Grandmaster Maul and The Furious Front Five

A mainly 3rd XV squad was augmented with some Occasionals and convalescing regulars to form a numerous and skilled collective to take on Mod’s 2nds. Receiving into the gusty wind Leo’s stuck to the seasonal game plan and a series of drives from the quickly recycling pack soon made territorial gains. Ben at scrum half had an unmolested afternoon and was able to bring the backs into play or keep it tight at will. An occasional booming kick mixed things up as Leo’s looked the better organised side, which was unusual. Mod’s soon got themselves into gear and presented a competitive and skilled opposition for the duration of an entertaining and sporting encounter which ebbed and flowed from beginning to end.
Despite Leo’s hard work and discipline poor guarding at a ruck allowed a pacy Mod to scooter through for an early score to the visitors. Undaunted Leo’s set about their task with relish and the pack drove upfield, employing the maul sparsely for the present. The backs were running good lines and it was their hard work and some forward graft that allowed Carl to slice through for Leo’s riposte. This was soon followed by West Country Wizard Wing James cutting in off the line at pace and scoring Leo’s second. Convalescing Lofty and Ffordy joined the fray to good effect and Leo’s kept to plan and worked the ball into position for Stevo to crash over and extend Leo’s lead to 15-5 at the break.
A call for more of the same was issued and bearing in mind the tenacious Mod’s defence and dangerous attacking perhaps the game could be slowed down a touch? Leo’s pack took this request at face value and embarked on a half of legendary mauling. A catch and drive on the Mod’s 10 metre line was secured and controlled by Grandmaster Maul Scotty and the pack drove towards the Mod’s line. Directional advice came from The Portly Magician and the forwards on the sidelines were getting mildly aroused as yard after yard was covered before the exhausted mass collapsed over the line with Scotty clearly touching down. The “unsighted” referee refused to give the try. The five metre scrum was lost and Mod’s cleared their lines. From the resultant lineout Leo’s repeated their wondrous maulage with a more modest 30 yarder before Scotty and Carl emphatically grounded the ball. Try scored, claimed by the elder statesman.
Leo’s rotated their squad with mixed effect. Big Dave and Fluff tested injured parts up front and the backs swapped around at will. Plenty of new skill on display but less cohesion and Mod’s began to run faster and stronger with their danders up. A second try from the visitors gave them even more spirit as Leo’s failed to find the game securing score. Tom B tried to open things up and Joe D ran hard but to no avail. Mod’s scored again to make it a 5 point game with ten minutes to go. Leo’s tried to maul their way out of trouble and just about succeeded in using up most of the time remaining with a few ponderous trundles and ensure victory against a very well organised and hardworking Mod’s side.