The afternoon didn't get off to the best of starts with several of the team arriving too close to the kick off, including myself after my front right tyre decided to go pop on the M621, which meant the warm up wasn't as extensive as it could and should have been. This was shown when the game kicked off as Leos struggled to get going while Cas started with all guns blazing.

When playing against teams from this area you know you're going to be faced with strong, straight running befitting their rugby league heritage and it proved no different with Cas making big inroads. This caused panic in our defence and they were able to capitalise on this and crossed early for the first try of the game. Another try came soon after using a similar gameplan. Leos realised that if we didn't switch on we could be staring down the barrell of a big defeat. Fortunately we were able to raise our game and work into their half by playing a basic game of supporting the runners to enable the ball to be recycled coupled with domination in the lineout and scrum (yes, you did read that correctly!). Tweddle slotted over a penalty given away after their frustration at our short period of some control appeared. This was hopefully the platform for a return to calm and an attempt to get back into the game but unfortunately another converted try from them and a missed long range penalty from us meant the half time score was 17-3 to Cas.

As periods of the first half showed, we all knew what could be done when Leos played basic rugby and took control by basically "old manning" them (seriously, I'm not making this up!). On the flip side we also saw the results when we got panicy in defense and after about five minutes of parity this was unfortunately how the second half turned out. Cas scored three try in resonably short time which was the final nail in our coffin and put the game beyond us. Leos' heads didn't drop and the last ten minutes were played mostly in the Cas half due to us being able to play our basic patterns resulting in a try by Joel. The game finished with a Cas try after Leos were unable to find touch with several kicks to give a final score of 37-10 to Castleford.

A tough game which you could argue should have been closer as moves for two the Cas tries included passes which would normally only be ruled not forward in Super 14 rugby and Leos did have good spells of possession and pressure. However, these spells weren't frequent or long enough and Castleford had us on the back foot for the majority of the game so honestly the end score was a fair result. The first defeat of the seaon is always hard but as discussed after the match there's a lo of positives to build on and we know what we need to focus and improve on.

Next week the 2nds entertain Roundhegians.

Leos: Bindloss, Derry, Howells, Weeks, Casey, Tweddle, Griffin, Bebb O, Scott, Lofty, Stafford, Debenham, Smith, Francisco, Fishburn, Sub: Beeb H.