Spectimur Agendo

That over 30 Leo’s, drawn from all levels and abilities can come together to celebrate festive social rugby with such a game of skill and speed sums up what Leodiensian rugby is all about. Bands of brothers (Walkdens, Shaws, and Hardmans), ageing stalwarts (Scotty and Gabes), fathers and sons (The Cadgeys), the next generation (Gribbon minor), returning/holidaying students, a Carthusian and a Harrovian, but Leodiensians all, celebrating rugby at this festive period with the annual spectacle that is the annual Chairman’s versus President’s fixture.
Despite the below par try total for a fixture of this nature there was no end of running rugby on offer for the crowd of refugees from the Christmas shopping. High skills and high entertainment was on offer as both sides looked to run the ball as much as possible, from wherever possible. The Chairman’s XV even introduced an amusing 15 man lineout, which failed dismally, but this was after they had conceded straight from the kick-off as Harrogate Heaton fumbled and Busy Bee Barden buzzed through for what transpired to be the first half’s only score. The majority of the half was then played out with the President’s XV on the defensive but neither side able to make any assertive moves for the scoreboard to be troubled. The breakdown was as competitive as any league game this season with big hits and clearing out (Cadgies) complemented by fringing defence (Scotty and Neil). For the yellows Milner, Porter and Robbo ran hard and sometimes straight but were kept at bay while for the Blues there was equally rapid offence from Lundy and Wheels. Stern defence and sloppy overly fancy handling kept the score at 7-0 at the break.
Unfortunately the Port wasn’t served so the game continued with the traditionalists unrefreshed. Despite the pitch cutting up the top of the ground specialists were still making speedy progress around the park. A scintillating interchanging backs move from Blues put them further ahead before the yellows hit back with a try from student Joe. From then on the game ebbed and flowed with pace and endeavour across both teams. No simple tries were scored, they were all fine flowing moves. Little kicking was considered and the driving maul was eschewed (much to Scotty’s disgust) for open running rugby. Yellows narrowed the gap but Blues took control again. Not taking it lying down Yellows went in search of another try and despite fluffing their best chance with Milner hurling the ball into Callum’s face they did, in the final minutes, score the decider under the festive last Try Wins Rule to secure the victory and the bottle of Bailey’s.

For those lacking in a classical education, surely not many?

Spectimur Agendo, Judge us by our Actions