Backless Leo’s exposed by Skipton

Leo’s travelled to a wet and windswept Skipton with a hefty squad of 17, but only 2 recognised backs! JP took one for the team by exposing himself to the fulcrum role where he performed excellently in adversity, combining well with Ken Barlow, who managed a complete game. The plan was obvious and the Leo’s pack worked it too well, and ultimately to their own disadvantage as the game progressed.
Thommo led from the front in a front five of power and ferocity as the visitors made the hard yards, created space for the nervous backs, and supported well. With the three fastest forwards performing in the backs it was a question of Quod Tuum Tenne (“What we have we hold” for those not classically educated) as the speed challenged forwards drove slowly around the pitch like a juggernaut. In the scrums the home pack were driven back and a little up time and again as turnover ball and driven yards gave the backs, slowly growing in confidence, good clean ball to work their one planned move, over and over again! Fed up of watching the run-around-pop the forwards took control and Scotty released Si and Big John for a rumble which, after some good recycling and clearing out led to Si crashing over. More of the same followed before Westwood worked his magic but forsaking his silky skills crashed over himself and Scotty added the extras.
With the likelihood of even more pressure from the visiting pack and more pain for their airborne hooker the home side elected unopposed scrums, so emasculating Leo’s completely. With a less than fleet footed Leo’s back row, and no Number 8 pick-ups, the home side were able to get the gift balls away quicker and begin to run at the heart of the Leo’s defence. Defending a 12 point half time lead required some concerted focus and sensible play, not allowing the Skipton danders to be raised. Unfortunately a missed tackle by Scotty led to some early pressure and a quick score despite some valiant defending. More midfield skirmishes ensued with Grant trying his best to find space for the backs who all ran hard and straight when fed with clean ball. With Skipton using the passive scrums to their full advantage at penalties to tie in the visiting defence the game became fractious and the generally good referee narrowed his gate, started getting more pernickety and upsetting both teams equally.
Skipton however stuck to their plan and Leo’s huffed and puffed with a lack of cohesion expected from the make-up of the team. Despite being revitalised by the oldest/youngest comb of Josh and Charlie the disjointed nature of the game favoured the better drilled home backs who eventually scored two more tries to set up a frantic last ten minutes. Leo’s paucity of recognised three quarters was not evident as they tried both forward drives, scampering blinds, and straightforward backs lines, all in vain as time and the referees patience ran out. Having used up a season’s worth of luck last week Leo’s were undoubtedly undone by the lack of experience, but not effort or application, in the backs, and the denuding of their one asset this week, forward power.