Wetherby Prove Too Strong in 2nd Half for Leo's

Another lovely day at Grange Park and the Wetherby RUFC Old Boys Reunion at Grange Park with 75 of the alickadoos talking up their rugby prowess and how things were so much better when they played! They took the opportunity to unveil the new trophy cabinet that the family of Jurgen Dunkel kindly contributed to, a fitting tribute to his service at Wetherby and a fitting cabinet for the many trophies Wetherby will go on to win!

Back to the match and due to a variety of weddings, lads trips and generally flagrant attention to the fixture list, this was a much changed side for Wetherby and would be a true test of our ‘strength in depth’ against a strong Leo’s team.

Leo’s kicked off and definitely started the livelier with concerted pressure that yielded a penalty within the first few minutes. 0-3

With Hoather returning from holiday in the T5 and Land in at hooker the Wetherby pack looked as strong as ever and dominated the scrums from the off. And in further changes we welcomed Toby Redman in at 9 for his first start for the club.

Wetherby bounced back quickly from the Leo’s pen with a try of their own crafted by the forwards and finished off by the program cover-boy, Sam Little (where his biceps seem strangely bigger than his head…) 5-3

Feateured player, James Ward seemed to be involved in everything early on and was as capable tackling as he was with ball in hand. Jake Little was revelling in the No 8 position, vacated by Gilbert who was getting his perm refreshed at the local hair salon.

The youngsters were smelling blood and a lovely combination between Little and Beeson opened up some space but Leo’s defence was too good. Following a turnover, Leo’s relieved the pressure with a high kick that would usually have been swallowed up by Beeson but saw it slip through his hands like a wet bar of soap and unfortunately bounce straight in to the hands of the oncoming Leo’s centre. A try ensued: 5-10
With Wetherby wondering quite how they could be behind in this game, the ball conveniently fell to Scurr who skipped through the Leo’s defence with trademark ease and set up an attack. Hoather being the beneficiary of Scurr’s magical run, he thundered through the remaining Leo’s players and with a silky off load to Yates, dotted down for Wetherby’s 2nd try. 10-10

Wetherby were then forced to soak up some Leo’s pressure with massive tackles as always from Greenwood, Kitching and Goodall, with Blakey turning over the ball and the resultant breakaway creating space for Hoather to run in a try of his own. 15-10

Amidst all the excitement of an exceptional phase of play by Blakey, he then drew the attention of the referee for which he knew not what he had done wrong, but nevertheless received a yellow and a rest for 10 minutes.

A Leo’s penalty brought the score tight again at 15-13

The second half started with Mason on for Land and Hoather moved to hooker. The backs smelled blood and Yates produced a trademark run we have become used to that opened up the Leo’s defence for Goodall. But with Yates holding his ribs from an injury the previous week, this was to be his last contribution to the game. As the Leo’s pack came under continued pressure Hoather sniped over the line once more for his 2nd try. 22-13

Draper enters the fray for an injured Yates and more pressure from Wetherby and particularly Harry Kaye creates space for the pop-eyed arms of Little who crafted an individual try that Olive Oyle would have been impressed with. 27-13 And with Little kicking the conversion Wetherby were starting to stretch ahead – 29-13

Dave Lister on for the final 20 to bring some renewed energy and immediately makes an impact. Wetherby continued to be dominant in the scrum and with the Leo’s pack significantly tiring they trundled forward and created the opening that Beeson needed to add another 5 points to the score. And the extras taken by Sam Little, 36-13

Leo’s rally a mini fight back and score in the dying minutes 36-18. But the game was not done, with Harry Kaye looking to convert his first drop kick of the season a la George Ford, but sadly tops it like a 36 handicap golfer on the first at Garforth. (He'll get one eventually - keep trying lad.)

Final score 36-18