| The Tide has turned Leopards Vs LT Chips (7-3) There have been many great turning points recorded in the anals of history � Napolean�s defeat in Russia, the Normandy landings and the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Surely a new chapter was also written yesterday as the Leopards recorded their first win of the season. Expert pundits described the match as �a full six pointer� and a �must-win� for the Leopards to jump-start their faltering season. The team responded with a display of flair and panache to net a decisive victory. Rather disappointingly the absence of a referee meant that the match was demoted to friendly status. However there was nothing friendly about the dogged determination with which the mighty Leopards set about ending their recent poor string of results. Despite the lack of points involved the win will prove a vital step towards re-establishing the sort of confidence and fire-power that saw the team promoted last season amidst media furore. The result should also provide a temporary respite to the mounting pressure on captain Inglis to tender his resignation. A hate campaign against the aged gaffer had been building in recent weeks. At one point this became so intense that rumours abounded of the threats to his life. Once the tabloids were dominated by stories of �Packlunch Paddy�s� sexual prowess and entertaining hair colours. More recently they have focused on charting his decent into drug and alcohol abuse in the sordid bordellos of South London. Inlgis answered his critics yesterday with an exemplary lesson in leadership and even managed to place his name on the score-sheet twice in the second half. Due to depleted numbers at the start of play the Leopards were forced to lend one of its flock to the opposition. Cynical commentators suggested that Ben Rowland�s decision to volunteer was driven by a desire to taste victory at least once this season. This decision was to prove foolish as the Leopards gave off a convincing display that should see the team moving firmly back up the table. The passing was tight, runs probing and the finishing deadly. The result never looked in jeopardy with early goals from Rupert Coltart and Nick Van den Arend. After the interval this tally was augmented by fine strikes from Dan Hodgson and Patrick Inglis twice. A key highlight, however, was the welcome return to the score-sheet of the defensive powerhouse, Dangerrod. For too long his probing runs have ended in near misses or desperate defensive saves. He rectified this with a salmon-esque leap at the near post, wrong-footing the keeper and drilling a hole in the netting. The crowd was unable to contain itself in response. The goal-fest soon reached seven in total at which point a level of complacency set in. Defensive errors saw the opposition grab three late goals. However nothing could tarnish the lustre of the result. A warning shot had been fired to the rest of the league the Leopards are back and hungry for success. Watch out |