Leos 32 v Old Rishworthians 10

Report by Peter Cooke

One day, a Leos match report will commence with the phrase, 'Leos are unchanged ...',however that is not the case this weekend, as after an impressive performance at Moortown last week, Leos made the compulsory half dozen changes for the visit of Old Rishworthians.Mark Winter and James Henry formed a new half back partnership,Si Dowling, James Debenham and Tim Fforde returned to the forwards, with James Knibbs and Mark McDaid coming into the three quarters.

Rishworthians had a difficult start to their return to Yorkshire 2 but had won three of their previous five games, whilst third placed Leos were still defending their unbeaten home record. Conditions were still but very soft under foot from the recent torrential rains.

Rishworthians started far the better, with greater enthusiasm and urgency earning them an early three point lead, from a well struck penalty. Leos then began to dominate possession, through their larger, more dynamic and athletic pack but rather gave the sense of going through the motions and failed to make much impact upon a tenacious Rishworthians defence.

A series of assaults on the visitors line were repelled, before an ambitious cross field kick was picked off by their right winger Anthony Shoesmith,who showed good speed to race 95m for the opening try. The conversion put Rish up by 10 points after 20mins.Skipper Chris Lewis gathered his troops under the sticks and demanded more focus and patience.

Leos responded primarily through hard, driving forward play, together with dynamic running from the likes of Jordache Myerscough,Lenny Lane and James Akman.With James Farad enjoying a myriad of lineout options, James Debenham and Tim Fforde won a succession of ball, taking Leos into the left hand corner.

Clean ball from James Debenham,a snipe from Mark Winter was held but was followed by a series of further drives from Chris Lewis, James Farad and Danny Thompson, before Si Dowling ran a clever angle to crash over, with James Henry adding the conversion.

The visitors were still a threat with ball in hand and had pace out wide but Leos were winning the forwards battle and after a series of drives from Danny Thompson, James Knibbs, Jordache Myerscough and Chris Lewis, the visitors were finally forced to kill the recycling and allowed James Henry to tie up the game on 31mins.

Leos had finally upped their game through sheer hard work against a resolute defence and finally managed to take the lead when a dominant scrum drove Rishworthians back, the referee played a good advantage, Mark Winter used the space to delicately chip the ball forward and Vinnie O'Brien managed to accelerate, without pulling a hamstring, to impressively finish the move - 15 - 10 on 35 mins.However,Rish were far from finished and indeed, ended the half attacking the home line, requiring tackles from Tom Bindloss and Mark McDaid to retain the narrow lead.

It's fair to say that coach Dan Hyde was not overly impressed with the first half performance and demanded more accuracy and focus. Two try hero from last week Ed Connell replaced Si Dowling at half time. Leos started more aggressively in the second half, with strong runs from both Mark McDaid and Vinnie O'Brien setting up field position but the visitors were still playing with tremendous spirit and were missing very few tackles.

The first ten minutes was all played in the Rishworthian 22 but Leos were not playing with their usual composure.However,another dominant scrum allowed Lenny Lane and Mark Winter to combine and the experienced Tom Bindloss ran a delicious angle to slice through the visitors defence, to put the home side 10 points clear.

Sean Duffy replaced Vinnie O'Brien, Si Dowling returned for Chris Lewis and Ben Robson,formerly of Thornensians,came on for his debut, after a number of impressive performances for the seconds.

Leos were now in charge and seemingly encamped on the visitors line. The pressure was finally beginning to tell and in a desperate effort to clear their lines Jordache,Myerscough charged the ball down and James Knibbs reacted quickest, to score the bonus point try. The final score came on 72mins when the forwards and backs combined.

Drives from Ed Connell and Si Dowling were quickly recycled, soft hands from Danny Thompson and James Knibbs transferred the ball left, before apparently 'silky hands' from Lenny Lane set up the opportunity for James Henry, who powered over and added the converstion,to give a final score of 32 - 10.

Old Rishworthians contributed to a completive game of Yorkshire 2 rugby with Damian Ball having an impressive game in the back row and skipper Gary Morris leading his side well from scrum half.

An enjoyable game played in exceptionally good spirit and well referred by Phil Gordge from East Yorkshire, who constantly allowed the players to determine the outcome of the game and James Farad taking the man of the match Waistcoat for another dynamic 80 min performance.

The bonus point victory keeps Leos in third place but there is little to chose between the top seven sides, particularly after the defeat for Sheffield Medics. Next week, Leos take a break from league rugby and travel to West Leeds in the second round of the Yorks Shield(2.15pm)

On the B team pitch, there was a competitive and enjoyable second team game, with West Leeds just holding on for a 24 - 17 success, with another impressive display from Nick Porter, whilst the thirds produce their best performance of the season at Scatchard Lane, beating Morley thirds 33 - 24,partly thanks to a fine man of the match performance from young Simon Cadge.

Leos: Bindloss,McDaid,Thompson,Knibbs,Duffy,Henry,Winter,Dowling,
Farad,Lewis.Myerscough,Debenham,Lane,Ffforde,Akman,Connel,Robson
Rishworthians:Radclliffe,Town,Flanagan,Sutcliffe,Shoesmith,
Pollard,Edmondson,Mudd,Heseltine,Presda,Wild,Ball,Clarke,Turner,
Billing,Faulkner