Captain Chaos Delivers amid the storm of uncertain availability

Captain Chaos delivers amid the storms of unavailability.

Chaos worked extremely hard behind the scenes this week to put 15 men on the pitch to face Yarnbury away.

This task was made all the harder with the curse of the 6 Nations biting early. Lots of regulars were unavailable across the club. The 1st team were on a week off, last reports were that apart from those on Ed Connells stag do the rest were either having their legs waxed or their nails done ! None of them were playing any rugby this weekend that is certain.

Just before the game vice captain Cranfield was sick due to some over indulgence on the Friday night.

So with some help from the 4s who kindly lent us Billy Adam we took the field with 15. The pitch was a marked contrast to last weeks concrete frozen surface. It was very like our own quagmire and hard work all day.
The Leos pack has been quite outstanding in the last few weeks and today was no exception. Rich Hemsley tweaked a fetlock in the warm up probably at the prospect of having to start on the wing !
The game got underway and from the start it was clear that at scrum time Leos were firmly in charge. Capell at prop defied his lack of size by shunting his man back all day. Cadgey rubbed his own neck red raw by folding his man in half. The result was that I think we won every single scrum of the day no matter whose put in it was. The lineout was very nearly as good with Pinder securing his own ball and stealing a good deal of Yarnbury ball. Nathan did likewise and the home team were starved of possession. All our forwards worked hard all day in the difficult conditions.

Jason brought his set of catching hands and Jamie Young at 9, returning after injury, had one of his fine foraging games. He ran strongly from the base of scrums and lineouts mixing up his play well with mostly accurate kicks. The backs tried manfully to break through the home defence with Lovers taking the direct route and James Martin showing his elusiveness despite the soft ground. To be fair to the home side they were up very fast and tackled well all day. We did not really make many inroads out wide and occasionally got turned over as players became a little isolated.

Up front pick and go yielded better results and the Leos forwards led by Andy Hill and Tim Pinder made the hard muddy yards time and again. This was a tight game with neither side able to break through until inspiration came for Leos from an unlikely source. Lovers told Jason he was going to take it to the line and chip the ball through for the faster man ( Jason, in case you were wondering ! ) to chase as the defence was up so flat. The chip was delicately placed and much to everyones surprise it was the rotund centre who got to the ball first. Despite failing to pop it to the supporting Patsy Palmer, Lovers did secure possession close to the home sides line. With good forward support arriving a couple of drives were set up allowing Patsy Palmer to splash over for the try. Lovers then added the extras.

Yarnbury are always a good side and despite the lack of regular possession they were never going to lie down. Their club captain and 1st team ginger centre was today in their pack and was by a distance their best player. From a long kick he put Lovers under pressure not really allowing him to get up although said centre was a little slow in doing so, the ref gave a penalty for holding on and from this Yarnbury span the ball wide to score. This was converted to tie up the game.
Halftime arrived and the words were for more effort and to keep patient.
Leos lost James Martin to a nasty ankle injury and were kindly lent Danny who went on to the wing. Andy Hill for the 2nd week in a row went to outside centre and the game went on. Yarnbury won a bit more ball and they looked like scoring a couple of times. They were only stopped by the Diddy Doc who put in 2 or 3 very brave last ditch tackles which saved Leos. Jason also made a great cover tackle on one of their flying wingers. At this point said Leos 10 got grumpy with their ginger forward and declared that he was going to smack him ! Quite why remains a mystery but sure enough as Jason was tackled into touch by the home player he erupted and a bout of on the ground handbags broke out. It was broken up and after a dressing down from the ref both players sensibly shook hands and got on with the game. Jason looked like a naughty schoolboy as he listened to the ref !

There was one sublime moment of comedy as Chaos said to his opposite prop “ There is no point in trying to bash me in the head, I am a farmer and there is nothing in there to damage !!
“
This I believe was around a scrum and led to much chuckling all round.
The Leos forwards continued their domination of set piece and had several scrums near the home sides line applying serious pressure. Cranfield mentioned that a penalty try was coming and sure enough one more surging scrum led to the ref awarding just that. Lovers popped over the extras from in front and Leos led 14 – 7. The rest of the game was largely stalemate as Leos tackled well and the home team could not score either by long range kicks at goal or a try.

Just before the final whistle Cadgey caught a restart and thinking time was up hoofed the ball into touch. Much to everyones amusement and unfortunately for him there was time for the lineout, but no harm was done and a couple of plays later the ref called time.

So the game ended in handshakes as Leos recorded a creditable victory. This was the first for some seasons against Yarnbury and all the more satisfying for being at their place. It looked like the home side were not used to losing, so well done to all concerned.
Special mention should go to Jim Capell, we may mock you but both in putting a side out and in playing prop you today showed your considerable worth, well done.

Man of the match was for the 2nd week in a row the Diddy Doc Pete Herring ,this week for his brave 1 on 1 last ditch tackling which save at least 2 certain tries. He also ran with his customary elan despite the boggy conditions.

This was a hard fought win and very much deserved. We may not have played expansive pretty rugby but we beat a good side in their own back yard.

We retired to watch England finally play some half descent rugby, well for about 10 mins anyway ! and beat the Welsh and then went off to Headingley to play Cadgeys drinking games. We were awful at fizz buzz only ever getting to 20 and a bit better at bunnies. A very enjoyable night was topped off by a curry.

Team
Cadge, Barton, Capell, Gopichandran, Pinder, Hill, Cranfield, Palmer, Young, Blakey, Lovers, Martin, Hemsley, Adam, Herring, Danny ( Guest )
Tries
Palmer 1
Penalty try 1
Con.
Lovers 2.
Final Score
Leos 14- Yarnbury 7.