Resourceful Leo’s restrict Salem’s Lot

With a sleeping bag injury (Si H) and a communication disaster (Big Steve) denuding the Leo’s of front row forwards a gentleman’s excuse me was agreed with the one prop visitors and the game commenced. With a mobile back row and ingenious half backs the home side were able to release their bludgeon/rapier centre combo of Lovejoy and Tom with regularity in order to make hard yards (bludgeon) and nippy yards (rapier), before releasing the wings Paul and Brian. At full back Richie E mopped up well and supported where possible.
An early break from The Bishop led to Paul slicing through for a score and this was quickly followed by a Stubbley effort and then another from Richie E as the home side made good use of the hard won possession. The forwards were enjoying a battle royal up front but it was the extra pace in (some) of the backs that made the difference. Salem showed good spirit with their strong running centres making good in-roads but the home defence stood strong. A quick tap on the five was run in by Carl who instead of being tackled was spun round allowing his centrifugal force to spin him over for a try. The half finished with another score from Stubbley and the teams turned round with the home side holding a healthy 36-0 lead.
The second half could not have been more different as the spirited Salem upped their game as Leo’s probably took their feet of the gas. The forward’s battle became more and more intense as both packs realised that without the scrums they had plenty of energy for rucking, mauling and generally charging about. Rhett caught and carried well in an impressive performance. The Salem centres boshed up well and their back three found extra pace and space to cause Leo’s problems. The Jayne, Hill, Poll axis of disorder at the break down continued to thrive in the toe to toe combat while JP Murphy and Scotty added the clear-out bulk.
Salem scored a deserved try and continued to lay siege to the home side’s defences, without further success and it was left to a Stubbley try and Scotty conversion to round things off nicely for Leo’s. All credit to Salem for their spirit and endeavour in a hard fought contest lightly handled by the excellent Fozaree. Onwards to York, and a battle in Thommo’s back yard.