Leos start strongly against Selby

After being greeted with apologies for having to change in Portacabins due to the rebuilding work (unnecessary apologies as unlike the old Selby changing rooms we could fit the whole team in!) it was out to the pitch for the warm up where most of us tried to shake off four months off rugby inactivity.

The large (ish) crowd, including a good Leos representation thanks to the Norberry and Tweddle fan clubs, were hoping for a better game than the uneventful 6-5 at the start of last year and they couldn't have hoped for more than when Dan Norberry jinked past several players to score under the posts. While a try is always welcome an early one can be a blessing in disguise especially for a Leos 2nds team, who are venerable to complacency and switching off. Fortunately the pressure continued to be applied and we crossed over four more times in the next 25 minutes. Debutant Lundy crossed due to strong running after the ball was passed through the backline and fellow newcomer Kriss got a pair through good support after Charlie had made good yards with half the Selby team hanging off him trying to bring him down. Miraculously Kriss didn't appear near the try line again for fear of getting a hattrick. The final try (it may not have been the final try as I don't remember the correct order) came after quick thinking from Dan, who picked up a ball that came out the back of a Selby ruck and piled over from close range. Without the aid of a tee Tweddle managed to get 4 out of five kicks to give him a success rate of 80%, which probably won't be better and will almost certainly decrease as the season progresses.

Selby looked like they could possibly crack but came back strongly in the second part of the first half to keep Leos in their own half and were only kept out by good defensive tackles and Pete Herring cleaning up high kicks. Selby did cross the line with the last play of the half as their centre (?) ran round four or five players after a rolling maul had left the majority of the Leos standing around cluelessly. We could blame the new rules disallowing pulling down a maul but seeing as we didn't pull down one in the whole of last year when it was legal, I think that would stretching it.

At half time Lundy was replaced by Daley and the message was stressed that whilst doing well, we couldn't afford to switch off as their try had shown. So of course Leos went straight into their usual switching off period upon the recommencement of the game. Through kicking for the corners, strong running and ill-discipline from Leos, they pinned us on our try line and threatened to turn a game, which we had in total control, completely on it's head. With tension rising in the Leos camp and the squabbling that marred many a game last year rearing its ugly head it was two separate incidents which dug us out of a hole. One of the requests at half time was to each put one big hit on and the third new Leo Tom Casey was the first to step up to the plate with a great tackle to stop their winger. The second was the scrum after their fly half was held up over line (no mean feat due to his size) by a great double tackle from Tweddle and Al Griffen. The momentum which was firmly with Selby was reversed as the Leos pack dug deep and drove the opposition off the ball.

The remainder of the game was largely played in the middle of the pitch with both teams showing great running and defence with no score in the second half from either team giving a final score of 33-5 to Leos.

This game was a very good portrayal of the Leos second team. In parts very effective with strong running, especially from Charlie and Si, good support and defence. However we're still prone to switching off and letting are standards slip.

This game was a very good portrayal of the Leos second team. In parts very effective with strong running, especially from Charlie and Si, good support and defence. However we're still prone to switching off and letting our standards slip especially in clearing rucks which could cause big problems with the new rules against quick back rows. We also need to improve our set pieces especially our line out which misfired all afternoon.

Overall though, a great start to the season. Man of the match is shared between Kriss, Tom and Lundy for the impressive starts to their Leos' careers.

Leos: Herring, Casey, Derry, Norberry, Lund, Tweddle, Griffin, McKendry, Scott, Dowling, Stafford, Gopichandran, Fishburn, Marland, Chesters, Sub: Hebbard.