Leos 12 v Sheffield Medics 17

Report by Peter Cooke

Sheffield Medics were the visitors to Crag Lane for this top of the table clash. The Medics are perhaps the surprise team of the last two seasons, with their mixture of an athletic, well drilled pack and pace and accuracy in their three quarters.

Leos were able to field a strong pack, with Dan Hyde returning from injury and Richie Howells from his extra curricular activities, but were missing some of their usual pace and experience in the backs, although Ed Farmer returned to play against his former team. Conditions were ideal for rugby, being still and bright, although soft under foot.

Sheffield took an early lead, when a kick to the corner, was followed by a well drilled catch and drive, allowing one of their forwards to emerge for the relatively soft try. Then followed a twenty minute period of good quality, fast open rugby by both sides. Leos back three of Jonny Moore, Vinnie O'Brien and James Lund were made to work hard but there were strong driving runs from James Knibbs and Lenny Lane, whilst Dan Hyde was regularly destroying various ball carriers.However,the visitors have one of the most efficient lineouts in the league and regularly spread the ball wide, requiring cover tackles from Richie Howells, James Henry and Jordache Myerscough.

At the scrum,Leos had complete dominance,once driving the Medics back fully 20m,only for the referee to adjudge a knock on,when the visiting pack stood up on their own line.However,powerful drives from Chris Lewis, James Farad and Si Dowling eventually took their toll,when Richie Howells found space on the fringes and ran in impressively from 30m to level the game.Ed Farmers conversion put Leos ahead on the half hour mark.However,the lead couldn't be held.Another efficient lineout,a well worked threequarter move created space for the right winger to score and give Sheffield a 12 - 7 lead at half time.

Sheffield increased their lead early in the second half.A penalty attempt struck the posts but Leos were unable to clear their lines effectively and the ball was spread to the left,giving them a 17 - 7 lead.

Leos then came to life,battering the visitors line for fully 25mins,with repeated drives from Ed Connell, Stuart Baker,James Debenham,whilst James Knibbs and James Henry were creating space but the final pass was not going to hand and the visitors missing few tackles,

Sheffield defended resolutely and were happy to kill the ball whenever danger did emerge and were themselves dangerous when counter attacking.However,pressure eventually told,Si Dowling intercepted and seeing 50m of open space ahead,quickly gave the ball to Jordache Myerscough.The forwards drove in,the ball was recycled,quickly transferred via Richard Bean to the backs,Jonny Moore made the extra man and Vinnie O'Brien showed strength to squeeze into the left hand corner.12 - 17,with 15 mins remaining.

Leos continued to enjoy both possession and territory but couldn't find the decisive pass.Stu Norton was stopped in the corner,Chris Lewis bashed,Dan Hyde and Lenny Lane ran straight and hard,more penalties were regularly conceded but the visitors held out for a 17 - 12 victory.

A high quality game of Yorks 2 rugby,which arguably could have gone either way but where the visitors took their opportunities and were perhaps more precise and accurate with ball in hand, whilst Dan Hyde took my man of the match award.

Elsewhere, the highly competitive nature of Yorks 2 rugby was illustrated by the win of Salem over league leaders Yarnbury,the draw by bottom of the table Baildon at Barnsley,the defeat of form side Roundhegians at Moortown,whilst importantly,Rishworthians maintained their impressive home record with a win over Ripon.

Next week, Leos visit inconsistent West Leeds, who did the double over Leos last season and retain their dangerous running backs from broken play.