Lismore 1st XV 24 - 12 Leith 2nd XV

Match Report by Will Tuft

William Shakespeare, a keen Rugby player himself, often found at blindside flanker for Stratford 3XV, once wrote of an Autumnal league game against Bicester:

That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin’d choirs where late the sweet birds sang.

And those words were incredibly fitting for an afternoon of golden leaf framed October rugby for Leith’s 2XV who made the short trip to the Inch to face an emerging Lismore side, looking to build on their positive start to the season.

It was clear from the outset that those boughs were going to be shaken by a cavalcade of thunderous hits and abrasive defensive work from both sides. As kiwi-in-mourning Sean Bates collected kick off and was met by a trio of the home defence, the tone was set for a first quarter of Leith’s defensive structures being challenged at every turn. Lismore’s one-out attack posed many problems for the visiting side who found themselves under the cosh and embedded within their own 22. Early stand out tackling from granite bodied Ben Place, the octo-limbed David Meadows and everyone’s favourite Ulsterman Stephen Baker meant that foray after foray from the home side was repelled, darts held up and every breakdown competed for. Lismore showed respect for this by opting for an early shot at goal, opening the scores with a 3.

With a distinct lack of ball Leith’s spicy backline had to make the most of any opportunity provided and within the oiled mitts of prop Robert Stitt providing the fulcrum, a turnover was rapidly changed into an overlap and the adonis like stride of Ross Marwick was given the open space to gallop away, fending off cover tackles to dot down and open the Leith account for the afternoon. Returning jetsetter Doug Watters was unable to convert the extras.

Despite this release valve, Leith were immediately pinned back into their half and the hosts were able to make a couple of half breaks to get in behind the previously impenetrable defensive line and evade covering tackles to take the lead once more.

The rarity of attacking ball meant that any opportunity to look after the territory was taken by the men from Academy Park and numerous phases utilising the hard running of Crolla and the copious thighs of YLT prop Reece Barclay meant that passes to stretch the home side were available from the rapier-like delivery of Ross Kilgour.As the game broke up, snake hipped full back Andrew Paterson was able to pick gaps at will as he, world’s strongest man Felix Palin and Marwick made significant inroads into a well organised home defence.

After numerous phases orchestrated by conductor-in-chief Watters moving the defence from side to side like a slinky, Meadows popped up out wide and dived over to restore Leith’s lead. Captain Will Tuft stroked over the extras and blue and white took a lead into half time.

The second half followed a similar ilk to the first but after the exersions of the first stanza, Lismore were able to break a few more tackles, despite the diligent and abrasive defensive performances of outside backs Bompas, Dickson and Easdon, who worked with a dearth of ball out wide and yet still were able to bother the gain line with every carry.

The home side scored three unanswered tries including when Leith were harshly down to 14 men due to a Watters 'discretion’ as their bench rotation paid dividends and Leith tired but pushed hard, still breaking the home defence through Kilgour, man of the match Crolla and recycling ball through some delightfully silken handed offloading from Danny Cordoba, Barclay and the ageless Place.

As the game faded into the softly setting Autumnal evening, the visitors were unable to capitalise on this champagne handling and Lismore eventually ran out 24-12 winners after a bruising and physical encounter on a day where both clubs celebrated superb numbers playing sport in a manner that Stratford’s third best blindside flanker would have approved.

The 2XV dust themselves off to continue their unbeaten league campaign at home for the rearranged home fixture against Pencuik next Saturday. Looking forward to seeing as many as possible supporting the promotion push.