Tofty got us underway and the ball was hoofed back to O’Sheas who set off on one of his trademark runs, only for a knock-on to be called at the ruck. Was it going to be another of ‘those’ days? Thankfully, Leeds made a hash of possession and we got it back. From the resulting scrum, a neat miss move (haven’t said that very often about LI) led to a penalty at the ruck, which Tofty nailed from the 10m line for 3-0 after barely 2mins.

O’Strudders knocked on at the kick off but Leeds were soon turned over again after the restart with a crashing tackle on their No8 inside our 22. LI quickly fed O’Sackey who made some yards but poor LI passing let them down. Applebush, however, rectified the situation by applying boot to ball and belting it cross field to relieve the pressure. Cardey collected for Leeds but his woeful kick was charged down  and O’Sackey was unlucky to be beaten by a combination of the bounce and the bottom of the post, but managed to force a 5m scrum. O’sheas set up the platform for the base but the girls dropped it and Leeds were able to clear.

Some good short passing between O’Strudders and his forwards set up a good spell, allowing Tofty to feed Bish on a short crash and then Naka arriving at speed off Nils Mordt’s inside shoulder. From the scrum, O’Sheasy fed Applebush who made a half break, Big Bob carried it on from a short pass from Tofty and set up a great position in midfield. A shocker of a pass to Bish was well recovered and he set us up again. A little jink from the ‘bottle blond, pint sized fly half’ took him tearing through a gap and a pass inside to Awesome left him 20m to the line which he covered easily. Tofty converts and it’s 10-0 in as many minutes.

We fumbled the re-start again, but good defence, especially around the fringes, kept Leeds at bay and Geoff was able to clear. O’rack  fielded a poor kick from Leeds and set off up to half way. Our trademark ‘pick and go’ returned allowing Digby a platform to launch a superb box kick which Cardey gathered but got nailed by O’Sackey simultaneously. Leeds managed to clear, but a quick throw gave O’rack some space and he motored through the Leeds cover. We knocked on in the ruck (again) but Leeds were offside and Tofty nailed the penalty for 13-0.

‘What happened next?’ Ol’ Dave Coleman used to say. Well, you’ve guessed it sports fans, we fumbled the kick off. (Perhaps a session on this GG?)

‘Spud’ Murphy rampaged through  for the first time after a loose line out but let himself down with a loose final pass where I thought we’d score easily. However, a penalty was given shortly after for Leeds over the top, which Tofty dispatched for 16-0 after 30mins.

We managed to hold the next restart, but soon after Nils was off after being cut while nailing the unfortunate Cardey with the help of Tofty. Leeds managed 2 penalties before half time to go in 16-6 down.

Shortly after the re-start, Hodge scored and converted his own try to make it 16-13, after good work from his forwards and a clean break by David Rees. By now, the LI faithful were getting a bit twitchy……

Dec replaced O’Sheas and was immediately in the thick of it. Tofty slotted another penalty to make to push us out to 19-13.

Shortly after the re-start, 3 quick tackles from Bish when Leeds were looking dangerous, forced a penalty for not releasing. Murph took and overthrow and drove on, the fat boys rumbled it, Digby fed Tofty whose deft pass found Mordt on a great angle straight through the defence. Leeds appeared to knock on from where I was sitting but it was missed and they were awarded the scrum. Durant came on to replace big Doug in the front row.

The drum corps had now found their rhythm and the team seemed to respond. Dec took a clean catch at the tail and the pack drove it on. Digby broke again and fed inside to Big Bob. Flav and Matt Cannon entered the fray, and from the scrum, we were awarded a free kick which Digby took quickly and fed Murphy on the charge. A powerful surge took him almost to the line, but quick ball saw Tofty feed O’Sackey on  a great line off his left shoulder to score under the sticks. Tofty’s conversion made it 26-13 with about 9mins to go.

Just as we high in the East stand started to relax, a Hodge penalty made it 26-16 but panic not, Carrickman et al, good defence from LI kept leeds at bay after the re-start. After another good burst from Mordt, Tofty put in a lovely kick to just outside the Leeds 22. More big takles from Awesome, Bish and Murphy kept the pressure on Leeds and we forced a turnover. Awesome put a chip in and Bish was unlucky with the bounce but LI forced a scrum near the Leeds 5m line. Murphy charged again to set us up, Cannon came in on a brave crash ball back to the forwards and good ball saw Tofty fling a miss pass to O’rack in midfield and take it off the next phase to dart in to seal a fine personal performance. The conversion was missed, final score 31-16 to the Irish.

Overall, a good performance, with a lot less unforced errors than previously, despite poor re-starts. Hopefully the result, and the performances from Tofty, Bish and Murphy to name but 3, will stand us in good stead for the trip to Saints next week.

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