Every now and again an email comes to the inbox which seems too good to be true. No the club has not inherited millions from a wealthy ex-player oil baron; even better Leodiensian RUFC was requesting that it could bring twenty-odd thirsty drinkers and occasional rugby players donned as wizards to the town this weekend to spend lots of money.

And what a weekend it proved!

The Leos lads cast their spells on Southport from the minute they arrived Friday evening on the Hogwarts special at Chapel Street. Chief wizard Chris 'CJ' Jayne, captain of Leos 3rds / 4ths / Veterans (a social team based in North Leeds) had chosen Southport for this years end of season convention with a game at Waterloo Road the following day. With the youngest player an 18 year old student and the eldest about to celebrate his 50th birthday the mixed ability squad worked hard to weave their magic on and off the pitch.

Having looked at the SRFC website and noted the amusing 3rd XV reports (well in Mark Brunskill!), good social events and a comparable sport / social balance Leos decided that Southport seem like a good club with a similar ethos to themselves. We didn't let them down, and there was plenty of moetry in potion to savour.

Before the game Malcolm and Margaret the son and daughter of Bobby Scott, a Southport legend, presented the club with the Lancashire shirt he had worn when representing the county in the late 1940s, until Lauren McCluskey this season the last Southport player to so. Lauren and Lancashire u15s star Stephen Green were also on hand to celebrate this special moment.

To accommodate the 'Occasionals' Southport concocted its own self-styled 'Invincibles' elite social squad comprising 18 year old 'cibles' to 50-odd year old 'criples' who partook in the usual tour type activities for as long as it took. Mike Dale, Jonah Jones, and James Doran looked after playing side of things using the following squad on the day to full effect on and off the pitch:

M Dale (Captain)
B Cresswell
D Cresswell
D Whalen
S Garnett
G Northbury
J Mawdsley
Mark Astwood
I Smith
J Church
J Doran
G Lang
J Bailey
T Holland
Matty Astwood
J McMullen
A Fuscoe
D Atherton
C Clode
P Andrews
B Sillitoe
G Ellis
D Peacock
G Rowlands
J Fowler
S Cook
J Fitzpatrick
A McGuire
R White
J Clark

Although it seems a big squad some players only wanted 5,10,and 20 minutes at most, and selection was made with respect that the club was entertaining a touring side, and this wasn't a problem even though the bar was set very high. The redoubtable Tom Smith apparently failed his late fitness test on his finger because it was wasn't on the pulse.

Mike Dale Director of Rugby pulled a few strings to become captain on the day as he's from Yorkshire and can speak the lingo tha' knows; Jonah Jones failed his fitness test having pulled something else and was non-playing Captain Morgan and master of ceremony on this occasion; whilst Ian Smith as an ex. Roundhegian (one of Leos local rivals) added some more spiced rum to the occasion!

In fact many of the home squad ended up swapping shirts to fulfill cameo roles to bolster Leos setting the agenda for the camaradie to follow.

As both sides watched a Jonny Wilkinson inspired Toulon win the Heineken Cup Final on TV the afternoon turned into in a full-on rugby music-hall stuff. By sheer coincidence it seems that many of the ensemble used to work in Chicago in an old department store, but don't work there anymore (with good reason).What a way to finish the senior playing side of the 140 season!

For further info on Leodiensian and their post tour comments, and what brilliant bunch they all are, visithttp://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leodiensian/s/match-selection-13279.html?official=0&fixture_id=1745473

We've taken the liberty of pinching their match report which beautifully artculates the sprit of the occasion.

According to Wikipedia:

Leodensian (plural Leodensians) means 'Someone from Leeds, Northern England.'

'The mock-classical adjectives Leodensian and Leodiensian are sometimes used by some local sports clubs, and the word Leodensian also features in the lyrics of "I Predict a Riot" by Kaiser Chiefs, although in that context it was referring to John Smeaton, a famous 18th century resident of the city (who resided in Austhorpe Lodge on the site of Austhorpe Primary School) as a founder of Leeds Grammar School, as a Leeds Grammar School leaver is called an Old Leodensian. The term is commonly used to refer to fans of Leeds Rhinos as well as people who walk round pubs in pointed hats and cloaks' - actually I made that last bit up.

The Minis & Juniors Award Cermony and Kenny Cup game played in the sunshine in front of a large crowd was something else on Sunday too to round off a brilliant weekend.