Our hosts had secured an impressive win against higher league opponents West Bridgport the previous week in their first preseason friendly, giving them some momentum and having chance to blow off some ring rust. However, we were not short of confidence, having had a great preseason and a feeling of togetherness and positivity for the season ahead.
The game was to be made up of four 20min quarters plus a water break or two due to the flag cracking 32 degree heat...the gingers in the team were delighted and supplied with regular factor 50 sun cream. The first quarter was very evenly matched with both sides working hard and trying to implement the work they had done in pre season. We also set our stall out at this point, in that we would work for everything and for each other from the first minute to the last...this ultimately won us the game.

Warrior  Corbett and Gordon Turner laid down the first defensive marker after 10 minutes with a hit on a West Leeds player, that I can still hear now , he ran a great line at pace.....he never ran it again. Our set piece was on top from the start, dominating the line out and very strong play of the back of the scrum saw us make good yards throughout, well martialed by Garth Painter and Jacob Parker when the backs were brought into play. 

Despite the dominance and at times ferocious defence, the deadlock was broken with a piece of individual brilliance from Frodo Siddle...Chipping over the defence just inside his own half, collecting, handing off a wouldbe defender, who was all over the shire, and running under the posts from just inside their half. Converted by Frodo Siddle 7-0 . The first two quarters continued to be evenly matched but we were caught out wide by a good piece of play from Leeds backline with Wayne Painter unable to stop an overlap...7-7. This was added  to by a similar unconverted try just before the end of the half and we could feel unlucky to go in 12-7 down.

We took time to take on much needed council pop and top the gingers piz buin with Stormtrooper Webb prepping the empire ready for the final two quarters. Multiple changes were made, with many lads playing out of position however, to a man they stuck to the game plan and continued with the effort from the first period. Elliot Blades, AJS, scooby Godderz, Hutch Potter and Jangus interchanged but we maintained our set piece dominance with any combination of the above with Gandalf Linighan magical in the lineout. 

West Leeds scored a good try 10 mins in but we pulled two back, the first from a good period of forward play...Warrior Baggs using his ample frame to drive over. The next was a great line cut by Hutch Potter with a spell binding step to round the final defender to go under the posts, precious conversion by Frodo Siddle...as Sal Flinstone wasnt having a yaba doo time off the T..19-17.

Going into the final quarter we made further changes to ensure maximum gametime for all and needed two scores to win the game as Leeds had scored a converted try of their own before water break. We accomplished this in style as the opposition were impacted more by the elements and began to tire. Garth Painter partied on down the blindside of a well worked lineout and scored unopposed...Game On at 26-24. 

We kept on the pressure and worked our way back up the pitch with some great interplay and determination with Garth Painter going in for his second and final try of the match, securing a very well deserved victory. 26-31.

We had to play out the last few minutes of stoppage time but when the mercurial centre/back row Chrissy Atkins La Fleur went down with an injury..the ref ended the game. Atkins La Fleur said that nobody makes him bleed his own blood and is thankfully OK as were the full squad with Physio Hagrid having a surprisingly quiet afternoon.

Overall a fantastic start to the season and sets us up ready for a tough game next week against Penrith. Special mention to Charlie G playing out of position on the wing on his senior debut and also a welcome return for Steve the pirate Tyres finished the game with two lungs in tact. 

Ref: 9.5/10
Food: Pie, chips, veg, Yorkshire puddings and gravy (plus buffet during game for travelling spectators) 9.5/10
Temperature: Hot