Moortown 26 West Leeds RUFC 26
I knew it was going to be one of those days when I started it with my first ever pumpkin tisane. It was a bad start and left a distinctly bad taste for a few minutes, writes Glenn Broadbent.
So it was the same at Far Moss. West Leeds knocked on from the kick off and from the resulting penalty spent seven minutes defending their line until a second scrummaging offence was deemed sufficient to warrant a penalty try which was converted. 7-0.
Hard tackling from both sides ensued until a strong run from Jamie Cockin lead to good hands from the Wests centers who sent Jack Marshall over in the corner, Dale Breakwell made a credible effort to convert but just fell short. 7-5 on 13 minutes.
Three minutes later Moortown were penalized for a scrummaging offence themselves and Dale Breakwell added the 3 points to put West Leeds ahead 7-8.
Another 26 minutes passed with the referee taking center stage and conjuring up a display more astounding than a Vicky Layton show on a Benidorm Bank holiday, before a West Leeds knock on in the lineout lead to a Town try which was converted to take the score to 14-8.
In the 5th minute of 1st half injury time the visitors added another Breakwell penalty. 14-11 HT
The 2nd half started with a 4th minute yellow card and 10 minutes in the bin for Jamie Cockin but it was 14 man Wests who kept their foot on the gas and drew equal with a Dale Breakwell penalty 14-14. In the 51st minute following a catch and drive the gap was opened to 14-19 with a James Kirk try.
The hosts hit back on the 53rd minute with a breakaway try from just outside their own 22 which was converted 21-19.
In the 68th minute Dale Breakwell made the decision to kick and chase and to the crowds astonishment what looked like a big mistake was turned into an act of genius with Breakers rescuing the situation and sending Sam Neave over for a converted try in the bottom corner 21-26.
Moortown were in defiant mood and kept the pressure on, it looked like West Leeds would hold out until deep into added time a wayward line out ball was captured by the Moortown 4 and their backs sprang into action, a minor Wests offence occurred and the referee for his finale allowed advantage for what seemed an age and then took play back to the offence which allowed Moortown to power over to make it 26-26 with the final play of the game.
2015 ends with West Leeds still unbeaten this season and top of Yorkshire Division 2 but with Keighley on their tails Wests need to start turning draws into wins and adding bonus points.
It’s the Christmas break now and the next game is home to Leodensians on 9th January.