Leos welcome the Pythons to the Crag

Captain Neil had garnered a very useful looking squad to welcome the Harrogate Pythons to the Crag. The rain of the morning had relented and a sunny crisp day emerged as Chris Cadge took charge as Ref of an entertaining game. Gate has a slight edge in the scrums and put Leos under constant pressure. The Lineouts were fairly even with Neil stealing some oppo ball and soaring superbly on home ball.

The first 25 minutes were very hard fought , no team could quite break the sterling efforts in defence on both sides. Leos eventually did camp on the Gate line through a series of lineouts and rolling mauls. From one of these it looked very much like Jack Walkden was going to drive over and score, at that point big brother Harry Walkden playing at 9, took the ball from Jack and dived over the try line. In the very act of scoring as his arm came down he was stripped of the ball. No try.

Jacks comment later was priceless “ I could have shot my brother !! “

Farmer Jim entered the fray after about 20 mins and played like the demented hobbit he sometimes is. He threw himself into every tackle putting big boys down and carried the ball like “ a man possessed “ to quote Tom Tweddle.

Gate in turn were playing some very good rugby too, their 9 and Captain ran the game well and their centres ran good lines causing Leos problems in defence. Only a last ditch tackle from Mike at 15 saved a certain try. Mike is a strong elusive runner and he made very good yards every time he got a pass. The quicksilver Nick Porter also glided past defenders changing pace and disappearing out of tackles before defences could either catch him, re align or even realise where he had gone ! Lewis ran very straight and hard at 12 and showed real gain line busting ability.

Something had to give and it was over ambition in attack from Leos that led to the first try for gate. Farmer Jim popped up in the centres and threw a pass that was well read by a Gate defender, the interception was accepted and the visitor pinned his ears back and scored out wide. Con kicked.

Leos were undeterred and mainly as the game was so evenly poised tore back into Gate with renewed gusto. Jack at 7 had a storming game, brilliant over the ball and very strong in the tackle. In time higher honours will beckon as he fills out and gets a little bulkier. More carbs my boy more carbs !!

Tweds at 10 was playing well despite an early dead leg, but Leos could never quite click in attack in the backs, a pass would be a fraction behind the man or a mistimed support line would be run. Finally Harry took matters into his own very capable hands. In front of his proud parents he took a quick tap penalty from around 20 yards out and set off for the line. His strength and pace saw him take a defender or 2 with him as he scored. He rammed the ball down over the line in what was clear frustration at being denied earlier. Nick Porter went all Fijian and in his delightfully relaxed style, and with no kicking tee simply took a drop kick on a tough angle. Con kicked with consummate ease !!

Up front the battle intensified and it was Gate that went ahead scoring another try to lead 12 /7.
Leos camped again in their own half did all they could to repel attack after attack but when the dam did break Gate took their try well.
As the game entered the final 5 mins Leos busted a collective gut to score again and despite great strides in attack the Gate defence held firm. It was very noticeable that Leos and Gate get on well and enjoy each others company. The subs on the sideline had plenty of friendly banter with their opposite numbers and the game was played in superb spirits throughout. This was due in no small measure to the no nonsense sensible handling of the game by Chris Cadge. It did get a tiny bit tasty in the last 10 mins but the Ref diffused the tension with a mixture of natural authority and his own brand of gentle humour. Plus being 22 ish stone, he is losing weight you know in an effort to force your humble scribe into a Props berth if he ever weighs less than me !. Also being a Prop himself, he is very familiar with the “ dark arts “ as he has been employing them as a player on occasion for many moons now.

So the game ended with gate winning 12/7 and we shook hands an applauded each other off the field to enjoy a hum dinger of a semi final in the club house with Tony and his staff serving us his excellent beer.

This performance was light years ahead of the stuffing we took at Moortown last week so please keep up the availability boys as it makes Neils job an awful lot easier.