Battered and Broken Leo’s Succumb to Knaresborough

There was the welcome return from long lay-offs for Kinga (broken ankle) and Si H (broken face), but by the end of this brutal but sporting encounter Isaac returned to the casualty list (other ankle badly bruised), to be joined by Lloyd (collar bone broken in two places) and Jon (knee). With Matt W, Si K and Ben H all having to contemplate early ends to promising (4th XV) careers, Leo’s are going to have to rally to the aid of the 4th XV to ensure it continues to the end of the season before regrouping and recuperating.
JP gathered the troops for a first visit to Knaresborough in a couple of years to find a large flat dry pitch had been prepared at the expense of the undulating mud-bath of yore. Plans for a new clubhouse are on the card s as Knaresborough build for the future. Leo’s accepted the kind offer of PropTommy to avoid uncontested scrums and began the game with the sun and wind behind them. Leo’s set off at a furious pace, which clearly wouldn’t be maintained, and had the home side pinned back in their 22 for the early exchanges. The Scotty-Carl lineout combo worked well (79% success rate) while Si H and Thommo added the momentum to the post catch drives. Good yards were made to allow Carl to score early on and a 7 point lead was opened up. Knaresborough proved to be resilient and well organised with a couple of very skilled and pacy backs destined for their 1st XV. A return try was scored before Leo’s cut loose again and Lloyd sped over a little too wide for Scotty’s little feet. The pack continued their steady progress around the park, providing decent ball for Johnny at 9 and the determined backs. Eventually Tom caught one and went for a roaming return and try before Knaresborough closed the gap to 19-12 at the break.
Leo’s were blowing a bit but confidant of keeping the home side at bay, unless they augmented their side with younger fitter and faster subs, which unfortunately they did! The visitors threw themselves into the second half but conceded early before injuries started to play their part in proceedings. Kinga retired after being stomped on by JP. Lloyd fractured his collar bone whilst setting up Kenroy for Leo’s only try of the half, and Jon Mills went down calling out “Knee, knee, knee, knee, knee, knee, knee, knee, knee,” until even his spectating mother pointed out that he did go on a bit!
In between all this chaos Knaresborough, who supplied the correct quantity of guests as necessary, began to cut loose and overrun the brave but battered visitors. Despite some valiant defending and counter attacking the home side proved just too strong in the end. A few too many mistakes and wrong options cost Leo’s a few opportunities but on the day they were beaten by a better, well drilled, side in a ferocious but sporting contest.
It was then back to the Conservative Club for beer and very tasty sandwiches, where Kenroy was Leo’s MOM and Dropsy Tom DOD. The former won the 4 man drink off against Knaresborough’s awardees, and Tom was last; bloody student lightweight!