A Match Preview with a difference.....

Too much to do?
By apb on 11/12/2002
December 11 2002

The Parker Pen Challenge Cup is only a meaningless competition, so we don't need to be worried about a fourteen point deficit going into the second leg of the tie against Pontypridd.

Lets face it, we don't have a large squad, and we'd be better off out of the competition and concentrating instead on the real priority, the Zurich Premiership. This is a great opportunity to send out some of the fringe players, buoyed up by one or two regulars and padded out with a few of the academy lads to see how they'd cope with the intensity of a higher level of game.

Its time to rest the main squad. Lets allow them a recupuration period over the Christmas holidays, let them get over their knocks and niggles, and leave them fresh and hungry for the challenge in the new year to put in a resurgent performance in the more important Zurich Premiership games. This will allow us to seal our place in the top divison for next season. The players I'm talking about resting (if they're not already ruled out through injury are George Harder, Cammie Mather, Braam van Straaten, Mike Shelley, Jimmy Ponton, Dan Scarbrough and Diego Albanese.

This will also allow Phil Davies time to gather together the first team - particularly those who've been off on international duty, and give them a good mid-season "pre-season" session, to allow them to bond again and start the new year in the same way they started the new season.

So let Ponty have their day in the sun, and let them win this tie.

Oh, by the way - ALL THE ABOVE IS NONSENSE!

In my view, the PPCC is every bit as important as the Zurich Premiership for us. While its true we're not mathematically safe yet, it would take a shocking fall from grace of mamoth proportions for us to be relegated this year - not impossible, but not probable. No, the PPCC is an opportunity not to missed. We can test ourselves against eurpoean opposition that are playing well, and get a feel for where we need to be in order to cement our place in the Heineken Cup over the next few years. The further we go in the PPCC, the better the test.

This roof needs raising...

So ask yourselves, "Is fourteen points that much?". Not in my book. A couple of moments of dazzling brilliance and we're on equal terms with the momentum to go further. A crash ball here, a jink to the side there, and Ponty are on the back foot and struggling to keep up. Letting them get ahead was our biggest mistake last week. From a slightly nervy "Ooooh, these are the team that beat Leicester and are third in the ZP, they're gonna beat us", Ponty went on to "Hah, call yourselves a rugby team? I've had bacon butties with more fight in them" in the space of ten minutes. there was no stopping them and they rightly taught us a lesson. Ponty were also wise to the referee's foibles much faster than we were, and deserved their win.

So we need to play hard, fast, get the basics right and put in the odd dazzling training ground move that foxes everyone. And for the sake of the future of Leeds Rugby, they need to win the tie.

So I say to Phil Davies: "Pick your strongest team and win the tie!".

To George Harder I say: "Get well soon - we need you more than ever!".

Win this one for Mateo!

To Diego Albanese I say: "Congratulations on the birth of your son, and go and win this tie for little Mateo!".

And to all you fans out there I say: Bring your best shouty voices, sing loud and long, and cheer the Leeds Tykes to a famous victory! MARCHIN' ON TOGETHER - WE'RE GONNA SEE YOU WIN NA NA NA NA NA NA WE ARE SO PROUD, WE'RE SHOUTING OUT LOUD WE LOVE YOU

LEEDS,

LEEDS!