Leo’s massacred at Battle of Wounded Knee

A squad of 18 was assembled by Neil to take on the more numerate visitors who had pace to burn on the broad acres of Leo’s first team pitch. Once again there was a shortage of backs, so severe that this week Farmer Jim took up the mantle of fulcrum (with no little aplomb) and other forwards were arrayed in the nervous back line.
The forward battle were reasonably competitive, with Leo’s opting for the close quarters picks and drives to make decent inroads into the visitors territory. However, when repelled the counter-attacks were swift and deadly with the Leo’s defence circumvented rather than breached. Micro-brewer Matt chased valiantly in covering defence but even his speed and enthusiasm wasn’t enough and a couple of early tries were scored. Undaunted Leo’s worked hard for forward parity and tight possession but were up against it. More brave defence resulted in Matt limping off as the day’s first casualty. With Neil and Dr Tom in ascendancy at the line-outs Leo’s driving maul was working well but a cruel cannon-balling of Scotty led to his withdrawal with ligament damage. More tries were conceded before a trademark Leo’s attack brought them scant reward for all their hard work. Good pressure from the backs made the yards for the pack to set up some territory. A line-out and maul combo saw Leo’s first try.
At half time there was only one agreed game-plan, keep the ball in the pack and hope for the best! In the tight Onslow, Lofty and Cadgey worked heroically before the slightly less tight, but never exuberant close support from the back row joined in. Jim’s three quarters were on mainly defensive duties and in this brave quest yet another Leo’s was forced off the field. Brave Billy was a hero in defence but without his half time Twix lost his super-power and left the field with an injured ankle. The match continued in the same pattern as Leo’s tried to starve WPL of ball, and score a second try (for Onslow) in doing so, but when the visitors had time and space the try count continued to rise.
As in 1890 in South Dakota the superior forces of the better armed victors resulted in a heavy defeat for the home braves and many a debilitating, but thankfully not fatal, injury. Leo’s (most) live to fight another day, in a hopefully more even handed match-up.