Another Sat Another loss

Another sat, another loss.

Captain Cranners has assembled a strong looking team especially in the pack.

Unfortunately due to a general lack of organisation, what at Leos I hear you cry, and in The Autumn International season ! He was stolen by the 2s at the 11th hour.

So somewhat appropriately in his last game for Leos before he is shipped off at her majesties pleasure to the land of the non scrummaging convict, Jim Capel was captain for the day.

The Medics 2s were ridiculously young, fit , well drilled and up for the game. They expended more energy in their comprehensive warm up than some of us do in a game !!

Slightly surprisingly they more than held their own in the close quarter contact, even stopping the amiable mountain Cadgey by going very low on him and in numbers. Ben Clements ran hard but for the first 20 mins the game belonged to the young scamps.

They won quick ball fizzed it away from the breakdown and executed precise backs moves, which from the sideline looked very slick.

They also had the fastest winger we have come up against this season and once in space he made huge ground, Now when I say fast think Knibbsy and you are about there !

This superior rugby led to 3 quick tries being scored by the medics all of which were well converted on a heavy pitch.

Leos looked like being over ran and a cricket score looked ominously likely.

However Cadgey and Hairy rallied the boys admirably along with Capel who was his usual bundle of energy.

This stemmed the tide somewhat as more tackles went in notably from Edgar and Raj on the speedster before he found space.
Halftime arrived and the required game plan was clear “ I want every ball and I mean every single ball brought back to the forwards “ Cadgey being his usual clear and diplomatic self.

The 3s were well supported by a few of the 4s whose game was off and Young Jake came on in the backs to show his quality. This boy is talented and one for the future. He showed good feet evading tacklers and kicked cleverly at the right times.

The second half was a different affair. Leos rolled forward in waves using pick and go and the maul to gain ground. People were suddenly appearing at the breakdown and in support and finally we got a toehold in the game.

The medics did not panic and worked hard to play to their strengths. Stalemate was the result with neither side able to break through. But at least we were now in a contest and the medics knew they would not have it all their own way.

With some pride being restored a strong forward drive led to Jake Kapper barging his wiry little frame over the line to get Leos on the score sheet. This was no more than we deserved. Con missed.

Better tackling also denied the medics momentum for large parts of the second half.

Edgar rolled back the years with an outrageous dummy, setting off a great run, we waited with baited breath for his notoriously bacofoil hamstrings to go but amazingly they held up !

So at 21 - 5 the game looked to be heading to its conclusion when unfortunately a slight dust up occurred and Capel never one to back down flew out of position allowing space to appear out wide. Now these boys need no invitation and they ran in another well constructed try.

Final score 28 - 5 to the medics.

Sometimes when you lose you feel hard done by, not today the medics were better than Leos in most departments.

Cadgey said later something like “ there was one team out there that was fit, well drilled and played some good rugby and it was not Leos ! “

Honest as ever.

We retired to watch England play some of their best rugby since 2003 beating Australia in some style.

It was great to be in a packed noisy clubhouse.

Finally we wish Jim Capel all success on his Australian adventure doubtless we will be kept up to date with his escapades via U book and Face Twitter.

He will be missed as he does masses behind the scenes at Leos.

Good luck farmer boy and let us hope you don’t return with a string of paternity suits in your wake !!

Lovejoy.