Syston 47-29 in the final at Welford Road.

South, who beat Syston 27-20 in last year's final, scored seven tries on Tuesday, just days after a National Three defeat by Neil Back's Rugby Lions.
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But former Tigers winger Booth felt South's performance was similar to a few against mid-to-low-table sides in the league which have left them in third place and struggling to make the play-off spot.

He said: "We deserved to win. With all the injuries we have got, and having just played our hardest game of the season against Rugby Lions, the boys did tremendous to back up in the space of three days.

"Whenever Syston scored, we replied within a minute.

"But we played within ourselves, and that has been the story of our season, which has led to a couple of slip-ups.

"In the end, our superior fitness and quality told, and we ran away with it.

"It was nice for the boys to retain the cup."

South's tries came from Luke Coltman (2), Chris Bale (2), Rod McNaughton (2) and Mitch Culpin, with Mark Lord converting six.

Syston, who led 15-14 at half-time, scored four tries through Paul Wilford, Matt Ferguson, Adrian Conway and Ian Smith, who also kicked nine points.

Syston coach Chris Tarbuck said: "For the neutrals, they would have looked at that and said, 'blimey, 60-odd points in a cup final, that's a good game.

"They were the better team, they were more clinical in the red zone.

"Our problem was that, when we scored, we gave away silly penalties, they kicked to the corner and destroyed us for the next 10, 15 minutes.

"That was a time when our momentum should have kicked in, and it went the other way.

"We have got a very young squad, they knew they made mistakes but you have to learn from that.

"In the next two years they will be a very good outfit."