Leos travelled south on Saturday to castle park home of Doncaster phoenix.
Leos made a number of enforced changes to the side from last week's win against Barnsley.Lenny Lane and Tim Fforde were missing from the pack, enabling James Debenhams to partner Gareth Chester's in the second row and Ferguson made his debut in the back row.
Leos supporters had travelled in numbers looking to extend our good start to the season.
Doncaster are always difficult to beat on home turf and they were clearly up for the game.The game started with the home side immediately taking the game to Leos and on 8 minutes following a forward drive out wide the ball was given to centre Deacon who dived over in the corner.
Leos were not in the game at this stage as once more from the restart the home side pressure made Leos make some uncharacteristic enforced errors. On 15 minutes with Doncaster camped in the Leos 22 what looked to be hands in the ruck was not spotted by the ref and Clark ran in from 15 metres to extend the lead Millar added the conversion Doncaster 12 Leos 0
Coached Greenwood and Worrall quickly gave instructions to the team which worked immediately!
Leos charged back from the kick off and started to win some ball. The backs looked razor sharp and Monty Wainwright unleashed them with the ball spinning right to winter,henry and stu baker. The ball was then popped back to knibbs who outpaced the home defence for a wonderful try. Henry added the conversion. Doncaster 12 Leos 7
From the kick off the ball was gathered by Monty Wainwright who set off on a scintillating 30 metre dash through the heart of the Doncaster defence fed the ball to Henry, who passed on to the supporting winter who raced to the line for another fantastic try which was duly converted by henry.Doncaster 12 Leos 14
Leos continued on the offensive with the scrum solid, Debenhams and Chester's winning good line out ball giving Monty Wainwright the chance to unleash our back line with centres knibbs and winter looking dangerous and Henry from full back making space to unleash wings baker and Lunn.
On 30 minutes Leos extended the lead once more as a result of some scintillating back play when following a 40 metre passage of play when first Knibbsy then wainwright and then Henry gained good yardage, the ball was passed out to the ever supporting winter who scored his second try of the game in the right hand corner. Henry again tagged on the conversion. Doncaster 12 Leos 21
Doncaster were not to be outdone when 3 minutes later Henry Taylor crashed over for a try from 5 metres following some good forward play by Morris wood and Liddle.Doncaster 17 Leos 21.
The half time whistle blew shortly after with the large crowd being treated to a feast of open rugby played in good spirit between two very good sides.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first with Doncaster on the offensive and after a good forward drive the ball popped up to Taylor who scored out wide on the left Doncaster 22 Leos 21.
The game flowed from one side to the other with both sides looking dangerous with ball in hand but it was Doncaster who extended their lead on 53 minutes when a superb break by full back Conway sliced through the Leos defence and he managed to hold off 2 tackles and score under the posts Taylor converted Doncaster 29 Leos 21
Leos brought on Jimmy Forton for Macintosh,Chesters injured his calf and was replaced by Lofty and Lunn had to retire with a hand injury to be replaced by Newton.
Leos then went on the offensive and handling on the ground gave Henry the chance of converting a penalty form 30 metres to reduce the deficit Doncaster 29 Leos 24.
The final 15 minutes was played with both sides looking to play expansive rugby but 2 penalties by fly half Taylor were converted to increase the home side lead. Doncaster 35 Leos 24.
Leos made one final assault on the Doncaster line in search of a bonus point but the home defence remained solid and the re blew for full time
Final score Doncaster 35 Leos 24.
Whilst the team were disappointed in losing this was a very good game of Yorkshire division 2 rugby and Leos played really well and on another day would have come away with the points.
Thanks to Doncaster for their splendid hospitality both before and after the game and we look forward to welcoming them back to crag lane later in the season.
Leos scorers;TriesKnibbs,Winterx2 Conversions Henry x3 Penalties Henry
Leos:Henry,Baker,Knibbs,Winter,Lunn,Wainwright,Woods,Robinson,macintosh,Bebb,Chesters,Debenham,ferguson,Barden,Levitt,Forton,Loughenbury,Newton
DoncasterConway,Elliott,Deakin,Greaves,Greenslade,Millar,Watts,Clark,Taylor,Horrocks,Neil,Longworth,Liddle,Wood,Morris