Leo’s Melt Under Early Onslaught

With an increasing injury list and a number of pathetic drop-outs who preferred to stay in The Box rather than rally to the cause JP struggled to raise 15 fit men for the trip to York. Antek returned from long term injury to add speed of mind, body and mouth to the back row while Dave Batman donned his cape to add age to the pack. Jake returned from long term 3rd XV duty to try to work some half back magic with the Portly Magician, in difficult circumstances.
The home side were well organised, had obviously trained together and were marshalled by a Kiwi at 10 who for some reason took exception to being called an Aussie all afternoon as Leo’s ran out comfortable winners in the chelping stakes. Leo’s found that winning and keeping possession somewhat trying as they were not getting to the breakdown or offering support to the ball carrying efforts of Antek, Thommo and Simon. The backs were solid but when the home side managed to work a planned move the huge centre scared Tim the Tackle as he burst through for an early score. The war of attrition up front continued as the breakdowns became more contested and the Leo’s pack resisted the drives. Unfortunately the referee’s gate was exceptionally narrow and time and again “coming in from the side” was ruled when an almost perpendicular entry from a Leo’s forward threatened turnover ball. From a quick tap the home 9 skipped, dummied, bounced, and then smuggled himself under Big Steve for a second converted try. With stirring words ringing in their ears the Leo’s pack chased the Portly Magicians restart, missed the catcher, and watched as the elusive Rountrees 8 (Welsh National League Div 2 last season) returned the ball under Leo’s posts with barely a stroke from a visitor.
At this point the whole afternoon could have turned a bit “Manchester” but Leo’s rallied and started to cause the home side enough difficulties that, despite being 21-0 to the good, they opted to miss a three pointer just before halftime rather than turn the screw further. The second half saw Leo’s pack in the ascendancy as Scotty, struggling for chocolate based calls, started to find his jumpers, and the front five winning plenty of ball in the set pieces as the game transformed from open expansive Rountree chasing to a tight driving scrumfest with Thommo, Big Steve and Simon leading the way, gamely supported by the 104 year old engine room of Batman and Scotty. Eventually the backs were allowed to play and Carl sliced through for a score. More pressure, superior Rolf Harris baiting, and feisty forward play kept the home side in their own territory for almost the entire second half and the game finished with Ken Barlow, eschewing a half for a whole, touching down out wide after cross field bomb from the Portly Magician, who only minutes earlier had swapped wand for “widow-maker” as he amusingly handed off a yelping opponent! With the second half won 10-0 there were thoughts of what might have been with a little more application and organisation from the start, along with more support for the team as a whole from those less than dedicated sluggards.