Halloween Horrorshow at Headingley.
Bloodied but belligerent
By Farmertyke
November 1 2010
Messrs Back and Key must adhere to the old adage....if at first you don't succeed try, try and try again for both MacKay and Thomas started the Wasps game at stand-off and fullback respectively.
Would we see an improvement in the game plan that led to a narrow defeat in the previous game against Sale? The portents looked good what with Fourie on hand to lend moral support and an opening five minutes that saw Wasps pinned back on their own 22. Yet again handling errors let Leeds down at the crucial moment. Penalty chances were missed by both Thomas and Van Gisbergen before twice, again, Leeds visited the oppostition 22, once spurning a 40 metre attempt at goal by kicking for the corner. Again lack of composure with the try-line beckoning saw no points won.
With five minutes to go before the oranges an innocuous Wasps scrum on the halfway saw Joe Simpson nimbly round three defenders and score a try under the posts. 7-0 to Wasps. The groaning faithful Leeds fans then saw Thomas cut the deficit to 7-3 just on the stroke of halftime.
The refreshments in the visitors' changing rooms must be good as we saw, not for the first time this season, the opposition came out and showed what you must do in your opponents 22 when Tom Rees drove over to make it 14-3. Leeds responded with some good play and a Burrel try - only for Thomas to hit the post with his kick. 14-8 to Wasps. Leeds used all of their bench in the remaining 20 minutes but the scrum began to creak without the absent Gomez and even the charismatic Alfie could not make much inroad on his return from injury. When Van Gisbergen kicked a further 3 points the losing bonus point vanished into the Headingley mist.
Should we have won? Well yes and I venture to suggest that last year's team would have. The experiment with MacKay at 10 must surely be over. He did attempt the odd kick but it looks such an alien concept to him that every defensive coach must know his modus operandi. Equally Thomas at fullback looks like a lost sheep and either he or Lewis Pratt must retake the 10 shirt.
Champagne rugby is over and the team must now grind out the points like last year. Nobody who saw the bloodied but belligerent Titterell and the rest could question the team's commitment but with the indians already over the hill it is going to be a scabby bird and a mangy cur fighting over the carcass that is relegation.
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Quote:dragon27
Good read, thanks Farmer. Sounds to me like we need a finisher.
Surely worth trying Curtis Wilson in the LV cup?
Sadly I have to agree with every one of your comments.
In my view CLP MUST start at 10 from here on!
Up the Carnergie TYKES !