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Despite the marginality of the score line, this was a gratefully received victory. Leo’s Ladies ventured the four and half hour journey south east. The fixture had looked in jeopardy earlier in the week following a bout of “Away-game-itus”. Fortunately, Manager Lotte Kestner and Vice Chairman Sam Leeds pulled out all the stops and tugged at heart strings to make this fixture happen. Five second team players put their hands up and joined the first team regular stalwarts on this journey (of incredible length and extraordinary slowness), on a beautiful spring morning.
Following a stop at Grantham, to pick up a slightly grey looking Vice Chairwoman - Mrs Leeds had enjoyed a previous day at a health farm, but the benefits didn’t seem to be particularly healthy – Leo’s arrived in the glorious sunshine in the flat arable fields on the outskirts of Norwich.
Following a customary short, but tight warm up, Leo’s took to the pitch in the warm March sunshine. The expectant one man and his dog eagerly looked on as first team captain Dominique Attwood called her team in close for a huddle and some uplifting words. The stage was set for fast, flowing dynamic rugby. Lakenham Hewitt expected it too, with their camerman posed ready, aloft some neatly erected scaffolding to the south of the pitch.
The ref blew his whistle and the crowd itched forward, eager to see the first thrilling moments. The ball spiralled and then lurched forward, just over the ten minute line, Leo’s prop Abbi Whisker scooped it up and sprinted forwards, however Leo’s looked a little reluctant to follow, with some bus legginess holding them back. The ball didn’t quite get recycled and so the ref blew sharply on his whistle. Twenty seconds in, and the first scrum of the match was given. And here in lay the tale of the first half. Twenty-seven scrums later, and the ref blew his whistle for the 102nd time. The spectators blew a sigh of relief at the 60 minute score less first half was over.
Some rousing words at half time, a dodgy ref decision later and Leo’s woke up. Enraged by a call that hadn’t gone their way, open side flanker Sam Leeds called a rallying cry. Ubiquitous scrum half Ruth Todd scooped the ball from the back of a beautifully cleared ruck and Fly half Attwood fired a long ball right on to a rushing centre Heike Niemand who passed the ball onto fleet of foot 13 Ruth Laybourne. Already in space, Laybourne rounded the flailing Hewitt defence and gracefully sprinted clear to half way, she then wrong footed the fifteen, and glided under the posts for a well cheered try. She then converted her own effort. This try much roused Leo’s who played the next twenty minutes with much improved vigour and energy. Prop Rachel Barker regularly set the point of attack with powerful runs, second rows Michelle Powell and flanker Sam Leeds made great in roads into the Hewitt rucks. Newcomer Rebi Dowle also added to effort with some crunching tackles.
Breaks by Niemand and Barker were followed up by another scorching Laybourne break from a visionary pass by stand in fly half Attwood. Laybourne sprinted clear of the Hewitt defence, with only the fifteen to beat. A side step by Laybourne mis –footed the fifteen who tackled Laybourne around the neck. The ref blew his whistle and marched straight under the post. Penalty try awarded.
A late charge by Hewitt lead to a push over scrum try, which resulted in some final frantic minutes, until the ref blew his whistle, and Leo’s cheered the victory, as much as a sound thrashing of an opposition would bring. Though this result was a little disappointing, and Leo’s had many more line breaks than they converted, the win was good win, following a six week break from playing. Leo’s looked rusty, and were not at full strength, but a big thank you goes out to man of the match Rebi Dowle, Anne Lore, Amy Boyd, and Karen Malin for stepping up from the seconds to make this fixture possible. Finally, many thanks to Flick Evens, who got up at 5.30am to make the 8am bus departure in Leeds. Great team effort. Away victory in the bag. Confident Camphill await next Sunday.
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