Shock and Awe as the Empire Strikes Back

Despite being granted independence in 1970 it still rankles with them that they were discovered by a Yorkshireman, Captain Cook, and were a British colony for 100 years. Today, it appeared would be payback.
There was a collective sigh of relief from the Leo’s 1st XV as the four huge, honed, and quietly seething Fijians marched towards the back pitch, swapping one desert, (Afghanistan, from where they had just returned serving in the British Army), for another in order to line up against a genuine Leo’s 4th team collective, numbering 13. The request for a couple of backs, (preferably Fijian British Army Sevens players) was answered with Tony and Johnny, a couple of forwards so Leo’s lined up to take their medicine with trepidation.
Having conceded three tries in the first 8 minutes the home team rallied and set about keeping the 4th team pride and spirit intact and slow down the rapidly spinning scoreboard. Gabes emerged from the bushes, hoping the visitors had tired themselves out with their initial brutal assault and the backs reformed in an attempt to get the ball wide and away from the dangerous running Ripon team. The visitors were not wholly reliant on their International guests having their traditional mix of law bending and whining to go with speedy broken field running and good support.
The pack manned up in the face to face close quarters combat as for the next 20 minutes the scoreboard was kept stationary. CJ, Si H and JP all banged in the hard yards as Scotty, Tony and Si W cleared and supported. The Scotty-CJ lineout combo was a great success (84.5%) and the driving mauls made a few yards before the backs were brought into the game. Gabes, Jewy and Eags used all their experience to try and work an opening but the visiting defence was strong and any lose ball was run back at a ferocious pace. Most Leo’s defenders, even those trying to get out of the way, received facial handoffs and Billy was tied in a knot by a looping stepping and twisting Polynesian as he valiantly tried to stem the tide. At half time a 32 point deficit was seen as something of an achievement as the battered Leo’s took on some much needed water and encouragement.
A tenacious second half performance with Gav, Andrew B and Kinga throwing themselves into back line defence and the pack skirmishing for all their might kept the score down to a reasonable level and increased the visitors frustrations. The excellent Phil Martin eventually lost patience and despatched one to the bin. Unfortunately it wasn’t a swift heeled Fijian monster but Leo’s were thankful for small mercies. The Portly Magician’s boot kept the visitors at bay and almost released Gav. Rhett’s boot however reverted to Kevball with a sly trip that went unpunished in an otherwise gallant 80 minutes in the heat for a man of his, and Batman’s age! Another three tries were conceded and the score was kept below that psychological 50 point mark, just. Battered, exhausted and sunburnt Leo’s retired to the bar where Kinga and Scotty celebrated Grand National returns while Andrew B wondered how none of the eight horses he covered (no, not like that) didn’t make the frame.