Match Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs Otley
Otley decide what to do..
By Christopher Doyle
September 9 2008
Last week saw Leeds get the away win against a strong Exeter outfit, the game was tense but Leeds held them off and came away with the victory. This weeks opponents you could say are the total opposite of last weeks with just being promoted from National League 2, we all know they are going to throw the kitchen sink at us on Sunday at Headingley, so be prepared.
Hopefully Leeds will stretch their legs out and dominate the match from start to finish, Neil Back has said on numerous occasions that Leeds are the 13th Premiership side so lets hope against Otley they can show this to be the case and get some points on the board by running in plenty of tries. I hope Scott Mathie starts at 9 and shows us his super 14 experience and hopefully get his first try. The Lineout and scrum needs to be improved im sure this is an area that’s been addressed in training this week.
It’s a local Derby but Leeds must use this game and get as many points as possible so it will put them on good terms in the table. As we wouldn’t want it to come back and hamper our hopes for promotion at the end of the season by not scoring enough points in games like these.
Looking at the Otley team they are led out by former Leeds player Dan Hyde who is the Otley captain, other former Leeds players include Hooker James Parks, utility back Tom Whittaker and also back rower Max Lewis. Also one to watch is Otley and Yorkshire winger Robin Kitching who showed great form when playing for Yorkshire helping them win some silverware at Twickenham at the end of last season.
Otley have played 2 and lost 2, Leeds have played 2 and won 2. If we can replicate the spirit and the performances shown in the Newcastle and Sale Pre Season games then we should be in for a great game of rugby.