Roundhegians 12 v Leos 38

Report by Peter Cooke

After successive victories over top four sides Barnsley and Bradford Salem, Leos travelled to Chelwood Drive full of confidence but short of a number of regular players. Ed Connell and Si Dowling formed an innovative second row, James Knibbs flew in from San Fransico,whilst former University player Chris Simpson made his debut in the back row, with Lenny Lane, James Farad and Tom Bindloss all returning.

In near swamp conditions,Hegians opened the better, dominating both possession and field position but missing a couple of early penalty attempts.However,they took the lead on 14mins via a close range try from one of their forwards, converted by the fly half.

Leos gradually worked their way into the game, largely through the controlled effort of the pack, where Chris Lewis and Dan Hyde lead by example. A chip forward caused chaos in the home defence,Si Dowling and Ed Connell provided momentum, before a terrific pick up from Stuart Baker, who used immense leg drive to brush aside a couple of attempted tackles, to stretch over the line. The Ed Farmer conversion levelled the scores on 31mins.

The Leos fringe defence was impressive, with attackers regularly being driven back in the tackle by James Farad, Lenny Lane and Chris Simpson, before turnover ball released Ed Farmer, Mark Winter sliced through the home defence and combined with Tim Sleight, who demonstrated blistering speed to swoop onto the bouncing ball and score under the sticks. A second Ed Farmer conversion put Leos 14 - 7 up heading into half time.

Playing with the slight breeze in the second half, Leos opened impressively, with Si Dowling and Ed Connell now jumping like young salmon at the lineout.However,Hegians secured good field position but couldn't find a way through the solid Leos defence and resorted to kicks down field.

Tom Bindloss picked one of these out of the air,side stepped one tackler, before laying off a delicious delayed pass to Danny Thompson, who committed other defenders, before Mark Winter raced onto the ball and left tacklers in his wake for a sensational try. The Ed Farmer conversion made it 21 - 7 after 51mins.

Leos were forced to soak up further pressure but no tackles were being missed and eventually the home side dropped a ball in midfield. A perfectly executed fly hack from Mark Winter, landed ideally into the hands of Danny Thompson, who proved too fast and strong for the Hegians cover defence and swept 60m down the right wing for the bonus point try - 28 - 7 after 58mins.

A series of penalties took Hegians to the Leos line, where finally a forward was able to breech the defence and slide over for the home sides second try. Martin McIntosh replaced Dan Hyde. Leos continued to play some scintillating rugby in the atrocious conditions, with Ed Farmer making another break, linking with various forwards, before Tim Sleight injected pace and layed off a soft inside pass to the supporting James Knibbs,who cut a delightful angle to make the score 33 - 12.

Leos were still not finished and a truly barnstorming run from Stuart Baker, left numerous defenders on their backs, before quick ball allowed Ed Farmer to drop a shoulder and cruise over the line for a final score of 38 - 12.

A truly outstanding performance from a depleted side where every player should be proud of their efforts and committment.The defence was magnificent, whilst some of the tries demonstrated rugby of the highest calibre. It's almost unfair to name a man of the match in such circumstances but if pushed the vote would go to Stuart Baker for 80mins of dynamic rugby.

The win moves Leos up to fourth in the table, with current league leaders Hullensians the visitors to Crag Lane next Saturday.

Equally satisfying, back at Crag Lane, the seconds enjoyed a 20 - 12 success over Moortown but with resources fully stretched, the thirds went down to Harrogate Pirates in another Merit League fixture.

Leos:Bindloss,Sleight,Knibbs,Winter,Thompson,Farmer,Tweedle,Baker,
Farad,Lewis,Dowling,Connell,Simpson,Lane,Hyde,McIntosh,Porter