Brave Leo’s edged out by Rowntrees

Due to the heavy shopping traffic the kick off was delayed long enough for the front row behemoth to arrive, and Rowntrees sportingly handed over a nippy winger in James to make up the numbers. As usual Leo’s started slowly, allowing their better prepared hosts to pile into their visitors. The competition at the breakdown was fierce from the off as turnovers were won by fair means and foul as the inexperienced referee struggled to make any sense of the constant skulduggery. In the tight Thommo led the front five with his usual brutality as the home side were bent, lifted and driven throughout the afternoon, resulting in a number of flare-ups and the breaking of two home side front rowers.
Young Jake excelled at scrum half, in his first official senior game, releasing JP and the backs, or sniping solo around the fringes. Rowntrees worked two good tries by sucking in the visiting defence before spreading the ball wide to open up a 12 point lead before Leo’s worked out a game plan that they stuck to valiantly for the remainder of a competitive, physical but enjoyable encounter. The pack picked and drove, with supporting weight joining for extra yardage as holes were punched into the home defence. Winters Scotty and Dog combined well as the 22 was invaded and pressure began to mount. Billy broke and was replaced by guest #2 who was on hand to dart over following some more forward bludgeoning from Thommo and Si H. Battered Scotty added the extras.
At half time the game was there for the taking and the plan needed to be adhered to in order to bring home the spoils. With the referees gate narrowing some Thommo rucking was penalised, but the offside was less well policed and Ben Hamer crashed into his opposite number, gathered with a fumble, and scampered over for a contentious try. Scotty squandered 2 points and the game was set at 12-12 with 20 minutes left. As at Cleckheaton a fortnight ago Leos threw everything into the fray. Mrs Mills, returning from a long layoff made some crashing drives, JP and Ben tried some midfield trickery and the forwards stuck to the plan. However, the superior fitness and organisation of the home side finally paid dividends as their backs took advantage of some broken play to score out wide and give them a game winning lead.
Yet another glorious defeat in a season filled with similar performances, which really deserve more for the effort, application and courage displayed by a team made up of true social rugby players ranging in age from 17-nearly 60!