Pirates coming to Pillage

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By Haxbytyke
December 8 2011

This weekend sees Leeds Carnegie return to Headingley Stadium, with two very good reasons to get back on to the victory trail. Last week, their visit to league leaders Bristol brought an end to their unbeaten run, while there is the small matter of avenging a heavy defeat down in Cornwall earlier this season to attend to as well. Back in September, Pirates ran in 7 tries on front of the television cameras to inflict a 52 – 10 reverse on Carnegie, Leeds’ third defeat in their opening four games.A long hard season for the hoops seemed to be in order, but since then the team have grown up quickly, aided by some welcome returnees from injury, and before last Sunday they were the form team in the Championship.

For me, I am glad we have tough opposition this week it will be a good test of the character of the side. Leeds did not play well at Bristol, but were in with a chance of coming away with something until the very last play of the game.

All the early failings returned last week, poor discipline, poor concentration, and the ability to give the ball away very easily. Hopefully, they will have been working on these aspects this week, and return to something like their best for this very important game.

The Pirates have Premiership rugby very much at the top of their agenda, but they have stuttered somewhat, this season. They currently occupy fourth place in the league, having drawn 3 of their 13 fixtures. They also threw away a healthy lead down at Bristol, one of three defeats they have suffered thus far, the others being at Doncaster, and on home soil to Bedford. Two former Leeds’ players have featured prominently on their score sheet so far, David Doherty joined from Jersey in the close season and is scoring tries consistently, while Ceiron Thomas is having more success with the boot than he enjoyed when playing at Headingley.

Despite last weeks result, I don’t think we’ll see too many changes to the Leeds line up. Mo Mustafa could return if recovered, and Danny Paul must be close to getting a starting berth in the pack, but I’d leave the backs as they were last Sunday.

If Leeds are to win this game, they must have learnt the lessons from last week. Whatever they do in the scrum to upset the referee has to be sorted, and they must look after the ball better than they did. As obvious as it sounds, they must also endeavour to play the game in the Pirates half of the pitch, at least if they do fall foul of Sir, it shouldn’t show on the scoreboard.

If Leeds are to finish in the top four, then they need a good result this week. They have fallen 5 points behind Nottingham, and they cannot afford to see this gap increase. I am always optimistic, and I believe that when everything falls into place, somebody will get a good hiding. Sadly I don’t anticipate that happening on Sunday, but I do expect another narrow victory. Leeds to win by 6

Pirates coming to Pillage

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

Date: 08/12/2011 05:54

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:12:12:07:11:41 by WildWillie .