Diccon's Babes Banish Blues.
Turning point tackler!
By Gelbel
October 30 2011
So there we were, a perfectly formed, albeit small, group of Leeds fans in The Cricketers Arms talking cricket; cricket scores against Leeds that is. It was generally agreed Leeds would get into double figures (just) and Bedford would pass the forty point mark........
And it looked like it would go that way after the first ten minutes. Bedford attacked downhill in the first half and camped out in Leeds’ 22. Early ambition from Bedford saw them put two penalties to touch. Although they were thwarted, last week’s MOM Chris Walker found himself in the bin for an offside tackle. But the pressure and being one man down took its toll and Bedford opened the score with a try after 9 minutes.
Stephenson put in a big tackle to save, what would probably have been, another try due to Bedford having an overlap and Leeds still down to 14 men. However, on 13 minutes Bedford scored their second try to make it 10-0.
On 19 minutes Leeds found their way into Bedford’s half for the first time – it might only have been by inches but good things started to happen for the young Leeds team. Iain Thornley scored a great try after a break from Ford, a surge forward from McColl, back to Ford, good handling from Bell and a darting run from Stephenson. Bell missed the conversion. 10-5 after 24 minutes.
Bedford missed the chance to increase their lead when they missed a penalty goal. However, Leeds were back down to 14 as Denton was binned for reasons only known to those fluent in the ‘dark arts’. We thought it was a blood injury that had him going off until the announcer told us otherwise.
Leeds were awarded a penalty just inside their half, out by the touchline which Bell put away and it was 13-8 after 34 minutes. Within minutes Bell put away two more penalties to give Leeds a surprising 13-14 lead at the break. Now I am not sure which of these penalties it actually was (at this stage your reporter was using eyeliner to make notes as 2 pens had dried up), one was going to miss by a country-mile. But it was like a heat-seeking missile swerving and side-winding in the most spectacular way to find its target.
Leeds were attacking downhill in the second half, having lots of possession but Bedford restored the lead to 16-14 with a penalty after 48 minutes. Then the lead chopped and changed for the next twenty minutes. Ford hoofed the ball which McColl collected and showed his speed, breaking away to score his first points in the corner for Leeds. Bell converted. 16-21 after 55 minutes.
By rights Bedford should then have scored a try – but somehow Thornley got under the Bedford man to hold-up a certain try. Bedford pressed on and were denied another try with a penalty being awarded instead. The ref gave a penalty try for Leeds’ collapsing the scrum. With the conversion it was 23-21 after 60 minutes.
The ref decided Leeds did not throw straight at a lineout; the resulting scrum saw Bedford set up an attack, ending with an unconverted try. Four tries for Bedford and 28-21 after 64 minutes. For the next 6 minutes it looked like Bedford were going to press on and start to rack up that cricket score we’d been predicting.
However, our boys are made of sterner stuff and what happened next will be spoken about for years.. At 70 minutes Thornley scored a try which Bell converted to make it 28-28. And there we were thinking a draw was slightly flattering to Leeds but what the heck, we’ll take the points thank you very much. Ford attempted to win the match with a drop goal from halfway that went wide. Then Robbie Shaw scored a try and Leeds took the lead 28-35 as Bell slotted another touchline conversion. Not only were Leeds ahead, we’d scored 4 tries! It got a bit squeaky-bum time for a couple of minutes but Walker defended well and Bell made sure of the victory by kicking another penalty. It got even better. McColl powered down the line again to score his 2nd try which Bell converted to make the final score, an unbelievable, Bedford 28 Leeds 45.
Here’re some interesting figures: Leeds had given away 10 infringements to Bedford’s none in the first 17 minutes. With 10 minutes to go it had been 28-28 and then Leeds scored 17 unanswered points in the last 8 minutes. I think the predicted cricket score could’ve been on the other foot if Leeds’ early discipline had not deserted them.
With Nottingham and Esher coming up in the next league fixtures, there is a good chance Leeds could find themselves at the end of a 6 game unbeaten run. And we’ll be treated to more of the grins we saw when the team walked off the pitch yesterday. Dominic Barrow’s was almost an embarrassed smile, Jacob Rowan’s smile put the Cheshire Cat’s to shame. As I posted in the week - if the squad think we will win, rather than we can win, then good things can happen. I also asked for ‘my toes’ to break his duck. That, combined with the Gel school of psychology (even if I doubted it myself), has me beaming from ear to ear.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:02:17:44:40 by Wildwillie.
I always enjoy the Bedford visit, but couldn't go this year. When I saw the result on text I was sure the Beeb must have made a mistake, (not unknown.)
I then checked later and bingo it's correct!
Thanks for the report Gelbel. With the numbers who coudn't go (according to this site) I wondered if anyone would get there.
However, those that did must have had a memorable trip, what a result and this without our "experienced & star"
players!
Well done the youngsters, great to see you doing so well.
Roll on Nottingham.
Up the Carnegie TYKES !
I'm so pleased for the youngsters, and the coaches who have faith in them!
COME ON YEW NEGIE-TYKES!!
Miserati - and Proud to be!
Quote:Beeston Lion
After the game Diccon said that the group of players who are turning out for Leeds Carnegie these days realise they have the potential to grow and play together for a long time and have bought in to that possibility and want to make it a reality. On yesterdays evidence the possible is starting to look more probable.
Hope he's had a good day off and goes in to work tomorrow with a smile on his face. He's earned it!
Miserati - and Proud to be!
Here are two from local Bedford papers
Bedford TodayBedford TODAY
and Bedfordshire News
Bedfordshire News
Strange cant find anything from Leeds Papers
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:10:31:09:27:51 by Rocky's Dad.
It was my first visit to Bedford and for a number of reasons the game was a like riding a roller coaster for me. Down and up, up and down in a stomach churning journey of foreboding and euphoria.
We started the first half climbing the slope of a pitch that has to be seen to be believed, with the sun in our eyes too. And of course in the second half our players were running downhill gathering speed and points at a fantastic rate and despite all of Bedford’s best efforts, like a runaway carriage there was no stopping Leeds.
Every single player put 100% effort in and their performances in my view were brilliant, not perfect but definitely brilliant! In his post-match interview DE said it would be unfair to single individuals out and then went onto do just that, but without mentioning the name of any of our forwards. I won’t single out any of the forwards because they all played their part in a formidable game that most of us quietly expected they would lose.
I don’t think the pack has been managed wisely thus far but this week I felt we made significant progress in this area. We started the season with only one replacement prop on the bench, a tighthead, and only 5 pushing in the scrum. Things started changing after the Cornish Pirates game. We now have 2 replacement props on the bench, this week arguably our best second row in terms of weight and grunt and we now have 8 pushing in the scrum. Additionally this week our replacement front row was managed much more effectively with timely replacements that made a seamless transition and a big impact on the game at just the right time.
I suspect we owe a debt of gratitude to Mike Ford who has been seen around training sessions at Kirkstall for the last few weeks. Improvements in our game are becoming more evident week on week and I imagine that it is in part down to his valuable input. Incidentally Mr Ford spent the whole game at the right hand of DE watching the match from the Coaches vantage point. Now, if I were a young talented player being watched by the current England defence coach I think I might pin my ears back, listen, learn and ensure performance improvement personally and in the team.
Joe Ford looked confident and more at ease after the game than I have seen him thus far this season. I imagine his Dad is helping him settle down, build his confidence and get his performance back to where it used to be.
Andy Keys was at the match enjoying the post-match celebrations and laughing and joking with some of the team and management. I just hope he was there to enjoy good rugby with old friends and not to gather any more Leeds Players into the Rugby Lions project.
Tom Denton had a nasty cut over his eye which took him off the field and indoors to be stitched I assume, and Dom Barrow looked like he had a black eye developing nicely.
The two lemon heads that were stood waiting to greet the players as they headed back to the changing rooms had a glow emanating from their hats that was akin to the kids from the readybrek cereal advert on TV some years ago!
Bedford has the feel of a good old traditional rugby club and their supporters were very good humoured and as said elsewhere, magnanimous in defeat. I heard a group of young men musing on how on earth Cornish Pirates had managed to put so many points on ‘a team like that’. Their comments brought feelings of pride and pleasure in equal measure, along with a satisfying feeling of positivity…yes positivity!
My roller coaster ride ended without the feared crash and burn but rather a spectacular finale of 17 points in 8 minutes. Not a supporter, player or coach could hide their delight. Well done to everyone on and off the field.
After enjoying a few drinks we made our way out of the ground when all the noise and crowd gone. It was dark and cold and as we stopped to find our bearings on where we had parked the car a shout of ‘Well-done mate have a safe journey home’ came from a shadowy figure with a Bedford accent in the bus shelter across the road… Don’t you just love Rugby !
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:10:31:09:54:01 by williamwebbellis.
Miserati - and Proud to be!
Quote:Mark_C
Nice one, WWE, glad you enjoyed your day!
Cheers Mark - Keep the faith my friend!
