Saints v Tykes - The Last Time They Met

By From the Archives
November 14 2002

In our second look back to the Saints v Tykes archive we go to March this year and the last time the two sides met. The game at the Gardens followed on from the stormer over Newcastle in the Powergen Cup and had a lot to live up to.

Saints ease past Leeds in five point triumph.

By Family Rich on the Spot
Date: 18/3/2002

After all the excitement, a return to league action was always going to be anti-climatic. However Saints gained the maximum five points and climbed to sixth in the ZP. There were flashes of brilliance comparable to the demolition of Newcastle but the game lacked the atmosphere and intensity.

Robbie Morris deserves special mention for moving across the scrum and having another good game. Budge led from the front and Beal relieved any pressure with his booming kicks. However the lineout possession was not as secure, ball retention was at times poor and the team performed less cohesively. Sticking with the clichés: "a win's a win!"

The game started at a frantic pace and Saints were unfortunate not to cross the line from their first move of the match. The much-misunderstood John Leslie made a rare break instead of making those around him look good. He fed the athletic Brouzet who charged on but was brought down just short.
If the players and supporters thought it was going to be more of the same for Saints then the Tykes had different ideas. Leeds moved the ball back up the pitch efficiently and came close to a score of their own. They also diffused Saints attacks by slowing down the ball and forcing turnovers. In fact Leeds looked more effective as a unit than many of Saints previous visitors.

After Saints had failed with a catch and drive from a penalty kick to touch, captain Budge took the safe option and let kicking machine Grayson get the points. 3-0 to Saints after 14 minutes.

On 22 minutes with the score still only 3-0 Leeds lost centre Mulder to the sin bin for foul play. Saints continued to string phases together but mysteriously lacked the X factor, which turns possession into points.

Grayson put Saints 6-0 ahead after 31 minutes but a nervy edge was creeping into the game. Finally on 36 minutes a try was scored to the delight of the Gardens faithful. Several good phases had seen the ball worked close and just as another good passage appeared to be coming to nothing Richmond popped out of the ruck to score his first Saints try. Grayson converted, 13-0 to the Saints.

After the restart a strong break by Beal saw good recycling. Amazing hands from the multi-talented Tom Smith put the increasingly popular Peter Jorgenson over the line on 39 minutes. This was the Australian's third try in two matches. Grayson again converted to give the Saints a healthy 20-0 half time lead.

Saints made two half time changes as Phillips relieved the excellent Ackerman who had been carrying his shoulder for much of the first half. There was also the inevitable introduction of Thompson for Dan Richmond. Richmond had played well in parts but like the Saints collective first half performance he had lacked consistency.

In the second half Saints again started strongly but were thwarted by Leeds defensive efforts. Then came the try that summed up the match. The half time thunder and lightning produced a shower. Beal made 'good use' of the greasy conditions with a speculative Garryowens. As replacement full back Benson spilled the ball, Beal arrived with perfect timing to hack through and score the try. This was not the last time in the match that Saints would miss easier opportunities and then score from unlikely positions. As ever Grayson converted to take the score to 27-0.

What followed was evidence that Leeds do not deserve to go down. They rallied superbly and it is no surprise that the revival coincided with the arrival of Stephen Bachop.
On 53 minutes Leeds worked themselves into the danger zone and were rewarded with a penalty ten yards out. Quick thinking and sleepy defending let Scarborough in for the softest of tries from a tap penalty. Van Straaten was successful with the conversion 27-7.

Leeds continued to press hard and another piece of quick thinking saw Scarborough gather a Bachop grubber which wrong footed Cohen to run in another try. Van Straiten converted again as alarm bells jangled around the gardens with the score at 27-14.

There was however no need to worry as Saints closed out the game in the final quarter. Wayne Smith again used his bench to great effect as he brought on Soden for Blowers (56 mins), Tucker for Moir (68 mins), and to a standing ovation Robbie Morris gave way to Chris Budgen (74 mins).

Saints battered away at the Leeds line in the search for the elusive fourth try and bonus point. They were perhaps trying to force a score as the chances went begging. Five metre lineouts and scrums bore no points and eventually with time running out Leeds regained possession at a scrum. In fine Saints tradition they did things the hard way by stealing the ball and then working John Leslie over for a try in the 80th minute. Beal, given man of the match in the ground, missed the conversion.

Final score Saints 34 Leeds 14.

It is easy to say Saints should have scored more tries and they shouldn't have let Leeds get over the line. However the endless search for perfection can sometimes becomes self-defeating. Wayne Smith is right to criticise the lack of clinical finishing and the turnovers because on another they will cause problems. However if Saints had put 10 tries past Leeds yesterday it would still only be five league points. Sometimes it would be nice to just celebrate a good win.

As ever - Job Done!