However, none of these excite the bookies like the news that Leos under 15s have won two games in a row. Stock markets have crashed, international bankers have fled to the Cayman Islands, and Jeremy Clarkson has bought a Toyota Prius, all disturbed at the news this developing team won for the second week running, this time by a margin of 72 points.
The score line partly reflects West Leeds arriving with only 11 players. The resultant 13-a-side game perfectly suited the open running Northern hemisphere Celtic style of play favoured these days by the English anomaly that is Leos under 15s. There might be more grunt and technical ability in the Aviva Premiership, but currently Leos’ Sunday mornings are pure Magners.
Leos made a strong start and a powering break from Thomas was supported by a sun-fuelled pack winning ball for Hugo to set the Leos back line into motion for the first of many times, with Evan running in from the right wing to open the scoring. Stephen looked confident and his opening strike over the bars spelled the start of a good day with the boot. (The only aberration happening much later in the game, when he was faced by an easy knock over. Cadgey uttered the words ‘Miss this Stephen and I’m taking the rest myself’. Stephen duly pushed it past the right upright in the hope of seeing Cadgy disgrace himself. Players and spectators alike were relieved to be spared this, given that the last time Cadgey kicked anything it was a small dog moving in on his burger at the club barbecue.)
Leos went on to dominate. The second score came quickly with Evan breaking the line, Thomas carrying the ball, as he did tirelessly all day, and James in support popping it back up for Thomas to put over his first of three. What a team. Three tries each for their right wing and their tight head prop. This was more Celtic than Gavin Henson doing the Highland Fling while beating Brucie over the head with a bottle of Guinness.
Thomas then proceeded to knock the stuffing out of West Leeds’ midfield by scoring two more tries, with fellow forwards Robert, Solly, Simon, Peewee, Perry, Aaron and James in rampaging support.
The second third of the game was marked by an uncharacteristic defensive error, allowing West Leeds to put over their one score. This was a timely reminder though that the opposition was stronger than the score line suggested and with more experience and organisation could have given our fledgling side considerably more trouble. Leos, sensing the danger, struck back immediately, a darting, twisting run by Stephen ending in a silky offload out of the tackle to set Evan off for his second of three lung-bursting 60 metre dashes to deposit the ball right under the posts. The next try was possibly the most impressive, with Matt cutting in from centre, scything through the defence, feeding Robert who was on his shoulder as he was for every ball carrier all day, and Robert’s perfectly timed pass sending Peewee over.
James was next to break not only the gain line but the bounds of physical possibility as he sprinted, leapt, ducked and bounced three-quarters of the pitch. This provided the platform to put Stephen over. Evan scored another and when Matt ran one in from his own 22, spectators were heard to be ringing their bookies to put their houses and youngest children on Hong Kong racehorses at 100-1, such were the feelings of jubilation and optimism. Jordan only managed to avoid the score sheet by virtue of being tireless in setting everyone else up and he would not have begrudged Robert the deserved score that came his way next. Matt scored another, of which more later, and the game was sealed by Chris getting his own just deserts with a powerful surge breaking tackles and going over in front of the massed ranks of his parents, grandparents and general admirers.
To the comedy moment of the week. Last week’s body surfing by Jordan has already been blatantly copied by James Hook playing for the Ospreys against the London Irish on Friday. This week, however, James clearly thought he was Mister Elastic, bouncing up out of a succession of tackles with Judo rolls that were more Mr Bean than Jason Bourne, but had the effect of rendering West Leeds helpless with laughter and gaining Leos another valuable 15 metres.
I also said I would return to Matt’s second try. At the time spectators were at a loss as to why he kept looking back at the chasing opposition. Was he anxious of being caught? Post match video analysis however shows him to be showboating in from half-way line, singing MC Hammer’s Hammertime – You can’t touch this’. This is likely to have attracted a reprimand if not the sin bin, had the referee been fleet enough of foot to keep up and realise what he was doing. However, Leos have often been short of confidence and this exuberance of spirit is surely to be applauded. It might need to be channelled into more appropriate means of expression though, given that his dancing was more Peter Shilton than MC Hammer. Top try nonetheless.
One other important feature of the game was the refereeing, as ever, exemplary from Cadgy. Always fair, always firm, never too pedantic when the game doesn’t need it, and always encouraging to a side that is struggling. He says he wants rugby to be fun. If there were more referees at this level with his combination of fairness, intelligence and authority, there would be a lot more boys enjoying rugby all the time.
So in summary: there was strong support play from the forwards, excellent quick ball and distribution from Hugo and Stephen, unselfish ground making from Matt and Chris at centre, Jordan was everywhere in attack and defence, and Evan finished off everything that came his way. There were also impressive debuts from Aaron up front and Jonathan on the left wing who punched above his weight all day being fearless in contact. If any ball had come his way at less than head height or closer than 2 metres in front of him he would surely have seen his name on the score sheet too.
If this sounds like a procession, it wasn’t. West Leeds remained spirited to the end, but Leos remained focussed throughout, retained their shape, and even reengineered their game in the final third to display a tighter, forwards focussed, and – may I say – more English style of play as advocated by their coach. Cadgy is right though. We will not have the room to move the ball around at will against Selby in two weeks time. In the meantime however, not one of us would begrudge our boys their day in the sun. Play like this every week and we’ll give anyone a game.
Tries: Evan (3), Thomas (3), Peewee, Stephen, Matt (2), Robert, Chris
Conversions: Stephen (9)
This week’s extended match report was sponsored by Tesco’s ‘Three for the price of Two’ on all Lithuanian wines.
Chris Powell.