Lucky Leeds saved by the Bell!

Tour de force kicker!
By Haxbytyke
October 17 2011

Leeds won consecutive matches for the first time this season, when a last ditch 40 yard penalty from Tom Bell gave them a barely deserved 22 points to 21 victory over Moseley at a sun drenched Headingley stadium.....

Looking to build on last weeks success at London Scottish, Leeds began brightly and after 8 minutes of dominance were awarded a penalty which Bell slotted home. The hosts were dominant pushing the visitors pack around the park, but they were trying to be too adventurous instead of making the correct decisions with the ball. Passes were spilled often, but after MacDonald and Freer had made good ground,Bell increased the lead with another 35 yard penalty.

Apart from the restarts Moseley could not get into Leeds half, and although McColl and Shaw both dropped the ball in good positions, it wasn’t long before Ford, McColl, and Richards combined to give Jacob Rowan an easy run in to cross near enough the posts for Bell to add the extras.

As the half drew to a close, Moseley made ground into the Leeds half, when Leeds again dropped the ball, and it seemed merely a consolation, when with the last kick of the half, Ollie Thomas reduced the deficit with a penalty to give a half time score of Leeds 13, Moseley 3. Leeds had dominated the game, but they had failed to build on their territorial advantage, and the general feeling was that Moseley would tire in the second half sunshine, and a convincing victory was on the cards.

Wrong, so very wrong. Leeds started the second half with Craig Hampson on for ineffective Shaw who was taking so many steps before passing he could have been auditioning for ‘Strictly’.

Shortly after the restart, Thomas reduced the arrears with another penalty before Bell caught knock-on-itis, and Leeds coughed up the ball again. At this point Leeds wheeled on the two Barrows in an effort to regain control, Joe Ford, (disappointing again sadly), and Dan Hemingway making way.

Scott Barrow made a good break and kicked ahead, but then passed to the ground as he caught the give it away bug. On 48 minutes Nilsen replaced Scott Freer who had played well, and almost immediately there was a melee in midfield which ended with Leeds been awarded a penalty

However they continued to give the ball away, and it was no surprise when on the hour, Moseley worked a move which ended with Robinson brushing through some weak tackling to run across field, and score in the corner. The kick was missed, but Leeds were now on the back foot.

Almost immediately Leeds had a penalty on half way, but Bell put his kick just wide of the posts; however he made no mistake from 20 yards after Lee Blackett, who had come to life since the earlier melee, had made a good run.

Moseley came back, and Leeds were under pressure again, defending near the line. The pressure increased when Tut Tut Tutty gave Nilsen a yellow card, and almost before he had left the field brandished another at Swainson. For the second time in 5 daysLeedsfound themselves down to 13 men, and just as on Wednesday, Tuts had had enough and awarded a penalty try to Moseley, which Thomas converted.

The cards meant Walker and Reider, had to be sacrificed for Young and Freer and this itself was to lead to a farcical finale which would have done Brian Rix proud.

4 minutes left and Leeds break down the left hand side with Jacob Rowan to the fore. When Moseley were accused of not rolling away, Bell once again steps up and restored Leeds advantage.

However, Leeds being Leeds, fail to collect the restart, and when they are caught offside, Thomas puts the visitors back in front with just over a minute left on the clock. Moseley wins a scrum in their own half, and Phil Nilsen prepares to return, along with Alex Reider, who will replace Scott Freer to bringLeedsback up to 14 players. However, after a long debate with the Touch Judge, then the referee, and the Mosley captain, Nilsen returns, Freer comes off, and Reider returns to the dugout, leaving Leeds still with 13 men. When Moseley win the scrum, when play restarts;Leedsmanage to force a knock on, and then a free kick. From there Scott Barrow drives into the visitors defence, and is rewarded with a penalty when Tuts decided the tackler did not release him. From 40 yards, Tommy Bell sent the egg sailing high between the sticks, Tuts blows the final whistle, and there are scenes of jubilation among the players and Leeds supporters in the crowd of 1724.

Actually they were probably scenes of relief, for I should imagine everyone who was at Headingley this afternoon will admit Leeds were very lucky to win what was a very poor game, very poorly controlled by the officials.

Still, a win is a win, but nobody should be fooled by the result. We are still lacking 6 or 7 very experienced players through injury, and today the players who stood up for me were the old campaigners, MacDonald, Blackett, Scott Barrow and Rowan. Scott Freer also did well while he was on, and the others tried hard, but we lack cohesion and the decision making is poor. I would also suggest that some of those who pulled a shirt on today are not fully fit, but are playing out of necessity. The sooner these injuries clear up the better.

On a happier note, today’s MoM is a no brainer. For collecting 17 points and winning the game on his own, it has to be Tommy Bell. Let’s hope for a better performance next week.

Lucky Leeds saved by the Bell!

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

Date: 17/10/2011 05:41

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:10:21:05:16:33 by Wildwillie.