Leeds Medics & Dentists 27, Old Grovians 30

On a day when Leeds were hoping to celebrate their league title with a win, Old Grovians knew a win was the very least they needed if they were to snatch the seocnd promotion spot.

Conditions were fair, the pitch was firm and both teams looked to take full advantage in a game played at a breath taking pace from the start.

The first points of the match weren’t long in coming as Old Grovians winger Aaron MaGee somehow broke free from 3 would-be tacklers to score from 40 metres out.

Back came Leeds, winning posession from the restart and going through the phases before a midfield break saw their centre touchdown under the posts to draw the scores level at 7-7.

Barely a quarter of an hour had been palyed when Old Grovians regained the lead. This time the forwards set the platform, rumbling inside Leeds 22 before scrum-half Jake Young popped the ball up for Tom Dalton to crash over from close range.

Once again the Medics responded with a penalty to reduce the deficit to just two points but the visitors responded in kind with an Anthony Cadman drop goal and they held a 15-10 advantage midway through the first half.

This was turning into a great advert for Yorkshire 4 rugby as both sides looked to get the ball out wide to their playmakers but equally there was plenty to be admired in the tight at the breakdown and it was from a ruck that Grovians hooker Matt Worrall made a break down the blindside, deep into Leeds territory before drawing the covering tackler and giving MaGee a clear run to the line for his second try of the game.

Leeds responded like the champions they are with another try to once again reduce the deficit but,in the final minute of the first half, centre Anthony Griffin dummied his way to the line to give the visitors a 27-15 lead at the break.

Maybe it was the break neck speed at which both sides played or maybe it was the errors that this kind of rugby inevitably induces but the second half was much more scrappy.

The Old Grovians soon found themselves reduced to 13 men as Chris Blackhall and Paul Exley were both sin binned with a minute of each other. Against the top points scorers in this division this made a tough task even tougher - and Leeds made the most of their numerical advantage.

Their outside centre scored his second try of the afternoon before Leeds’ number 9 scored a converted try to draw the scores level at 27-27.

Adam Weaving nudged the Old Grovians back in front with a penalty 14 minutes from time before Leeds themselves were awarded a kickable penalty in the closing moments of the game. It’s a testament to the kind of rugby they’ve played this year though that instead of settling for a draw they kicked for touch, trying to win the game.

Old Grovians defence stiffened and held them at bay to record a double over the champions - a win which was tempered by the news that Hemsworth had won at home to Wetherby meaning they win promotion, finishing second, three points ahead of the Old Grovians.