Title secured at Crag Lane

That defeat came against the Leo’s travelling circus in December and they were clearly out to right some wrongs.Match report from December Boasting a coach and a squad exceeding 20 they gave a very good impression of a well drilled team used to playing together week in week out. Leo’s didn’t. A mixed squad was assembled, featuring some fresh young faces, and some old one too but as has been the story all season lack of consistency in availability and selection led once again to a disjointed although spirited performance from Leos as Ilkley justifiably ran out on top for the season.
The game started brightly enough for Leos, almost as bright as The Fozaree's new pink attire. An early break from the backs led to young Ashton finding enough space to dance through and then round the visitors defence to score out wide. Ilkley were stung into action and Leo’s spent the next ten minutes throwing themselves in harm’s way in defence of this slender lead. Time and again the visitors pack drove towards the line only to be repelled by brave defence and Tim Leslie’s touch finders. The driving maul was offensive weapon of choice as Scotty and Cadgey added their controlling bulk to the task and once the backs were allowed to join in they looked lively although not quite as penetrative as the possession deserved. At the break down Leo’s fought for possession and won turnover with ferocious counter rucking from Thommo and Poll but too often the lack of calm around the base left options wasted. Eventually Ilkley scored a try which they converted to edge ahead. Subs started rolling on and the freshening effect of Newnsy and Goff added to the youthful pack performance from Matty and Jack. With the visitors under pressure a late hit was received in midfield and Si H took it upon himself to tip over the offender and lie on him in retribution. The Pink hued Fozaree was displeased by justice being meted out without him so dispensed some of his own and Simon departed. Leo’s responded in the way only Leo’s can, by moaning and getting tetchy. A second try for Ilkley gave them a 14-5 lead at the break but despite being a man down the Leo’s team were up for the battle ahead.
The second half was a feisty exhibition of imaginative rugby, brave combative skirmishing and a petulant fracas or two as the game bubbled away just below boiling point. Leo’s short-handed pack won more than their fair share of ball and fronted up well whilst the backs benefited from the repositioning of Phil “Mr Spoons” Parker to inside centre for some hard graft and line breaking runs. Lack of support wasted some of his efforts as the backs found themselves up against some hard tackling defence. A high shot here and a cheap block there resulted in further shemozzles with Blakey, Niall and landlord Jim to the fore before the home pack reverted to their successful tactic of not letting the backs have the ball to drive in two catch and drive textbook tries for landlord Jim. Unfortunately the superior running lines and support play from Ilkley continued to exploit the less well organised, but no less spirited home side and gaps appeared for exploitation in a try scoring manner. Heads never dropped, although some extra coolness would have been helpful as Leo’s battled themselves to exhaustion but defeat to highly organised and deserving champions.