New Year Celebrations for Carnegie

Welcome return.
By Haxbytyke
January 2 2011

There were smiling faces all around Headingley as Leeds broke their duck for the season with a well deserved 15 – 13 win over a Gloucester side who, despite their royal connections, could at best be described as ordinary.

The early feelers had gone out as both sides weighed each other up, although Leeds had looked the more fluent. They had also spilled the ball on a couple of occasions, but they deservedly took the lead in the 15^th minute, the score coming after what initially was a scrappy piece of play. Leeds had the ball just inside their half, when the ball reached Lee Blackett at ankle height. He managed to hang on and in desperation sent a fairly nondescript kick into the middle of the field. Gloucester countered down the far side but Leeds turned the ball over and Thomas sent Fa’afili on his way. He released Blackett who looked certain to score, but was hauled down just short. However the pack was on hand, and drove over the line with Hendre Fourie getting the credit for touching down. CT converted from the touch line, and the celebrations began.

They only lasted 10 minutes though, as the visitors controlled a scrum on halfway, and from the resulting rolling maul, the ball flashed across field where Simpson-Daniel had the simple task of crossing in the corner. Burns converted, and the teams were level again.

5 minutes later the Leeds team was back in front. HRH Tindall killed the ball and CT slotted the simple penalty between the posts. Many felt the visitors’ skipper should have seen a yellow card, but Mr. Wigglesworth was obviously hankering for an invitation to a wedding and took a lenient view.

Just before half time Burns kicked another good penalty and the break saw the teams go in on level terms, but for me the game turned in the 54^th minute. Having just missed an easy penalty, Burns gave Gloucester the lead, and at the same time Mike MacDonald entered the fray.

The Leeds scrum had struggled and were being penalised by the man in yellow, but big Mac brought some stability, and the advantage began to swing to Leeds. Mathie was getting the ball behind a scrum which was holing its own, and Mackay was sending well timed passes into the line. The hosts were now dominating the territorial position, and started moving the ball from side to side while gaining valuable ground. The approach paid off on the hour mark when after good drives from Denton and Fourie, Michael Stephenson was on hand to drive in and wriggle over for the try. CT missed the kick but Leeds was back in front.

For the rest of the game Leeds controlled the play in the visitors half, but there was also the nagging doubt that we could concede a penalty and give Glaws the chance to snatch the game. We need not have worried, the visitors rarely looked like making ground, although Fuimano-Sapolu looked threatening until he picked up a knock and seemed to decide he’d done his bit for the day.

Leeds should have increased the lead with 10 minutes remaining but CT inexplicably missed a penalty from in front of the posts. However Leeds kept the visitors pinned back, with both Mathie and Mackay intelligently kicking into the corners to force their opponents back.

By now, word had spread that Leeds were close to victory, and many fans piled into the ground to witness the first win of the season. Let’s hope they all come back for the kick off next time!

So, a valuable win. It was a team effort without doubt, and difficult to argue against any man of the match award. Officially it went to Captain Fantastic, but my bubbly is going to Mike Macdonald. He was only on the field for 30 minutes, but he brought the something extra that won us the game. The Great Escape part 2 is now on, look out Newcastle and Sale, WE’RE BEHIND YOU.

Happy New Year to you all.

New Year Celebrations for Carnegie

Posted by: TykesRugby.co.uk (IP Logged)

Date: 02/01/2011 21:33

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