Close, No Cigar, But A Bonus Point

Despite a performance that was by turn exhilarating and dogged, Leos just missed out on claiming a significant away victory at Wath-upon-Dearne.

Leos travelled South into the Dearne Valley buoyed by last weeks resounding defeat of Old Otliensians. The corroding winds of injury, availability and the caprice of selection resulted in several changes including a comeback appearance for James Debenham, the Sinatra of second rows, making his first appearance for 3 years. Other changes saw Chairman Big Dave Robinson add his considerable heft to the front row, with George Lane making a first start at 10, Skipper Ed Farmer moving into the 9 shirt.

Wath currently lie 2nd in the table, and from the kick off it was easy to see why. A short and wide pitch matched the dimensions of several of the home forwards, and slick distribution from their experienced half backs soon had Leos under pressure. However, the dogged defence that was so in evidence during the Great Escape last season has returned in spades, and time and again Charlie Clark, Tom Platt and Joe Johnson, all products of the student recruitment initiative, bravely repelled the advances of their older and heavier opponents.
After 13 minutes a telling break from the quicksilver Jack Haire made deep inroads into Wath territory. The ruck was unwisely left unguarded on the right, and Ed Farmer flashed through the unlocked door with the alacrity of a miscreant making off with a flatscreen from a suburban semi, dotting down under the sticks to make his conversion a formality.

In the face of the continued Wath onslaught, the camomile-tea calmness of fly half George Lane ensured cool heads prevailed and held the line firm. From a breakdown penalty, a lineout deep in the opposition 22 was set up, hooker Joe Johnson’s deadly arrow picked out Renaissance Man Debenham at the tail, and quick ball off the top sent Farmer in untouched near the posts. 14-0 up after 25 minutes and Leos were beginning to scent a closely-shaven scalp.

Leos were going well now, and their efficiency at the breakdown led by the indomitable James Farad, coupled with sterling work at scrum time from the redoubtable “Scoop” Llewellyn, was starting to force Wath into incurring the displeasure of the Referee, who awarded Leos a series of penalties. This did not meet with the general approval of a small but excitable minority of those watching, and there were speculative murmurs as to the parentage, ocular efficiency and general moral rectitude of the Match Official.

Just before half time, a shuddering hit by Mark McDaid loosened the ball, the bustling George Faulkner made headway and released James Langtree just outside our 22. Jim flew away down the touchline and kicked ahead, more in hope than expectation, but the Wath defender charged with defusing the bomb cut the wrong wire, the ball popping up into Jim’s grateful grasp to be deposited under the posts. Half time, Wath 0 – 21 Leos.

The half time breather gave a somewhat shell-shocked Wath the chance to regroup and rediscover the game plan that has served them so well this season. Having tried, perhaps, to play over expansively before the break, they reverted into a pattern of pick and drives and close support which paid dividends almost immediately in the second period with a converted try from a short-range drive. This change of approach, while uncluttered by sophistication, was extremely effective and started to take its toll with first Dave Robinson and then the outstanding Tom Leddy being forced from the field with injury. Subs Alan Benn and Joe Martin both made an impact from the bench, but Joe’s was curtailed by a yellow card for a high tackle given by the referee, who was having a fine game.

A second, unconverted, try came from an under-pressure Leos scrummage halfway through the second half, and only a desperate last-ditch tackle by Peter Pan winger Nick Porter, who overcame the concession of several yards and many more years on his opposing winger, saved the day. Having emptied the tank in this endeavour, Ports took a breather and Archie Pine-Coffin brought a touch of class to proceedings.

Another correctly-awarded penalty against Jim Langtree for a high tackle stretched resources even further, and with 10 minutes to go, Wath crashed over from short range again to take the score to just 21-19 in Leos favour. For a while it looked as if we were going to hang on, but a well-struck drop goal took Wath 22-21 ahead, and despite their best efforts, Leos just could not get a foothold in the Wath half and the final whistle to leave Wath relieved but deserved victors, and Leos with a losing bonus point.

The players left the field with the mutual respect afforded by such a close battle, the referee sought welcome silence in the sanctuary of his dressing room, and the crowd melted away into the early-autumn sunshine to prepare for an evening haranguing the judges on Strictly.

A brave performance in the face of one of the strongest teams in the League, but one which will need to be repeated next week when Goole, another team bothering the top of the table, are the visitors to The Crag.