A Modicum of solace in a spirited defeat

Captain Cranners had worked hard all week in seeking to put 15 men on the field to play West Park Bramhope up at their plush home ground.
Cranners manned up and played at hooker in Farmers boy Capels absence.
He was ably assisted by Lovers and Cadgey who also got on the phone trying to persuade folk to turn out with varying degrees of limited success.

The levels of 3rd team availability continue to be slightly disappointing so far this season, lets us hope for some familiar faces to return in the next few weeks.

So we began the game on a perfect pitch despite all the heavy rain. The early exchanges were even, it was clear that Park had young pacy backs well led by an accomplished 10. Whenever Leos applied any pressure his considerable boot got his team out of trouble.

Leos forwards started to play pick and go leading to good field position deep in oppo country. From an inside ball Jon blasted through the home defence coming off his wing at pace to score a great try under the posts. Lovers chipped over the extras.

Park responded immediately winning quick ball and spinning it wide at every turn. They were younger, faster and more skilful than a slightly thrown together Leos backline and scored several tries in quick succession.

It became clear that Leos could not go round the outside of Park and when we tried we tended to get isolated in the tackle and lose turnover ball. We were also somewhat struggling to keep up with a very fast paced game !

Some panic showed from Leos with several lads putting in hurried kicks which gave possession away. Despite calls for composure from Captain Cranners and other senior players Park took control of the game and the scoreboard.

Our Ref for the day was presiding over his very first game and he did well to keep it all flowing, it helped that it was played in friendly spirits by both teams throughout.

Leos lost young Raj to a hamstring injury, his big fri night out and pre match pint of lager finally catching up with him ! Park initially decided not to give us a spare player as when we lost Raj we were actually for a short time in the lead. This was swiftly rectified at halftime and Leos were back up to a full 15.

The halftime chat was to slow the game down to a pace we could control and not play headless chicken rugby as this was playing into the hands of our young and quick oppo. Lovers was instructed to either bosh it up himself or look for a 1 out pass to Niall to do the same. Along with inside balls to supporting forward runners a simple game plan was thus established.

Unfortunately Park started the 2nd stanza at a million miles an hour. Their superior pace saw them score a few more converted tries and Leos looked like being on the end of a fearful stuffing, 70 odd points were a distinct possibility!

Thankfully the penny had finally dropped and we simply tore into the oppo with ball in hand across the whole team. Cadgey, Elliot, Stuart, Macklin, Hill and Cranners started it making huge yards, good support from other forwards and backs created some momentum and some wonderful offloading saw Leos finally assert some authority on the youngs scamps facing them.

Niall went to 10 allowing the rotund one to slip back into the 12 channel and do what he does best, bosh it up as hard as possible time after time. It was obvious that Park loved to run with the ball but for some strange reason were less keen on trying to stop the likes of Cadgey and co when we were on the rampage. Andy Hill as ever made countless yards from restarts and in open play.

All this lung busting effort did lead to some richly deserved points for Leos. Macklin poached a try from close range after Leos forwards had rumbled well in the oppo 22 from a secure lineout. Con missed.
Park were still a good way ahead on points but the momentum had swung Leos way. They fell of tackles and maybe started to think about the beers afterwards.

The Diddy Doc Herring ran from deep jinking defenders with all his determination and no little skill, Niall crunched into every contact with or without the ball and young Elliot got around the park stealing good turnover ball. His senior rugby education gathers pace !
Stuart made a strong debut both in the back row and the centres carrying the ball with gusto and putting in some big hits too. Another medic ! no surprise there.

At the end of a wrecking ball run 19.5 stone of rotund centre received an accidental stamp to his gentlemens area whilst at the bottom of a ruck. This fair took the wind out of his sails and along with being shattered he was prone and out of the game for a good 5 mins ! understandably nobody noticed ! and the game continued apace. Leos were definitely on the offensive and smashing into the oppo with glee. I have never seen Cadgey run so much and so hard with the ball in 12 years of rugby. This was despite him being ill with elephant flu all week, a notable effort by the big amiable mountain of a prop. Where he and the forwards went we all followed and Leos had the last word when the Diddy Doc Herring crashed over from shorter range than normal to score a deserved try.

From out wide on the right the now breathing again Lovers notched a good kick to make the final score a very respectable West Park Bramhope 42 Leos 19.

“ If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the will which says Hold On !
If you can meet triumph and disaster
And meet those two imposters just the same “

Kipling was right !

Leos today showed true grit and Character in the face of serious adversity. We were out classed today in terms of fitness, skill and sheer youth BUT our effort levels were superb.

Sometimes you can lose a game when trying your heart out and it actually does not feel that bad. In some ways today was such a day.
Next week we hope for a bigger squad and hopefully a win.

Once again congratulations to the 1s and 2s who again enjoyed good wins, the 2s have now won 5 out of 5 and sit proudly atop their merit table and the 1s winning bandwaggon rolls ever on.

Hard luck to our brothers in the esteemed 4s who lost by a single point in a low scoring affair to Mods.

We retired back to Leos to enjoy a few beers with the boys and rest some very tired bodies.

Man of the match Cadgey for playing so well whilst quite ill.

Park 42 Leos 19
Tries: Jon, Macklin, Herring.
Con: Lovers 2.