In absolutely glorious playing conditions and with The Crag looking at its picturesque best, Leos opened their 2013/14 league season,with a visit of local rivals West Park Leeds.Indeed,as well as a league fixture, the game was being played as a 'double header', as the game also constituted a first round tie in the York's Shield, with the winners away to West Leeds in Nov.

Both clubs had enjoyed a successful pre season, with Park gaining a victory over Manchester, whilst Leos put in an impressive performance to beat Ilkley last saturday. However both clubs suffer from uncertainty over availability and on Saturday both sides were missing 4/5 first choice players.

Leos were led for the first time by prop Chris Lewis, whilst player coach Dan Hyde made his debut, as did Ed Farmer at fly half, who has joined from Sheffield Medics. Stu Norton came in at fullback, Vinnie O'Brien on the wing and an impressive preseason, earned Simon Dowling a start at prop.

Leos enjoyed the early pressure, patiently recycling ball but the visitors were resolute in defence. Park appeared to have been opened up from a scrum but the scoring pass to Mark Winter, was somewhat harshly adjudged as forward.However,the home side took the lead on 8mins,when Ed Farmer landed a 30m penalty.

Leos failed to handle the restart, allowing Park their first field position. Park attacked around the fringes but the defence was sound, before Tom Tweddle,put in the first of numerous successful clearance kicks.

Leos continued to demonstrate their new found patience, with play predominantly in the visitors 22,without truly threatening the line. For the visitors Luke Gamble and Andrew Major always looked dangerous with ball in hand and ex Leos Kris Stafford was in the middle of the action in the second row.

Vinnie O'Brien went close in the right corner, before Park tried to handle their way out of their half. A stray pass went to ground,Lenny Lane seized on the opportunity to kick through, Park seemed to have recovered the situation but forward pressure from Richie Howells and Tim Fforde,caused further confusion, with Jordache Myerscough reacting quickest to the loose ball and scored the first try on 23mins.EdFarmer added the extras, to give Leos a ten point lead.

A late tackle on Ed Farmer allowed Leos more field position. An accurate throw from James Farad, was superbly taken by Jordache Myerscough, the forwards reset, before driving back the visitors from fully 15m with a textbook drive, before Simon Dowling emerged from the bottom of the pile for the second try. Another Ed Farmer conversion put Leos 17 points clear on 27mins.

The scrums were being evenly contested but Leos were enjoying success at the lineout, with Tim Fforde and Jordache Myerscough dominant.

Helped by needless Leos infringements, Park came more into the game as half time approached and it took strong midfield defence from Danny Thompson and Mark Winter to keep them at bay. Tom Tweddle again cleared well, before Park finally made a clean break down their left. Their winger showed good pace with a lovely outside break and it took a tremendous covering tackle from Tobi Oputa and Stuart Norton to prevent their first try.

A rare penalty for Leos, allowed the home side to clear their lines but Tobi Oputa had to leave the field, replaced by Stuart Baker, as the half time whistle went.

At half time, both coaches demanded more from their players. Park expected more committment,whilst Leos required greater concentration and Will Levitt replaced the injured Jordache Myerscough.The weather began to close in, with the increased breeze favouring the visitors. The half opened in something of an even stalemate, with defences generally on top. Park missed an opportunity to reduce the margin on 48mins,when a kickable penalty went just wide.

The referee found reason to persistently penalise Leos, allowing Park improved field position but they appeared to lack fluency in their threequarters.Important tackles had to be made by Dan Hyde and Chris Lewis. Stu Norton was looking safe under the high ball and returning kicks with interest. Eventually Ed Farmer intercepted and raced 50m up field but lacked close support, which could have put the game to bed.

With 10 minutes left Martin McIntosh replaced Simon Dowling.

The game was in danger of drifting to a conclusion, when Park broke down their left. With the first line of defence broken, the winger seemed certain to score, when amazingly hooker James Fared tracked cross field to pull off a superb try saving tackle, which even Ian Kirke would have been proud of.!!!

Martin McIntosh took an important strike against the head and Mark Winter found some rare space to threaten the line, before Stuart Baker was held up just short. Another series of penalties put Park on the front foot, before the Leos line was finally breached on 72mins,when Park scored under the sticks, for a score line of 17 - 7.

Park threatened a grandstand finish, before Will Levitt scooped up a loose ball and made fully 50m,supported by the ever present Dan Hyde and Richie Howells. A final attack on the visitors line petered out, before Vinnie O'Brien put the ball into the woods, for a final score of 17 - 7.

An enjoyable, entertaining game, played out in front of a large and appreciative crowd, bolstered by a Vice Presidents luncheon. Leos deserved their victory for a dominant first half performance but Park probably felt they deserved a losing bonus point, for a far more even second half. However both sides will need to improve, if they wish to make a serious push for promotion.

Elsewhere, promoted teams Rishworthians and Baildon lost but more surprisingly, relegated teams Barnsley and Knottingley suffered narrow defeats.

Next week, Leos travel around the Ring Road to face Yarnbury, who again appear to be fielding their large and physical set of forwards and are the bookies early favourites for promotion.. Another enjoyable weekend at Crag Lane, starting with the Merv Hughes Sportsman's Dinner on Friday night and concluding in the early hours of Sunday morning with Tony and Jackie Mentalaks' Ruby Wedding celebrations.