Elusive Students Give Leo’s The Slip, Often

With the both the Leo’s lower teams mustering single figures again in a troubling season the united front of 17 assembled with a mainly forward look about them. Carl and Polly moved into the backs and eyed up their whippet like opponents while the pack licked their lips at the thought of bullying some youngsters. The tone of the game was set early as the sheer speed of the Medics back three tore holes in the stout Leo’s back line. Early tries were conceded before Leo’s managed to get their hands on the ball and work some forward bosh to counter the scampering students. Thommo returned to batter some hard yards along with Dolph and Patsy, with Scotty and CJ relishing the clearing out duties. In the scrum Leo’s were in the ascendancy with a front row of Thommo, Farmer Jim and young Will subduing the juveniles. Rob and Blakey tried hard to make use of the possession but the well drilled students tackled and turned over expertly. Their backs were less profligate with their possession and tries continued to flow. Focusing on the pick, drive, clear out and repeat options Leo’s forwards added a massive driving maul to their repertoire to allow the backs to get close, and supporting CJ to dive over as the half finished with a Leo’s riposte, of sorts.
Grant and Newnsy had already given up the unequal struggle to injury, (to save further indignity?), allowing Farmer Jim to retire to tackling duties in the centre and Scotty to step forward to loose-head. Chris Fan then pulled a fetlock and a Medic kindly heeded the call. Fishy and Billy continued to throw themselves into the fray and JP Murphy once again displayed is utility attributes in both the forwards and backs as the Medic hordes ran riot. For short periods Leo’s pulverised the Medics with ferocious rucking and drives but the tenacious youngsters held firm and returned favour with a more open and rapid style of rugby. Carl added a late score for Leo’s but it added little respectability to the score line. Speed of thought and deed, in addition to some excellent basic rugby skills made it a tough afternoon for Leo’s who now regroup for a trip to Harrogate to take on The Pirates in what, considering current injuries and availability, will once again be a joint mission.