Leams taste defeat for the first time

14th October 2023 – Manor Park v Leamington

Leamington’s impressive winning start to the season suffered a setback at the home of League new boys, Manor Park, where they lost 22 – 17, although the “Moorefields Men” did manage to gain a valuable, losing bonus point, in the dying embers of the game.

The home side made full use of the playing conditions to model their gameplan in a manner that Leamington found difficult to cope with throughout the afternoon. Firstly, they played the opening half with the slope, Sun and Wind in their favour. Secondly, they were fully aware that their narrow pitch would suit their big Forwards and Backs and at the same time, help stymie Leamington’s fast flowing, expansive rugby football.

Having soaked up an opening eight minute, continuous onslaught, Leamington succumbed to a converted try. However, immediately from the restart, Lock Forward, Charlie Wiggins, was first to reach the clever drop out and set about testing the home defence. The Leamington Pack soon advanced this promising position and although they tried to break through the Manor Park barrier, recycling the ball several times, they found it impervious to their efforts.

Soon after, the home side increased their lead with two tries, one converted, to take a 17 nil lead on twenty minutes of play.

Leamington did hit back from this position, with a series of very inventive attacks, however, they were unable to breach, what seemed like water-tight resistance from Manor Park and went in at the break, without troubling the scoreboard.

Half Time: 17 – 0

The home side had a fright in the opening moments of the second half, as Leamington gained immediate possession, worked the ball into midfield, where Patrick Northover set Centre, Rich McKowen away. The latter raced through to score under the posts and Josh Jones quickly added the conversion and put his side back in to contention.

With the slope and slight breeze in their favour now, the sunlight having retired behind the treeline, Leamington did test the home defence again, however, they were once again unable to make the breakthrough they needed and worse still, they fell to a pushover try from the big Manor Park pack.

The visitors were in no mood to give up their winning start to the season lightly and continued to pressurize the Manor Park defence. Following a series of drives from the Leamington pack, the home side sinned, gave away a penalty try and thus gave Leamington a glimmer of hope of a continued revival.

However, time was now against the visitors and when confronted with a penalty in their favour, decided, quite rightly, to go for goal and at least secure a valuable bonus point; the least they deserved, against a side that will compete well against most teams in this league, on their home turf.

Full Time: 22 - 17

Next week, Leamington entertain Old Coventrians, kick-off 3.00pm.