Pythons errors gift Leos tries
Harrogate Pythons 1st XV entertained Leodiensians in the last league game of the season. A large crowd enjoyed the sunshine as did 60 guests who attended the pre match lunch along with 25 attendees of the end of season Ladies Day.
Leos scored 2 early tries against the run of play. Jack Whiting and Ben Pryor sealed up the mid field for the home side but the pace of the Leos back three was electrifying. Pythons scrum on the Leos 22 and Natsuki Barclay whips the ball to Max Sharp, feeds Hugh Tatlow who off loads to Harry Brayshaw to race down the line to score, 5-12. The mid field pair of Whiting and Pryor take play back into the Leos 22. Clean ball from a line out and the ball is controlled, Barclay feeds Sharp and a ruck forms under the posts. Barclay sees George Booth open and he crashes over the line to score, Pryor adds the 2. 12-12.
Leos add a penalty, 12-15, before Sam Rowntree is halted 10m out, Whiting continues play, is held but off loads the ball to the supporting Tatlow to touch down under the posts, Pryor with the extras, 19-15. Barclay chases an Ollie Macnab clearance kick and the bounce on half way favours him. A race for the line from 50m but the pace of the Leos full back closed the gap 5m out. Leos clear their lines and earn a penalty on half way. A quickly taken tap puts the winger in the open, a step inside and he scores under the posts, 19-22. Leos score again just before half time, 19-27.
An injury to Whiting just after the break sees Sam Rose make his 1st XV debut. Quickly into the action he links with Brayshaw and Harry Butler forces play to the 22. Leos concede a penalty and Marcus Fotherby secures clean line out ball. The heavier home pack march closer, Leos conceded 2 penalties and are given a yellow card. Barclay taps and feeds Butler, the ruck forms and Jordan Payne drives over the line, Pryor with the conversion, 26-27. Leos score two more quick tries taking the score to 26-46. With 5 mins left in the game The Pythons camp on the Leos 5m line, some quick play from Barclay and Rose puts Brayshaw into the corner for his second, final score 31-46.
After the game Coach Roy Mackay said,” Hugely proud of the players efforts throughout the season unfortunately we just didn’t fire today. Too many missed tackles and an inability to keep the ball made for a very disjointed game. When we did manage to go through the phases we scored and demonstrated the level we can play at. However we have retained our place in Yorkshire 1 next season, finished higher and won more games than previously so not a bad season overall.”
The Whittaker’s Gin man of the match was awarded to Marcus Fotherby by Laura Lines, The RFU Club Development Manager visiting The JSG for the first time.
