Leos 9 v West Park Leeds 7

Report by Peter Cooke

After a string of difficult away games against the leading sides in the league,Leos put in a much improved performance last week,before eventually succumbing to a late try,to lose to League Leaders Doncaster Phoenix 16 - 28.

So,with increased confidence,this week,Leos welcomed near neighbours West Park Leeds to Crag Lane,for what is always a highly competitive game.Both sides have had rather disappointing seasons,with selection and therefore consistency disrupted by injuries and unavailabilities,so both Clubs sit in mid table.

Leos were also able to welcome back Club Captain Monty Wainwright,who was unfortunately injured in the first half of the first game of the season.He was joined at half back by Joe Newcombe,allowing Pete Goodwin to return to his preferred position of right wing,whilst the versatile Dave Barden and James Farad,moved to the flanks,for the unavailable pair of Andy Walker and Richie Howells. James Henry and Danny Thompson continued to develope their powerful partnership in mid field.

A good crowd gathered on a bitterly cold afternoon and the game opened with both sides attempting to move the ball.However,as was to prove the case for the afternoon,defences were generally on top.The larger West Park forwards had an edge at the early scrums,but this was offset when Martin McIntosh stole a strike against the head and Jor Newcombe and Lenny Lane combined well at the base of the scrum, to nullify the visitors nudge.

Leos benefitted from better field position,but lacked their normal cutting edge,whilst Park appeared a little one dimensional in attack.The first try scoring oppourtunity came when Tom Bindloss showed good pace in countering from full back,but a potential try scoring pass to Pete Goodwin,just lacked the necessary accuracy.

The visitors back row began to concede a number of penalties,with James Henry reliably finding the corner.However,resolute defence held out the homeside and after being held up over the line,Leos eventually opted for a kick at goal,with James Henry converting from 25m,for what turned out to be the only score of the half.Jonny Moore came on to replace the injured Vinnie O'Brien but neither side were able to put sufficient phases together,to really threaten the opposition line.

The second half followed a similar course,with Leos enjoying the majority of possession and field position but being unable to unlock a determined Park defence.With few try scoring oppourtunities,in what was appearing to be a low scoring game,Leos again opted for the safe boot of James Henry on 55mins,to increase the lead to 6 - 0.

Dan Kirby replaced James Debenham and then for the first time,Leos conceded a succession of penalties,allowing Park to build pressure on the Leos line.A rare missed tackle,allowed scrum half Morecombe to take advantage and he went over for an oppourtunist try.With Davies adding the extras,the visitors had a one point lead.

Good leadership from Dave Barden and Monty Wainwright immediately took Leos back into the visitors half and although a long range penalty from Monty Wainwright went narrowly wide,pressure and patience was to eventually tell,when the Park threequarters were caught off side and the dependable James Henry,struck a 35m penalty to put Leos ahead at 9 - 7 with 15 minutes remaining.

Simon Dowling replaced the ageing Ed Connell!! and immediately made an impact with his direct running style but thunderous cover tackles from James Farad, Lenny Lane and Jordache Myerscough were still needed to keep Park at bay.

A final penalty for the visitors,which they had to run,efficiently they retained possession through some 20 phases but gradually the midfield defence pushed them backwards and the final whistle came.

An absorbing and compelling contest,more so for the spirit and determination of the players,rather than the execution of plays.However the game was played in exceptionally good spirit and well controlled by the Halifax referee Hanson Haigh.

The Leos waistecoat,for the man of the match performance,deservedly went to the impressive Jordache Myerscough but James Farad and Lenny Lane couldn't have been far behind,with Chris Lewis again impressive in the loose.

A youthful Leos seconds,supplimented by a number of promising School players,narrowly went down on the B team pitch, to an experienced Morley Seconds by 19 - 28,whilst Morley were unable to raise a side for the third team Merit encounter.
Next week,Leos travel to Castleford.