Leos edged at home

After what seems like a very long time and an ever growing list of last minute cancellations, merit league rugby returned to Crag Lane, and for the 4th time this season, Leos and Roundheigians locked horns.

With Christmas on the horizon, Saturday afternoons become a bit more precious and unfortunately availability for rugby takes a hit. Leos were able to field 14 in the end and were very thankfully bolstered by an extra from the visitors to make it a 15 a side game.

A pretty cagey affair for the opening exchanges, the game soon started to twist and turn with Heigians taking an early lead through some well worked back play and a good turn of pace, very quick over the ball and always keen to dig in at the ruck, the visitors soon found themselves in some good positions.

The good ship Leo held strong however with some good fringe defending and a few well taken one on one hits, the ball eventually found itself back in blue hands and was quickly shipped down the wing where it landed in the hands of prop-cum-hooker-cum-flanker-cum-speed demon Chris Bamber who managed to cross the whitewash virtually unscathed. Unable to find a tee, fly half Johnny Hardman opted for a drop goal which didn't quite bisect the sticks.

With the try, heads lifted and some confidence grew in the team, Simon Dowling, returning from a severe case of big bloke flu, burst holes in the opposition defence, the scrum decided to go for a few walks and Tom Goff was proving a nuisance at the opposition line out. Scrappy loose play and some dulled reactions however let the visitors in for their second.

Heigians then decided it was their turn to put some pressure on and had it not been for Nick Burdon chasing back, tackling, turning over and winning a penalty (all in one very swift motion), it could have become a much harder task for the home side.

The sides decided to keep taking lumps out of each other and then giving the ball back for a short while. A big forwards effort that saw Leos cover most of the opposition half finally saw a try, after plenty of solo efforts, Tom Clapham from 1m out. You're not stopping the big man from there.

A late try in the half saw the visitors keep their lead going into the interval, Leos, whilst knackered, knew they were still in this.

The first 20 minutes, maybe more, of the first half were virtually all Leos, a big credit to the Heigians defence who managed to continually keep them at bay or force the error. Finally, Connor Spencer managed to burst through and ground the ball. Threatening all day, Connor made plenty of yards, sent tacklers tumbling and kept the ball alive, a well deserved try and just what Leos needed!

It felt like maybe Leos would managed to take this one but for all their efforts, the visitors held firm. Lots of players put their hands up, making their tackles and winning hard yards and eventually Leos managed to win a penalty, Nick Burdon took it upon himself for a quick tap. From 80m out, no opposition in sight, he did what anyone of us would do in that position... spoon the ball straight into touch, to give the other team a chance of course.

Unfazed by this however Leos managed to push deep into the opposition half leading to a big bust from Will Crawforth who not only scored but managed to ground 2 or 3 would be tacklers with him.

Heigians scored another which set the game up for a tense climax, Leos tried and failed to get up the pitch and eventually time ran out for the home side. A devestating loss snatched from the jaws of victory. A very finely balanced game that could have gone either way had both teams taken their chances.

Leos retired to the changing room for a cheeseboard and some port, unhappy with the result but hopeful for the future.

Man of the Match contenders, there were a few. Johnny Hardman controlled the game at 10, provided a reliable boot from hand and tackled hard all day. Simon Dowling made gaps and caused all manner of trouble round the park. Tom Cooper was pinpoint in the lineout, the fez was also pretty handy around the park, he didn't drink after the game because he was driving so unfortunately no joke to be made there.

The winner this week however was Connor Spencer for a solid, all round performance and for making the yards that mattered.