Leos 24 - Selby 0

A frosty winter night had set in before the second Leos game after an 8 week winter break. Team moral seemed shaky, with much scuffing of heels on turf and murmurs that ‘this could be dangerous’. Then it was finally decided, yes we would play Selby again.

With Billy back from down south and Lloyd finally taking a break from the Leeds party scene, Leos seemed back at full strength. Billy s safe hands and Lloyds forward and long tackles created a flat and stable back line. The team was then able to maintain a quick and energetic tempo from the start. Within eight minutes quick runs and passes from Dean out left mean t Stubbley could eventually run clear and diagonal from 30 yards to place a try under the posts.

The scrum also either held or dominated in the first half, leaving time and space for Rob and Nick to work some classy passes and feints behind the pack. This created a succession of short ground taking runs through the centre. Dolph provided the firepower here. His second marauding run towards the line proving successful when it freed Carlos 10 yards out to produce his trademark twinkle toed yet bouldering run to the back line. CJ charged in as support to place another try over, 22 minutes into the game. Gavin, who was not uninstrumental in this first half push, took solace in a well-placed conversion. The ball remained in the opposition half for the majority as Leo s contemplated another big score.

Selbys came out a rejuvenated and different side in the second half. Missing big Steve from a first half clash but bouyed by Rhett and Dave centre became stalemate. And it became Leo s turn to be pushed around on the left and right flanks. The ball was muddy and slippery hands seemed to loosen discipline and speed the game up unnecessarily. I myself dropped a ball. Jonny a new player at no.10 proved a real asset and stable game maker. Safe hands and good passes mean t he was able to slow the game down when required in our favour. And it was one of Jonnys many well placed kicks which finally broke the deadlock, 20 mins in, falling true for Stubbley 30 yards on left. Stubbers bolted over the corner line and then ‘ahem’ wisely outpaced an oncoming Selby winger to try under the posts. Exhausted from solid play, JP hit the post to deny conversion..

The game continued with more opposition attacks. Welcome sub Binloss may have over estimated the 4ths when he quickly returned a ball into touch 5 yards from the try line. And no one is still quite sure whether running at speed whilst uncontrollably balancing the ball behind his back was misplaced rugby genius. A rare line out in the Selby half 15 minutes later gave Tommo his chance at firepower with an eight yard run off the line out. This left Selby in disarray. Nick and Gavin capitalised on this and made a valiant run to within metres of the try line. Tommo powered in again to push three of Selby s finest for the try. Dolph, also exhausted, converted from the touchline. Leos regained compsure from then on to hold firm and secure a second win in a row.