Leos 2s return to winning ways

Leos Fixture Secretary Birdie proved that with determination it is possible to get 3 teams and fixtures out on a Saturday which meant Leos 2nd XV lined with a mixture of experience, youth and returning talent. 2nd Year Students Samuel Garner, Tom Platt & Paddy Brehan made their Leos debut and James Harries returned for a weekend in Leeds while on placement this year to line up at Full Back.

From the warm up it was clear Wetherby were going to prove a stern test particularly upfront where they held a clear size and experience advantage while Leos certainly seemed to have the pace advantage out wide. The opening skirmishes certainly proved this evaluation to be correct with Wetherby carrying hard round the fringes and Leos looking to play with pace whenever possible and the Ref could keep up.

With the wind behind Leos could play for territory and keep Wetherby deep in there own 22, and following a midfield burst and offload from Jake McKinley quick hands from James Shipley and Tom Tweddle saw James Harries straighten and take the right option to dummy and weave his way through to under the posts, conversion successful. Leos attacked from the resulting kick off with Harries again free in space as he tracked sideways to find support the pass to a 3 on 0 was cynically slapped down by the last defender to only be missed by the Ref who instead penalised Leos for a knock on. Leos maintain the territory dominance over there visitors and finally the game was allowed past 2 phases by Referee Parker for Stewie Norton to straighten onto a short ball and accelerate to the try line, conversion successful.

Wetherby were able to gain some field position through Leos mistakes and indiscipline and once they got a sniff there effective direct play got them into Leos 22 where despite some strong last ditch defence from Charlie Clark and Tom Platt they finally crashed over. The conversion was missed and that was halftime with Leos leading 14-5. It could and should have been more but the game was struggling to flow with the interpretation around the rucks and some overplaying from Leos at time.

The 2nd half continued much to the 1st with both sides becoming frustrated with the way the game was being refereed and with the wind now behind Wetherby Leos were very much camped in there own half. The next score was started by a chip and regather by Tweddle who then found Norton in support with Leos refusing to die with the ball and Clarke and Platt everywhere keeping the ball moving the ball finally found its way to Harries who finished in the corner. Conversion missed.

Wetherby continued to enjoy dominance of possession and territory with the elements at there backs, while Leos looked dangerous whenever the ball went through the hands and James Shipley making a number of strong carries down the right wing there was always the chance they could go coast to coast again. Another probing kick behind the defensive line by Tweddle resulted in a ruck penalty won by the Leos chasers that allowed Leos some time within the visitors 22. Following several drives by the forwards the ball was moved through the hands and an excellent pick up on the bounce by Jake put Paddy Brehan in for a try on debut. Conversion missed.

The visitors never let there heads drop and following some excellent scramble defence by the home side held them up over the line, the Wetherby pack put there size and experience to good use for a classic push over score by the no.8 from the resulting 5 metre scrum.

Fittingly Leos had the final say in scoring following another turnover by the back row the ball went through several phases and pairs of hands until James Harries found himself in the right place at the right time again to go over in the left hand corner to complete his hat trick. I'm sure his mate Fred will be delighted reading this in Tunbridge Wells!

The game finished as much of the 80 minutes had ensued with 30 players looking in puzzlement where the knock on was that the Ref had blown for but the peep of his whistle bought a halt to proceedings. A solid 29-10 victory if never quite providing a beautiful viewing spectacle for the watching Robinson family.