Leos 50 v Old Rishworthians 0

With the first signs of Spring,Leos welcomed Halifax side Rishworthians,for their first ever league visit to The Crag.After three successive promotion seasons,together with a victory in the Silver Trophy,Rishworthians have had a difficult season in Yorks 2,largely as a result of long term injuries to key players.However,they have been competitive all season and particularly difficult to beat at Copley,where Leos earned a hard fought victory by 16 - 11 earlier in the season.

Leos too have had their injury problems,but with players now returning,were able to field a strong side on saturday, With props Dave Robinson and Ed Connell both starting, James Debenham returning to the second row and Tim Fforde being given the freedom of the back row,Leos arguably fielded their biggest set of forwards for the season.There was also pace to burn in the backs,with Nick Wainwright at scrum half and Neal Liu and John Sleight on the wings.

Leos imposed themselves at the first scrum,when a terrific surge,squirted the ball out and Nick Wainwright was quickest to respond for the opening try. JamesHenry added the conversion and when Will Levitt and James Forton secured turn over ball,which was swiftly handled through Dave Bardon and Mark Winter, John Sleight used terrific footwork to stand up his opponent and score in the corner.

After 5 mins Leos were 12 points up,but then committed numerous errors.Rishworthians demonstrated greater determination,Leos ran sideways rather than forward,forwards thought they could give flick passes and threequaters thought they could catch one handed.The result was that Rishworthians were on the front foot and but for last ditch tackles fromJames Debenham and Neal Liu and a slight lack of pace,the visitors could easilly have secured two tries.

However,the Leos scrum was dominant and with numerous options in the lineout,Leos slowly returned to more controlled play.Tim Fforde burst from a scrum to combine with Nick Wainwright,who gave a well timed pass toJames Knibbs,who inevitably beat his man,before puttingNeal Liu in at the left hand corner.From the restart,James Knibbs and John Sleight exchanged passes,before an inside ball found Tom Bindloss supporting from full back,who unselfishly fed Mark Winter,for a terrific 80m try.The James Henry conversion put Leos clear at 24 - 0 after 25mins.

It was then the turn of the forwards,when James Debenham won text book lineout ball,allowing Dave Robinson and Ed Connell to peel round the back..Quick ball from James Henry,put James Knibbs over for a delicious try,with James Henry himself tagging on the conversion.

Unfortunately,in their brave defence a Rishworthians player was knocked unconscious and play was held up for half an hour whilst an ambulance was called.Fortunately,half the Leeds NHS staff were on attendance to look after the player,who recoved consciousness and the remaining Leos players pushed the ambulance through a muddy patch and off to hospital - we wish him well for a speedy recovery.Sensibly,the referee blew up for half time early,with a scoreline of 31- 0.

The delayed second half kicked off with the spirited visitors on the front foot,partly though a series of soft,lazy penalties from the home side.It took last ditch tackles from James Forton and Dave Bardon to keep them out,before James Henry intelligently called a mark,to clear the line.Quick hands from Tom Bindloss, John Sleight and Will Levitt put Mark Winter away over 70m,but a terrific defensive tackle prevented a try.Leos made changes,with James Farad - a welcome recruit from Ilkley,making his debut - at prop and Martin McIntosh coming on for veteran JamesForton.

An impressive first scrum from the new frontrow pushed back the visitors,allowing space for Tim Fforde to run into open space,James Debenham and Ed Connell cleared out,before an accurate pass from James Henry put John Sleight into space,where he used his footwork to again beat his man and touch down in the corner.

Refreshingly,Rishworthians had come to play open rugby and were securing lineout ball via their young,impressive second rows.Their halves tried to run from defence but found few holes in a tight Leos defence,before a thunderous tackle from Dave Barden dislodged the ball,allowing the flanker to pick up and scorch 25m to the line. James Henry adding the extra two points.

The final try saw the backs and forwards again combine.More solid lineout work,drawing in the resolute defence,quick ball to the powerful James Knibbs,before a delightful inside ball from Nick Wainwright found the athletic Chesters,unstopable from 10 m.James Henry adding the extra two,to bring up fifty points and the Redcar referee,who had controlled the game sensibly throughout,blew the final whistle.A double celebration,with a young 4th XV,defeating Bradford Salem thirds on the B team pitch.It was good to see Rishworthians stay for a beer in the Clubhouse,before the seconds returned from a Barbarianesque 0 - 0 draw in the mud of Salem.They remain third in their Merit League,whilst the Ladies continue to lead their Division,even after a surprise defeat to Camp Hill Ladies.

Elsewhere,there were wins for both Pocklington and Huddersfield YM,but another defeat for West Park Leeds,leaves them in relegation trouble,meaning they will be desperate for a win,when they vist Leos next saturday.They will certainly offer a stern test,particularly through their large and effective front five.A big crowd is expected,with all Leos asked to attend,for what is always a keenly fought local derby.(3.00pm).
Report Peter Cooke
Leos:Tries Wainwright,Sleight,Lui,Winter,Knibbs,Barden,Chesters,Sleight Conversions Henryx5