Stop Press Leos Nil Sandal in their own backyard ! Alert the International Media at top speed !

With some last minute phone work Leos arrived in Sandal with 15 men, two of them 17 years old to take on an always tough and uncompromising opponent.
The game plan was this week different, and a secret recording device captured Cadgeys words of
“ Forwards our job today is to do nothing fancy, but to generate quick ball for the backs , and then support “ A few of us were left asking “ Ok who are you and what have you done with the real Chris Cadge ? “
We welcomed Jo playing on the wing and still a school boy , and Elliot for his first game of men’s rugby in the second row, also still at school. Both were to distinguish themselves as you will hear as the tale unfolds.
We began well with a battle for possession starting up front that was to be where the result would be decided. Despite a slight lack of feeling in the warm up Leos forwards made hard yards from minute 1. Poll, Macklin, Cadgey, Capell and Gribben all took the attack right to our hosts. Sandal had some serious units of their own in a big pack and heavyweight collisions were the order of the day. From resulting quick 1st phase ball Jamie Young fed Tweddle J, now starting to really shine in the 10 shirt. Initially Lovejoy tried to unleash the quick boys early with Niall linking well and Herring bursting into the line at pace.
The home defence was just about coping when we called Gonzo 12, Jo received a delayed pass and accelerated into the gap running a superb line. Only a fine tackle stopped him going half a pitch and scoring. He was to run effectively all game demonstrating not just abundant pace but clever lines of running too. It became very clear that out wide we had these boys, particularly when a certain Diddy Doctor got his paws on the ball, as Herring constantly shredded the home defence. Jamie Young was also having a field day, on those lovely arching runs of his but sensibly kicking at the right time too. Cranfield was his usual marauding self and was always on the shoulder in support. Crucially Leos tackled well today across the team, working hard in defence.
Ben in the back row caught everything that came his way and showing his rugby league heritage took it to the oppo with gusto. He is developing very quickly into a really special no 6. In the lineout Leos competed well and one conversation in the car between your scribe and young Elliot came to pass. Elliot said “ I am more of a lifter in junior rugby “ and at at 6 foot 1 you can understand why. I knew he would be going into orbit today as a jumper ! Today however Elliot was indeed lifted to magnificent effect by some considerably larger stronger folk, and he claimed a great deal of ball showing safe hands.
Finally the pressure told as Leos recycled quick ball and Herring scored after good hands by forwards and backs alike. Sandal were very much in this game and no relaxing was the call. They tried hard but only really made headway when their big lads played pick and go. A couple of 40 stone collisions were witnessed with one memorable tackle when the ever slimming Cadgey dumped a chap of similar proportions in midfield. ( Lovers is so worried now that he has stopped drinking beer in the week ! ) Leos just about repelled all boarders but occasionally Sandal made good ground especially when their young schoolboy full back got the ball as he had real wheels. One comedy moment arrived when Herring fielded a kick and set off on a slashing run, now 5 years ago he would have left the cover for dead and scored a wonder try, today ? Well he beat a few and the said young full back caught him up to the amusement of your scribe and Niall.
Halftime arrived and words of keep up the effort levels and stop talking to the ref about the breakdown as Leos were guilty of extreme chelpage. The ref was fair and very humourous, showing a nice line in self depreciation but his patience was clearly wearing thin with the Leos pack.
We started the second period and it was Sandal who began better. They have a few old heads from the Vets team that we had some right old battles in the past with and they began to pull the strings. However Leos defence stood firm with the midfield unit of the little and large show ( Niall & Lovers ) making their tackles and both Jamies putting in useful clearance kicks. The forwards also tackled well with Poll to the fore as ever but young Elliot did not back down and he put in his fair share too. After a bit of arm wrestling Leos again won quick ball and the Diddy Doc set off at furious pace. To the amazement of the entire team his supporting runner was Lovers who was busting one of his several guts to catch up. Fortunately Herring took pity and slowed down from warp factor 10 to auxiliary power, threw a long pass which your scribe actually caught. Lovers set sail to a cry of “ Gas him big fella “ sorry but I nearly fell about laughing as I was running as fast as I could for the corner. As far as I am concerned Gas is something I cook with. The wily home 10 ran a good defensive line and put in a tackle as your scribe was 5 yards short. Dreams of the try of his life were dashed but we kept the ball as support arrived. A small ruckus erupted as the home 5 got a bit silly, distracting his own players and Jamie Young scampered over to score. Niall stepped up to convert from in front.
Leos kept up the pressure and were soon again on the oppos line. White line fever enveloped our Captain Capell as with four unmarked colleagues outside him he ignored all of us and dived for the line. He was of course stopped short and as Cadgey saw a chance to score from 3 yards, Elliot picked his pocket and pounced, picking up the loose ball and to massive cheers scoring his first very first try. He has played junior rugby for 4 seasons and never crossed the whitewash. Today on debut he came up trumps. He was lifted off his feet by Ben and the delight on his face was palpable. At this point the Refs patience finally ran out. The home team were becoming frustrated and just starting to get a bit niggly. Jim Gribben was on the end of some rough house treatment in the scrum and he lost it.
“ Ref will you noo get hooold of this gaaame ! “ A 10 min rest was in order and Leos battened down the hatches to cope in his absence. In truth several Leos players were guilty of trying to Ref the breakdown and simply needed to shut up and get on with it. A grumpy scribe made his feelings known as it was hurting our cause, and putting the refs back up. Leos did get the message and as a result we scored 2 more good tries. Jamie Young got his second and the Diddy Doc sliced through to bag his second try of the day. At some point in the last part of the game Jamie put in delicate chip which bizarrely Lovers set off after like a startled wilder beast with a hungry Lion chasing him. He got close but the kick went dead and a home defender had it covered. By now he was sweating pure Bombay Saphire Gin but having a ball.
As the game entered it s last hurrah we witnessed a piece of pure class from Jamie Tweddle. Only mins before we had been chatting about when under pressure to kick stepping the first onrushing defender, and making more space to clear the ball. Some 5 mins later Jamie did just that showing wonderful feet and a booming boot, a la Carlos Spencer about 7 years ago. As he stays mercifully injury free he is coming back to close to his best form, thank the Good Lord he does not train or we would never see him again !!
The game ended in handshakes all round with a final score of :
Leos 29 - Sandal 0
I have only ever played in 1 team that has beaten Sandal before so to win and nil them at their place was a wonderful effort. It was a physically demanding game with some tired bodies afterwards but boy did the beer taste sweet last night !
Man of the match was close, mentioned in dispatches were Cranfield, Young and Macklin but in the end it was awarded to the Diddy Doc Pete Herring for an outstanding display topped by oppo comments of every time he caught a pass “ Oh no not him again ! “
Tries: Herring 2, Young 2, King - Davies 1
Con: Monk 1, Tweddle J 1.
Team : Cadge, Macklin, Gribben, Capell, King – Davies, Clemens, Poll, Cranfield, Young, Tweddle J, Lovejoy, Monk, Capper, Jo, Herring.