Yer Ballroom Days are Over Baby!
Deserves better.
By Bobba
April 18 2011
It is only some 14 days ago that, looking at the League table, we were lagging behind the Budgies by some 6 points. They (the Budgies), had a game in hand on us and the harbingers of doom and gloom were ready to pounce on the Tykes and had us dead and buried with 5 games left.
Fortunately, there were those who believed that, like the Phoenix, we could rise from the ashes and live again. Clearly that belief rubbed on to the players, they rose to the occasion, and, having won, all be it closely, against the Chiefs and Peskies, no longer found themselves propping up the Premiership, but in the 11th spot with a healthy one point from the bottom now occupied by our friends from the Arctic, the Budgies. However, on Friday the Budgies managed to kick themselves a bonus point and, once again we find ourselves on the bottom of the pile, albeit on points difference. A win today is vital to keep our Premiership survival going.
With optimism riding high in the Tykes camp, we have travelled on the fun bus south to Adams Park in High Wycombe to be entertained by the Peskies, also known locally as the London Wasps. With moral high, and the Peskies’ recent record not being anything to write home about, we hope to swat the Peskies and further secure our future in the Premiership.
For the third game running, Backy had the opportunity to field an un-changed side. However he clearly decided to tweak it a little and in came Gomes to start with Swainston going on the bench. Also Danny Paul starts in place of Alfie To’oala. Tom Denton and Lachlan MacKay take their place on the bench. Captain Fantastic has not recovered from his injury and Steve Thompson continues as Captain.
The Peskies on the other hand have several players out of action and are relying on their “young rising stars” to make their mark.
Having lubricated vocal chords in the Wasps Nest, it is time for the match. There are quite a few of us dotted around the ground but primarily we are behind the posts in the Green King Terrace.
Todays whistler is Mr David Rose, assisted by Nigel Clarke and Rhys Davies.
The game begins. AJ kicks off and the ball is promptly returned into Leeds hands. A period of Leeds pressure follows. Advantage is lost when Leeds fumble the ball and the ball gets booted into Leeds territory and it now becomes a foot race for the ball, a further kick forward, an attempted charge down and Joe Simpson gets to the ball first for a try in the corner. 3 minutes gone and 5-0 down.
Leeds respond with a further period of pressure and eventually gain a penalty in front of the posts which AJ pops over for 5-3.
The next 20 minutes of play is a scrappy affair with almost continuous kick tennis. Shrek is having on of his typical games, popping up all over the place, gaining possession of the ball, passing and then the usual boot up field with no one chasing. Wasps finally broke the deadlock with Wackett finding himself in trouble on the Leeds 5 metre line, Shrek came in to assist and in the process of clearing the ball a foot shot out in an blatant attempt to trip him, the loose ball was picked up by Elliot Daly but he was tackled short of the line and Mr Rose deemed that Stephenson had deliberately killed the ball and was sin binned for his efforts. Walder converted the penalty from near the right touch. Now 8-3. The game was becoming a bruising one. Simon Shaw leaves the pitch for blood after 27 minutes and Gomez following him 3 minutes later.
A strange period of play followed. It seemed that the ball had been replaced by a bar of soap as the ball was continuously dropped by both sides. Somehow we managed to get into the Wasps half and Mr Rose spots a Wasps infringement near their 22. Up walked AJ and slots home the penalty for 8-6. Almost immediately we conceded yet another penalty which Walder knocked over from about 30 meters for 11-6.
With virtually no time left in this half, Wasps kick the ball along the right touch. The Leeds players appeared to be mesmerised and watch while the ball bobbled along its way. Haughton spotted his chance and no doubt said “thank you” whilst scoring a try in the far right corner with millimetres to spare. Walder was unable to convert and the score was at half time is 16-6.
Three minutes into the second half Stephenson returned and Leeds are back to their full compliment of players. It is, however Wasps who strike the first blow, Leeds loose possession in their own half the ball is booted downfield and it was Haughton who reacted first, picked the ball up and scored. Walder duly converted and the score was is 23-6, with the game rapidly running away from Leeds.
Wasps now look dangerous every time they are in possession of the ball. Leeds are chasing shadows.
The bonus point try for Wasps comes in the 53rd minute when Joe Ward went over from close in, again converted by Walder. 30-6 We only had to wait a matter of 5 minutes for the next try. Simpson received the ball from a line out on half way. Raced forward in a mazy run to score to the right of the posts. Walder again converted. Now at 37-6 it was becoming a rout!
Leeds responded well however, having a sustained period of pressure on the Wasps 5 metre line. Wasps conceding several penalties in the process. Several high tackles on Leeds players were missed by the ref and went unpunished. A tackle on Shrek in which Shrek was dumped on his head went unpunished. However I’ll give the ref a little credit, he did stop the game immediately for treatment to be administered. Eventually the pressure paid off with Oakley crossing the whitewash for a try, duly converted by AJ. 37-13.
If we thought that was the end of it, far from it. On 70 minutes Vunipola powered over, the try again converted by Walder. 44-13 Seven minutes later Taulafo crossed the line, this time converted by Atkinson. 51-13.
Finally, to end the day with a consolation, Lewis-Pratt skipped over in the right half corner for a try. AJ failed to convert and the final score was 51-18.
The crowd of 7186 saw a fine display from Wasps and Joe Simpson was awarded the MOM. From a Leeds point of view, I felt Shrek was, again, massive, his tireless work rate deserved better. I find it strange that today we appeared to be disjointed, we reverted back to our old ways of aimless kicking, losing possession, and looked to have lost confidence. Could it be that there is a problem in the Leeds camp? Could it be that when certain players appear on the team sheet there is some form of resentment? I leave it to you, the reader to draw your own conclusions.
All is not lost yet. We still have two games to go. Backy and his coaching staff and players need to get their heads together and sort any perceived problems out before we entertain the Quins on Sunday.
Bobba
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PS - The Doors?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:18:19:13:14 by SoopaLeeds.
Quote:SoopaLeeds
PS - The Doors?
One of my little foibles I am afraid - it's a line from a song on their third album.
OK I'm going
Incidentaly, the title of the report, was nothing to do with me, you have WW to thank for that.
