LEAMINGTON Royals started the season with a huge 66-16 win against Nottingham Outlaws in the Merit League.
The Royals fell behind early on before man of the match Tyler Johnson-Thomas levelled the game with his first try and Ben Parsons added the extras.
And Johnson-Thomas then went the length of the pitch from the restart to score his second of the game as Parsons again kicked the conversion.
Leamington added three tries as Steve Alford scored a brace either side of Whelan’s score as Parsons kicked two further conversions to send the Royals into the break with a 28-4 lead.
And Timlin added his first try since returning from retirement after the break when he drove over from close range before Johnson-Thomas completed his hat-trick and then his fourth and fifth tries of the afternoon.
The Royals used their bench to good effect as Harry Clarke bagged a brace of tries and Parsons kicked one further conversion whilst Conor McClenaghan kicked four of his own as The Outlaws ran in three consolation tries to end the match.
