Leos suffer yet another close defeat as the lucky few enjoy a champagne train trip to Twickers

Leos suffer another close defeat while the lucky few enjoy a champagne train trip to Twickers.

Captain Cranners had assembled a useful looking outfit to welcome Harrogate to play on the big pitch in the sunshine at Kingdom Crag.

Harrogate started the better being more switched on and faster to the breakdown.

The slightly lacklustre efforts of the last few weeks seemed to permeate a Leos team not short on talent.

Superior all round rugby, particularly in the backs, saw Harrogate score a deserved converted try to take the lead. They also played the ref better than us getting away with stealing a yard or so in the backs whenever they could to close down what little time or ball Leos had.

Leos did do some positive things but a dropped pass or a wrong option saw us lose possession time after time. Frustration set in amongst most of the Leos team who could all see what we needed to do , but we were not quite either good enough, or up for it enough to actually execute and score some tries.

Leos were struggling to keep pace with faster younger men who ran not only good lines, but they also ran with passion and purpose, despite a couple of them wearing Stade Francais style pink shorts for a bit of a giggle.

The first half belonged to Harrogate and although we had only conceded 1 try the writing was starting to materialise on the wall.

The half time words from Reedy were to gain some composure and work a lot harder across the entire team.

Captain Cranners departed with his ear infection playing up again, he admitted afterwards that he was shattered and probably should not have played but you cant keep a good man down !!

The second half was a much better effort, as we all worked a great deal harder and a few fresh legs helped out too.

Andy Hill started to rampage as only he can. Capell popped up on the wing received a pass in space and made 40 yards, only being denied a great score by a last ditch despairing cover tackle.

Reedy began to bosh leading with his ramrod forearm and he got us over the gainline regularly.

James at 10 kicked cleverly and took it to the line releasing his backs with skill and accuracy. He also dumped several folk who were daft enough to stray into his channel . Some fat centre got even more grumpy than of late and bounced his man with relish occasionally when he could breath that was. He also put in the odd tackle, very unusually for him ! He also said too much too often so apologies to all concerned for that.

Suddenly the Leos forwards were at the breakdown led by Gareth who was everywhere before departing later to play ice hockey in Sheffield I kid you not !

Only at Leos.

All this pressure led to tries for Andy Hill and Pete Herring who was jinking around trying to protect a recently broken finger.

Richie Edgar came off his wing and brought his great hands and general rugby nous to the piece.

Jamie Tweddle also made good ground displaying his twinkle toed fancy footwork.

Unfortunately Harrogate were a very useful side with pace to burn in the backs and young fit forwards to support their runners.

They kept scoring a try every time Leos got 1 and thus stayed narrowly ahead.

Lovegrumpy should have scored but could not quite get round the outside of the fastest prop in the northern hemisphere playing amateur rugby, who reached out a paw and stopped him in his tracks by his collar, much to the amusement of the home team and few spectators.

This was the same prop who had scorched in from 20 yards getting his 22 stone shifting at surprising speed to score a famous try. None of the Leos players, backs of forwards could catch or stop the moving mountain.

So the game entered the final quarter with Leos competing well and pushing Harrogate hard for a comeback win to try and end a poor run of form.

Gareth scored a good try after solid approach work from forwards and backs but H gate were still just ahead by 24 -21.

In the dying minutes Leos threw every thing they had left at the talented, and nearly as posh as Reedy, friendly visitors. We tooks risks and somewhat predictably came unstuck in spectacular fashion. From turn over ball the silky skills of the visiting backs went half the length of the big pitch to score a converted try.

This made a final score of 31 -21, ( as all 3 of Leos tries were converted ) to Harrogate who thoroughly deserved their win.

They were the better team especially in the first half when Leos were a little off the pace.

The game was played with plenty of very jovial banter between 2 sides who know each other well and much laughter ensued throughout.

We retired to watch an improved if rusty England lose to those pesky All Blacks and enjoy a few deserved beers pre fireworks and big bonfire, or as Oliver Herring, The Diddy Docs older little one called it a Bon - on - fire !

Man of the match was Gareth for a great first game in the Leos colours.

So the win loss ratio is now won 2 lost 5, very un 3rd team like behaviour but to be fair we have played some tough outfits and hope springs eternal of a win sooner rather than later when the champagne contingent, messers Macklin, Blakey and Monk ( who by the way fell asleep at Twickers in the first half due to being a short lightweight, he usually at least waits until he has a nice curry to land in first !! ) return to duty next week.

Next Sat we say goodbye for now to a favourite son of Leos who continues to do masses for the club Mr Jim Capell, he leaves us for a sojurn down under, heaven help the ladies of Australia as they wont know quite what has just landed from blighty to say Hello in a broad Yorkshire accent ! so get your passes sorted for a club night in with Beer Olympics and all sorts followed by a trip to enjoy the sights and sounds of Headingley.

Lovejoy.