Leos 20 v Skipton 0

Report By Peter Cooke

For the first home game of 2013,Leos welcomed Skipton to Crag Lane and were seeking a double,after securing a 26 - 22 victory at Sandylands earlier in the season.The year had got off to a good start,with an under strength side gaining an impressive 13 - 8 victory last week,down at Sheffield Medics.

James Fared earned a starting place for the injured Dave Robinson, whilst Tim Sleight and Danny Thompson returned to the threequarters,allowing James Henry and Pete Goodwin to take the half back roles.If the strength of a team is measured by the bench,it was good to see Tim Fforde, Chris Lewis and Stuart Baker fill the subs positions.

The marginally drier conditions had allowed Gabes to get a mower onto the pitch for the first time since autumn and match day conditions were bright but very cold,with Skipton playing with the breeze in the first half.The game opened at a frantic pace,with the drier conditions allowing both sides to move the ball impressively.

Leos looked in confident mood and after early drives from both James Fared and Ed Connell,the ball was shipped from right to left through Jordache Myerscough, Pete Goodwin and Mark Winter, for Tim Sleight to score a good wingers try in the left corner after 6 mins.

The visitors responded positively,securing good field position and requiring thumping tackles from James Debenham and Andy Walker to prevent their progress,before Skipton had two penalty attempts going wide of the posts around the 15 min mark.Finally,a long range clearance from James Henry relieved the pressure,only for Leos themselves to be wide with a penalty.

The forward battle was intense,with Skipton retaining the ball well,but being driven backward in the tackle,with Martin McIntosh and Richie Howells to the fore,whilst the set piece was fairly even,although Leos has a slight edge in the scrums,allowing Pete Goodwin to snipe from the base.

CoachMatt Greenwood introduced his impact bench after only 25mins,with the home forwards continuing to batter the visitors line,but the Skipton defence was resolute and soft penalties allowed Skipton to use the breeze and clear their line.The half ended with Leos again attacking Skiptons line,but as before,although both sides were prepared to move the ball,defences were generally on top.

With the breeze at their backs,Leos immediately moved into the ascendancy,at the start of the second half.James Henry went on a mazey run,Stuart Baker battered the line,quickly followed by Dave Barden and Martin McIntosh,before scrum half Pete Goodwin dummied and tunnelled under the forwards,for the second try of the game on 43mins.

The try seemed to further lift the Leos confidence,as Danny Thompson went on one of his storming runs from the restart,Mark Winter was held just short,as were Chris Lewis and Andy Walker,before the ball was swiftly transferred to the right, Tom Bindloss made the extra man and Vinnie O'Brien showed good speed,to beat his opposite number for a score out wide.15 - 0 after 47mins.

The game was wrapped up shortly afterwards,when Martin McIntosh found Tim Fforde at a lineout,he combined with Jordache Myerscough,who beat the first line of defence.Quick ball was secured,before a delightful delayed pass from Dave Barden put winger Vinnie O'Brien in for his second try on 55mins,also securing the additional bonus point.

Skipton then noticeably raised their game and it took strong midfield defence from the trio of James Henry,Mark Winter and Danny Thompson to hold them out,before props James Fayed and Ed Connell destroyed a Skipton scum and Leos moved upfield.

For the final 10 mins,the visitors relentlessly pressed the Leos line,helped by a string of penalties.However,the Leos fringe defence was highly impressive,led by the dominant back row of Richie Howells, Andy Walker and Dave Barden,with Coach Matt Greenwood,insistent that the opposition must be nilled!

A final scoreline of 20 - 0 was perhaps a little harsh on the visitors and with reinforcements due at Heathrow next week,they are likely to put up a determined fight,to secure their Yorks 2 status.A very enjoyable,open game,played in exceptionally good spirit and well referred by Liam Taylor from Thorne,who at least allowed the players to determine the outcome of the game,rather than his whistle.Incidentally,he seems to regularly lunch with Si Worralls father and goes by the name of Radio Gnome on the infamous yorkshirerugby.net website.!!
Skipton were very competitive throughout the game and did not perform like a side fighting relegation and were ably led howson.

Elsewhere,Selby and Doncaster continue to set the pace,with defeats for north Leeds rivals West Park,Roundhegians and Moortown,whilst Castleford appear to have recruited,suffering a narrow loss to Yarnbury,so both promotion and relegation issues are still open.Next week,Leos travel across town to neighbours West Leeds.

Leos:Tries:Sleight,Goodwin,O'Brien x2

Leos:Bindloss,Sleights,Winter,Thompson,O,Brien,Henry,Goodwin,Connell,
Mcintosh,Farad,Debenham,Myerscough,Barden(captain) Walker,Howells,Lewis,Baker,Fforde
Skipton:Baldwin,Maclean,Wright,Moore,Porter,Howson,Smith,
Wright,Boynton,;lambert,Wilsher,Swales,Barraclough,
Hall,Keady,McNamara,Hall,Bygrave