Moortown 0 v Leos 38

After a terrific end to last season, which saw eight victories from the last nine league games, the 2011/12 is eagerly anticipated, starting the league campaign next Saturday at home to Skipton,whilst the competitive season started yesterday against local rivals Moortown,in the first round of the Shield.

Due to the late finish to the 2010/11 campaign,pre season has been shorter than normal, but very intensive under the innovative and enjoyable coaching regime of Messrs Greenwood and Worrall. A number of new players have been attracted, including a good influx of Medics, a couple of powerful rugby league converts,a couple of former Yarnbury first team threequarters after a years travelling and particularly pleasingly, a number from last seasons highly successful Leeds grammar school First XV.

Over thirty players have been training regularly and the entire squad travelled to York last week to take on one of the promotion favourites from Yorkshire 1.Although the game was played over quarters and the game was played on a trial basis, it's fair to say that when the respective first XV's faced each other, Leos came out clearly on top, with a dominant performance from the front eight.

For the Moortown game Leos, availability was limited, due to the Bank Holiday, the Challenge Cup Final, Leeds Festival etc,but Leos were still able to field a competitive side, helped by a number of players willing to play out of position and debuts to two newcomers in the backs.

The powerful James Farad switched to Number 8, Dave Barden and Mark Winter formed an experimental half back combination, School full back Joe Coleman started on the wing and former Yarnbury player Danny Thompson joined James Knibbs in the centre.

In what at best can be described as lush conditions,the ball immediately became like a bar of soap from fridays torrential rain.Moortown,who themselves were missing numerous players,had difficulty handling,Will.Levitt continued his impressive form from last season,with good work at the breakdown, but Moortown had the first scoring opportunity after 10mins,but a Lewis penalty fell well short and Dave Barden cleared impressively.

Leos opened the scoring on 15mins,when debutant Joe Coleman confidently stroked over a 30m penalty, but a failing from last season re emerged, when Leos failed to handle the restart and Moortown were immediately on the offensive.Solid defensive work was required from Thompson and Knibbs,together with the usual big hits from James Farad and Gareth Chesters,playing against his former Club.

Leos finally put some fluid rugby together on 31mins,when McIntosh accurately found James Debenham, Dave Barden made the initial break, as always Howells was in support on the inside and he generously fed fellow flanker Will Levitt, for a well worked try under the posts.

Moortowns limited threat came from experienced fly half Lewis and it took a terrific tackle on him by Martin McIntosh,to prevent Moortown reducing the 10 point deficit.The front row of Dave Robinson, Martin McIntosh and Ed Connell were completely dominant at the scrum and when a ball was taken against the head, Dave Barden again made the initial break,before centres James Knibbs and Danny Thompson combined, for last season's leading scorer Mark Winter,to finish off the 60m move.

Just on half time, as the heavens opened, Tom Bindloss chipped ahead,DannyThompson stripped the defender, Ed Connell beat three retreating defenders and from the resultant scrum, James Farad proved totally unstoppable from 10m out.With Joe Coleman adding the conversions Leos lead by 24 - 0 at half time.

The second half opened in torrential rain where Moortown enjoyed a period of early pressure, but they one caused few problems to a well structured Leos defence. Martin McIntosh was correctly sin binned,Peter Loughenbury replaced the dominant Ed Connell and there was a welcome return for Peter Robbins, coming on as hooker.Moortown were now on a damage limitation cause, being unable to compete at scrums.

The faultless Tom Bindloss linked from full back and quick hands saw the ball shifted right, for John Sleight to stand up his opposing winger and cruise around the outside for a text book wingers try in the right corner. Joe Coleman added a magnificent touch line conversion.

Moortown as always never gave up and played with tremendous spirit and determination, but were clearly missing key players. Gareth Chesters and James Debenham were unchallenged at the line out and more clean ball saw Dave Robinson blast through the first line of defence, only to find the deserving Richie Howells in support again, to score the final try, with Joe Coleman completing a perfect six from six kicking performance.

Final score Moortown 0 Leos 38

A highly satisfactory performance, particularly in the near impossible conditions, sensitively officiated by veteran referee Rob Staines. Five tries away from home is always pleasing, as is niling the opposition. Fitness levels are clearly good, support play was impressive

There will be selection headaches ahead of next week's league opener against Skipton,who achieved two narrow wins against Leos last season and have already opened brightly, with a comfortably win over Wigan.
Reporter Peter Cooke

Leos Bindloss, Coleman,Thompson Knibbs, Sleight,Barden Winter,Robinson,Mc Intosh,Connell,Debenham Chesters,Farad,Levitt,Loughenbury,Robbins,Howells

Leos scorers:Tries:Winter,Farad,Sleight,Howells,Levitt Penalty: Coleman Conversions: Coleman x5