Aireborough at Home Match Report

After the incremental improvement made in previous weeks, this was the one. This was where it all came together and the Flying 3s, led by hat trick-scoring skipper Billy Marsh, destroyed Aireborough 2s with an outstanding, complete performance.

To qualify the above, Aireborough are no mugs and their muscular brand of rugby will trouble plenty of teams. However, the men from Yeadon simply had no answer to a Leos performance full of power, flair and Japan-esque accuracy. The Leos’ pack won the match with physicality and a superb set piece, before the young fliers out back cut loose to pile on the points late on.

Despite the final scoreline the early stages were quite equal, with Leos’ lighter, more mobile pack seeking a way around or through the heavier Aireborough forwards. Those forwards packed a punch, dragging several Leos into every tackle and posing the main threat. However it was Leos who gained the upper hand, the pack being led by Carl Stephenson who was terrific throughout, along with a busy and energetic showing from prop Alex Passingham. A solid platform was established around 10 minutes in, with Leos deep in the Aireborough 22. Perhaps wary of the threat posed by Leos’ 10-12 axis of Will Cullimore and Brendan Fosh, which had already been making good yards, Aire failed to defend the fringes and Billy Marsh took advantage, the skipper picking from the base of the ruck and striding in for an easy score which was converted by scrum half Fergus Johnston.

Leos then quickly hit Aire again with a perhaps unexpected weapon. The rolling maul has become a strong feature of the 3s’ play in recent times, with the lightness of the pack being compensated for by technique and every man knowing his precise role. After Aire repeatedly got on the wrong side of the referee and Fergus Johnston kicked to deep in the Aire 22, Gregor Belfield claimed the lineout at the front. With Aire seemingly in two minds as to whether to engage or not, Leos had time to set a maul which, despite Aire’s vastly greater pack size, began to rumble and then crushed the visitors’ resistance, with every forward involved as the maul barreled over the Aire line and captain Billy Marsh clung on at the back for his and Leos’ second try.

This second score didn’t faze Aireborough though and they fought their way back into the game, with their pack putting Leos under significant pressure in the scrum and their backs cautiously testing the youngsters out wide, especially their 12 who was larger than both Leos’ second rows. This threat was handled capably however and the other big moment of the first half almost led to a third Leos try when Fergus Johnston spied a yawning gap on the Aire blind side and sprinted off down the wing with the youthful energy of the Artful Dodger stealing a gentleman’s pocket watch. It took a few seconds for everyone to realise what had happened, before everyone began to hare after Leos’ childlike scrum half either in support or desperation. Johnston skilfully evaded the Aire full back but slipped in the course of doing so, before offloading to a rampaging Alex Passingham (loose head prop is the first one there in support, seems legit) backed up by Kenny Parsons (ageing second row next man there, obviously). Passingham was brought down by an admittedly excellent cover tackle from the Aire flanker before being contentiously penalised for not releasing (an interesting decision considering the ball was under your writer’s foot at the time) with the line at the mercy of the Leos backs, who had finally arrived but alas, too late. A competitive first half thus came to an end with the score at 12-0 to Leos.

If the first half was well matched with Leos just about shading it, the second was a riot of blue and gold. The Leos’ tide swamped Aireborough, who never gave up but were ultimately fated to be the Michael Cheika to Leos’ Eddie Jones. As stated earlier this really isn’t intended as disrespect to Aire (well, comparison to Cheika is probably a little harsh), it just so happened that everything came together all at once and Leos were simply on another level.

Case in point: barely five minutes into the second half. Aire penalty. Johnston’s boot, deep into the 22.

Obligatory shout of “we know what’s coming, lads.”

They did indeed and come it did. Lineout to Belfield. Leos’ pack engaging with all the choreography of the Bolshoi. Grunt, heave, the sound and feel of a defence fracturing and, finally, unstoppable momentum, Billy Marsh over for his hat trick.

Perhaps this third score knocked the stuffing out of Aire a bit, but for whatever reason the visitors seemed to tire rapidly as the game moved towards the last quarter, with Leos’ superior fitness coming to the fore. Any thought of an Aire comeback was put to bed just before the hour when fly half Will Cullimore, a multi-dimensional threat with his running and distribution, sliced through some tired defence and dotted down near the posts. Johnston converted to make the score 24-0 to Leos. Cullimore was involved again shortly after, this time flinging a huge pass out wide to winger Theo Wilson who strolled over in acres of space for the first Australian try of the day which actually led to a positive outcome rather than a hammering by England. Not to be outdone, compatriot Shaun Tatlow then crossed for a spectacular score when he competed, Aussie Rules style, for Johnston’s box kick, won the ball and raced half the length to cross near the corner for the second Australian try of the day which actually led to a positive outcome rather than a hammering by England. Johnston nailed the kick and won a pint (of milkshake or juice, presumably) from the referee for his troubles.

It is a bit difficult to describe the rest of the game as it all sort of blurs into one endless montage of Leos having the ball, moving it swiftly and accurately and finding holes all over the field. Perhaps unexpectedly tight head prop Si Haworth played a big role in this, with the big man’s presence and soft hands repeatedly drawing in multiple tacklers before letting the students loose down the outside. Alex Watson also came on in the pack and had a massive impact, the red-capped back rower making ground on every carry and punching opponents backwards in defence. Further scores followed from second row Gregor Belfield and another from Will Cullimore, who had an excellent debut at 10. This brought Leos to 50 points and the rout was sealed on the very last play when centre Brendon Fosh raced through some exhausted tacklers and went coast to coast under the sticks. Having nailed them from all over, Fergus Johnston hilariously missed this easiest of kicks, earning himself the rare honour of Man of The Match AND D*ck of The Day simultaneously.

It is important not to get ahead of ourselves, but also to state that this was an outstanding performance from a team which is starting to look organised, consistent and hungry. Picking a MOTM was difficult from so many strong performances, but skipper Marsh gave the nod to scrum half Fergus Johnston for the way he organised the team around the park with confidence and authority. Will Cullimore also played superbly at 10 (not his natural position apparently) and in the pack there were strong showings from pretty much everyone, in particular the aforementioned Watson, Alex Passingham and Si Haworth, whilst Steve “The Ferret” Lloyd continues to develop as a first choice back row option with some technically excellent tackling and floor work.

At the time of writing, my understanding is that rather than playing Leeds Modernians next week, the 3s will be hosting Burley 2nd XV. This is all set to be a mouthwatering clash - Leos defeated Burley 12-0 a mere three weeks ago, but since then the lads from Kirkstall have hammered both Bramley 2s and Harrogate Pirates and will head to The Crag thirsting for revenge. If Leos can bring the performance which they brought today, England v All Blacks may have some rivalry for tastiest match of 26 October! #COYL