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Sat 18 May 2013
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Leo’s Magical Comeback Stuns Southport
Richard Scott20 May 2013 - 13:41
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Tour of the Roses Challenge Cup. Leo’s touring party served up a feast of running rugby to win the trophy on a cold damp day at the seaside.
After a day of wizardly high jinks only one Leo ventured out for a morning swim. Watched by Mental, for security, Scotty strode across the sand and mud before disappearing over the horizon in order to get wet to about knee level before marching the 2 miles back to prom! It was left to CJ+ to rally his jaded troops on arrival at Southport RUFC where Wynnie came out of retirement again (“Yes he’s back, Wynnie’s back, back again, playing ten” – The not so Slim Shady has returned!) A warm up of one line out and Shady turning his ankle was deemed sufficient and Grant kicked the game off. This was the last time Leo’s were to touch or indeed see the ball for about ten minutes as the clearly superior starting back line of the hosts set about running the hangovers out of the visitors. A lot of chasing, huffing and puffing followed from Leo’s who conceded three tries in quick succession despite a tackle-tastic performance from Kinga
An embarrassing rout was on the cards unless some heroes stepped forward, which thankfully they did. Cadgey led the pack back into the fray and Grant quickly set CJ+ free for a charge. Through a gap cruised the skipper with Southport in his wake. Cover defence arrived but so did support from Naill who added both pace and yards to the move before he too was scragged by pacy defenders but not before he responded to the thunderous charge and call from rampaging Scotty in support. A perfect pop meant no change of pace or direction was required by the 49 ¾ year old lock who crashed through the fullback to put the visitors on the board and raise the collective danders. Another slick backs move involving Niall, George and Kenroy set up Grant for a second before the pack got in on the act with some good graft from Gav, Dave and Robbo allowing more possession for Grant and Shady to utilise. Scotty linked well to set up a guest for Leo’s third try and by half time the game had a respectable score-line of 26-19 to the home side.
As the exhausted tourists took on some welcome Port, supplied by the injured Q, they actually began to realise that there was the scent of victory in the air, although it was almost overwhelmed by the scent of stale alcohol. Old stagers Scotty and Cadgey called to arms as nothing makes the beer taste sweeter than a glorious triumph. More heroics were demanded, and more heroes stepped forward.
Mental (63) joined the fray, only to be trumped by Southport’s 66 year old. Exhaustion and injury led to the hosts offering up more willing and very able guests while Leo’s moved players around with the fluidity you would expect. Billy swapped his dazzling wing play to join the back row while pop impresario Andy Hill moved forward for more front row conflict after "flying the flag" in an excellent back row stint in his first game since coming second last in Eurovision! But cometh the hour, cometh the man and it was Kenroy who turned the game in Leo’s favour. With tries conceded early on in the half Leo’s were on the back foot once again until some smashing centre play from The Beast gave Leo’s hope. A 50 yard bosh-tastic try brought Leo’s back into the game and scared Southport’s defence witless. A second charge set up Grant for his second before a hat trick of fear inducing runs, followed this time by a spectacular ball on the head juggle-pass set up a Southport guest to score the winner for Leo’s with the last move of the game. In such an end to end festival of running rugby it was a few minutes before the referee totted up the scores and announced Leo’s to be the winners of a hugely entertaining, sporting and surprisingly skilful encounter.
Southport’s generosity with players continued with jugs of beer awaiting the exhausted combatants before probably the best 5 hours of post match entertainment ensued. Presentation of a cup and medals were a grand gesture as was their Lady President’s rendition of The 12 Days of Rugby! The full gamut of drinking games, singing and stitch ups followed which proved undoubtedly that Southport were the best hosts anyone of us could remember. Leos honoured them in the most fitting way by presenting them with a full on (or off?) Andy Patrick Memorial Father Abraham and are already planning the return match next year on Leo’sFest weekend.
An embarrassing rout was on the cards unless some heroes stepped forward, which thankfully they did. Cadgey led the pack back into the fray and Grant quickly set CJ+ free for a charge. Through a gap cruised the skipper with Southport in his wake. Cover defence arrived but so did support from Naill who added both pace and yards to the move before he too was scragged by pacy defenders but not before he responded to the thunderous charge and call from rampaging Scotty in support. A perfect pop meant no change of pace or direction was required by the 49 ¾ year old lock who crashed through the fullback to put the visitors on the board and raise the collective danders. Another slick backs move involving Niall, George and Kenroy set up Grant for a second before the pack got in on the act with some good graft from Gav, Dave and Robbo allowing more possession for Grant and Shady to utilise. Scotty linked well to set up a guest for Leo’s third try and by half time the game had a respectable score-line of 26-19 to the home side.
As the exhausted tourists took on some welcome Port, supplied by the injured Q, they actually began to realise that there was the scent of victory in the air, although it was almost overwhelmed by the scent of stale alcohol. Old stagers Scotty and Cadgey called to arms as nothing makes the beer taste sweeter than a glorious triumph. More heroics were demanded, and more heroes stepped forward.
Mental (63) joined the fray, only to be trumped by Southport’s 66 year old. Exhaustion and injury led to the hosts offering up more willing and very able guests while Leo’s moved players around with the fluidity you would expect. Billy swapped his dazzling wing play to join the back row while pop impresario Andy Hill moved forward for more front row conflict after "flying the flag" in an excellent back row stint in his first game since coming second last in Eurovision! But cometh the hour, cometh the man and it was Kenroy who turned the game in Leo’s favour. With tries conceded early on in the half Leo’s were on the back foot once again until some smashing centre play from The Beast gave Leo’s hope. A 50 yard bosh-tastic try brought Leo’s back into the game and scared Southport’s defence witless. A second charge set up Grant for his second before a hat trick of fear inducing runs, followed this time by a spectacular ball on the head juggle-pass set up a Southport guest to score the winner for Leo’s with the last move of the game. In such an end to end festival of running rugby it was a few minutes before the referee totted up the scores and announced Leo’s to be the winners of a hugely entertaining, sporting and surprisingly skilful encounter.
Southport’s generosity with players continued with jugs of beer awaiting the exhausted combatants before probably the best 5 hours of post match entertainment ensued. Presentation of a cup and medals were a grand gesture as was their Lady President’s rendition of The 12 Days of Rugby! The full gamut of drinking games, singing and stitch ups followed which proved undoubtedly that Southport were the best hosts anyone of us could remember. Leos honoured them in the most fitting way by presenting them with a full on (or off?) Andy Patrick Memorial Father Abraham and are already planning the return match next year on Leo’sFest weekend.
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