Reality Hits Home at Headingley
Chipper performance.
By Headingley/Roundhay
April 25 2011
There were 4 teams at Headingley Carnegie on a bright sunny afternoon yesterday, these being Yorkshire CCC, Netherlands, Harlequins and ourselves. The first three, I had no interest in and was only concerned about us 'winning' at all costs. Although, it was clear from the word 'go' that my optimism was ill-founded as we are now staring 'relegation' in the face and have to rely on other teams to keep us in the Premiership.
Ex Leeds favourite Danny Care, started the rout by crossing the line for his sides first try and to add insult to injury, he rubbed salt in our wounds, with a drop goal, that sailed straight through to the 'uprights'. This was not going to to be our afternoon.
Danny's try came having accepted a pass from Nick Easter, 'chipping over' Christian Lewis Pratt and then beating Lachlan MacKay in a 'foot race' to the line. We were all the over place, our game plan was in tatters.
Things then went from 'bad to worse' 3 minutes later, when Quins extended their lead even further, following George Robson making a break into our 22, offloading to Nick Evans who then slipped an inside pass to a team mate, who crossed the line unchallenged. Oh Dear, Oh Dear, what was going on? My optimism was out of the window, and I was shaking my head in disbelief. I could now understand why Bunj's son was wearing a Leeds Rhinos top!! :-) Although there was a 'glimmer of hope' when AJ had the opportunity to reduce the deficit with 2 penalty attempts, though, to no avail sadly and we went in at HT - 0 - 14.
Half Time - Leeds Carnegie 0 Harlequins 14.
I kept my mouth firmly shut and went to the bar for some anaesthetic. I knew that we were in for an unpleasant afternoon. That was further compounded when our record breaking hooker (Thommo) failed to appear for the 2nd half, Quins putting themselves out of sight following having scored a third try courtesy of Turner-Hall and Capt Fantastic limping off, presumably with the same injury that kept him out of previous games.
Heads dropped and the 'post mortem' was about to begin!!
Christian Lewis-Pratt relieved AJ of his kicking duties and secured our first and only points of the afternoon, with a penalty, that was not going to worry the Quins and nor was it going to change the end result.CLP then had the opportunity to add a further three points but hit the post and the ball bounced back into safe Quins hands.
Old Boy Care was not so forgiving with a drop goal that really summed up our afternoon and then Easter sprinted under the posts to secure Quins' bonus point. Things could not get much worse, but they did when the Quins full-back intercepted Stevo's pass and ran the length of the field for a further 5 points.
First and foremost, my apologies for the negative aspects of this report, although, I am struggling to find any positives. We MUST now claim something from our final game at Northampton to even stand the 'slightest chance' of avoiding relegation as we are in the hands of Bath Rugby and must rely on them beating Newcastle Falcons twice, together with preventing the Budgies claiming anything at all.
Full Time - Leeds Carnegie 3 Harlequins 38.
Despite being 'gutted' and having gone from Optimist to Realist in the space of 80 minutes, I still relieved myself of £170, with renewing my ST for next season, irrespective of which division we are playing in and I now fear that that will be the Championship.
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Another difficult match to find anything good to write about, shame optimism couldn't be the winner, but as you rightly point out we'll be back next season even if it's in the Championship.
I am forever on the side of the glass is half full as opposed to half empty, but we were 'clueless yesterday' and as such, I doubt we can pull this one out of the bag!!
Even Houdini would be amazed if we escape this one!! It's sad but true!!
I so so wish it were different!!
we still have a chance though.
He looked absolutely furious at Backy for taking him off so early in the second half.
Quote:daveyjp
I'm not sure about Marco situation.
He looked absolutely furious at Backy for taking him off so early in the second half.
I also noticed Marco's reaction as he left the field, and it was quite a while before he returned to the dugout. However, speaking to one of the players after the game, Marco wasn't going to come out for the second half, indeed he wasn't originally in the squad, but there was liitle point in aggrevating any injury for a lost cause.
What really got my goat yesterday, when it was decided Marco would start, was, why was Alfie sacrificed to make way for him? Surely one of the locks, and preferably not Kearnan, should have been omitted.
it was a bit odd to be so demonstrative about a substitution. he could easily have slipped out of the in-goal area.
To an extent, you are right, we are relying now for others to do us a favour. If Bath do do it for us this weekend then it's down to the last game at Saints. Miracle required? I think so!