Gallant Leo’s overrun by Harrogate

Captain CJ+ had assembled a plentiful crew, First Mate Gav a massive supply of fun, and Press Gang leader Cage had accumulated a quartet of cabin boys to the rich mixture of age skill and application.
Free scoring Harrogate had put nearly 70 points past York the previous week and were expecting to do the same to the disorganised festive visitors. The keenly contested opening quarter set the scene for a fractious and less than joyful encounter. The pack battle was pretty even with the scrums solid and line-outs working well. Good yards were made by Scotty steered driving mauls and the forwards were enjoying themselves. Around the fringes there was continual fringing and whinging from the home side and this developed into an official complaint about festive Leo’s rolling subs policy in a Merit League game. It was pointed out that while Leo’s couldn’t care less about Merit League points Harrogate were fielding an illegible player in (Ex? But still registered) Leo Matt Grant so Leo’s had surely won already!
When the home side decided to play rather than fringe and whinge they demonstrated superior pace and skills in their back line to threaten Leo’s on every occasion with ball in hand. The Leo’s backs battled hard in defence with Lovegrumpy, Matty, Billy and Dr Kavorkian tackling themselves to a standstill. Lovegrumpy’s touch finders, when they did find touch, gave Leo’s position and platform for Dave H to find Tom G in the line for more drives. Harrogate scored a couple before a long kick, chase and shemozzle allowed Scotty to spoon young Matty over the line and upset the home side further.
More changes were made to refresh the visitors who knew that while defeat was inevitable, earning those beers with a performance of bravery and pride was the order of the day. More tries were conceded as a chortling and immodest home side cut loose. Thundering defence from Leo’s did its best and Press Gang Cadge was probably the main cause of a nasty ankle fracture on a Harrogate forward. We wish him well. The entire Leo’s crew had their spells in the furnace of rugby, which proved too hot for some (Double Dick of the Day errors from Gav) but the clearly better side won at a disrespectful canter and secure a clearly vital merit league win.
Leo’s on the other hand enjoyed rum and pork pies (Thanks Ons) in the changing room before a beer or two in the Harrogate clubhouse, where no opposition could be found, and then set forth for a full evening of pure Leo’s social tomfoolery. First Mate Gav redeemed himself with a well organised schedule of pubs, trains, games and songs. The rum and barrel challenges warmed the crew up and the record breaking 81 score a “Pieces of Eight Arrghh” will likely remain unbeaten for many a long year. Raids on inns in Harrogate, Pannal, and Horsforth were enjoyed and well received before the day drew to an enjoyable close, with the rugby long forgotten.