Leos 15 v Ripon 8

Report by Peter Cooke

Leos had their second successive home game, when Ripon RUFC were visitors to Crag Lane on saturday.After a terrific 52 - 7 win over Knottingley last week, Leos were in confident mood but still made half a dozen changes, including starting spots for Sean Duffy, James Knibbs,Tom Knapp and Will Levitt. Ripon are one of the traditional Yorkshire 2 Clubs but got off to a very slow start this season but have come good in recent weeks,with successive victories over Knottingley and West Park Leeds.The pitch had taken a substantial amount of rain this week,so was soft underfoot but still in superb condition,whilst Leos elected to play with the breeze in the first half.

The early signs were promising,with the front row of Stuart Baker, Tom Knapp and Chris Lewis taking a strike against the head, quick hands shown by Danny Thompson and James Knibbs in midfield, swift recycling via Dan Hyde and Gareth Chesters and James Henry making the extra man from full back.

Leos enjoyed the early possession and from more quick recycling, Richard Bean broke from a ruck and gave a lovely soft ball to Richie Howells,who ran a delightful line for the first score on 10mins.Ed Farmer added the straightforward conversion.

The second try followed almost immediately,Dan Hyde was proving almost impossible to stop,Ed Farmer changed the point of attack,Sean Duffy beat his man in the right hand corner but was held just short, Stuart Baker and Will Levitt instantly cleared out and the ball was transferred left,where James Knibbs showed his class to dummy hand off, accelerate and score in the left corner. The difficult conversion was missed but the signs were promising.

However,Ripon had other ideas and came back strongly into the game. They had the better of the lineout, drove strongly at the maul and looked confident with ball in hand.It required good work from Will Levitt at the breakdown,important tackles from Gareth Chesters and Jordache Myerscough and the effective boot of James Henry,to keep them at bay.

Will Levitt took a stray knee and was replaced byJames Debenham on 25mins.Ripon continued to keep the ball alive,the experienced Bell made good progress down their right and a Ripon forward barged over from close range - 12 - 5,31mins.

Leos were stunned back into action,a Richard Bean chip ahead just bounced into the full backs hands,the scrum continued to dominant and there was more good handling from Mark McDaid, Danny Thompson and Sean Duffy.However,unlike last week,the final pass tended not to stick,advantage wasn't played and Ripon were tenacious in the tackle.

Leos ended the half on top but failed to secure a further score and with the strength of the wind increasing, would a seven point lead be sufficient? After another dominant scrummaging performance from Stuart Baker,he was replaced by Si Dowling at half time.

An early Ripon penalty reduced the margin to just four points and the game was wide open.Chris Lewis regrouped his troops and played a slightly tighter game.The half had little fluidity to it,with the game being constantly punctuated by the referees whistle but was compelling none the less.

Chris Lewis and Si Dowling regularly drove into the visitors,Gareth Chesters and Jordache Myerscough were dangerous with their dynamic running but Ripon gained possession via their impressive lineout and the Australian Rio,kicked well to both corners.The strong running midfield duo ofJames Knibbs and Danny Thompson finally managed to make inroads and when Ripon were penalised for holding on, Ed Farmer struck an impressive 30m penalty against the wind,to put Leos 15 - 8 up on 58mins.

Leos reorganised their lineout and began to win better front ball through James Debenham.Both sides had chances but defences were generally on top,with very few missed tackles.Ripon had a final attempt to snatch a draw,when another Rio penalty put them deep into Leos territory but a well marshalled drive drove them back and when they tried to release their threequarters,Ed Farmer and Danny Thompson seized on loose ball,to clear to halfway.James Henry found touch and the final whistle was blown.An enjoyable,tight game,played in excellent spirit in difficult conditions and on this form,Ripon are certain to rise up the table in coming weeks.

A gutsy performance from Leos, rather than the Barbarian style of last week but nonetheless another dominant performance by the forwards, with another 80min performance from skipper Chris Lewis, constantly driving into the visitors, to earn himself the man of the match award. Leos move up to fifth in the table and next week have a difficult task, away to much improved Moortown,who base their game on one of the best front rows in the league. From next week, games kick off at 2.15pm.

Courtesy of T Rex from yorkshirerugby,Leos completed the double, with the seconds winning 43 - 26 at Ripon in another enjoyable, entertaining game. Apparently his son was man of the match! And finally, a mention for Leeds Medics, who won 45 - 7 at Castleford in Yorks 3.

Leos:Henry,Duffy,Thompson,Knibbs,McDaid,Falmer,Bean,Lewis,
Knapp,Baker,Myerscough,Chesters,Howells,Hyde,Levitt,Dowling,
Debenham
Ripon:Brewster,Wolloms,Champion,Coyne,Oates,Davey,NicholsonR,
Newcombe,McAra,Rio,James,Spillma,Harrison,Duffield,Whitaker,
Barker,NicholsonM Bell