Wasps match report
By Wildwillie
August 18 2012
I went to Headingley last night expecting to get soaked and to come away with an acute attack of Bran-itis. Instead I sat in the posh seats with a bunch of reprobates from the Paddock and enjoyed an open game of rugby with secondary entertainment coming from a game of who's who.......
I realised that all was not normal when I found that I knew more of the visiting players than the home team. Half the starting pack were new. Imiolek and Hooper started in the front row with Green and Myerscough in the engine room. All four had solid games and if Freer could throw in then Palmer and Wentzel would not have had a sniff of our lineout ball. We soon trailed by 5 points before we witnessed a thing of beauty. A Leeds try! Burrows got hold of the ball near the halfway and slipped it to McColl who went for the line - kicking and chasing - his momentum carrying him over the line. Wow! Needless to say his sponsors were over the moon & the Northstand rocked.
The team were lifted by this score and matched Wasps in every aspect of play. A sveldt Harry Hannan, looking every inch the "honeymonster" came on for Freer A second try for Leeds came after good pressure and the quick thinking of Joe Ford saw him dab a diagonal grubber kick through the defence for Fred "Eric" Burdon to dart through and touchdown. More of him later.
Despite all the excitement our old failings are still ther and we were behind by one at the break. The second half saw Wasps camped in our half and most of the Leeds play was defensive. Outstanding in this department was Eric who tackled solidly, ably abetted by Curtis Wilson. As Wasps racked up more points our lack of fitness showed. Time for lots of changes. Tussac and Harris came into the front row. Rowan and Beck, who had run themselves into the ground were replaced by Barrow and Nilsen.Hampson came on for Docherty and was prompty scragged by the Wasps substitute flanker, one James Haskell. Dan hemingway reminded us what a good lineout man he is , partnered by Pierce Phillips. Both Palmer and Wentzel looked knackered when they came off.
When we could have reasonably expected the floodgates to open the lads got their second wind and played some rugby in the Wasps half. This culminated in a searing break by McColl who timed his pass perfectly putting Wilson in in the corner. A special mention to Jamel Chisolm, the young crosscode winger, who looked very lively with ball in hand - both he and Wilson ran straight and fast - quite unusual for us.
What can we deduce from this performance? Well some of the new guys look great. Imiolek, Green and Burdon all stood out for me. Last night's backrow, with Barrow and Walker as competition, will provide pace, aggression and continuity. We now have speed on the wings and our most lethal attacker will again be Wee Stevie McColl. Have I got Bran-itis? Nope. Am I looking forward to the season? You bet I am!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:08:24:20:43:30 by Wildwillie .
There are some serious lumps in our pack this time out but I do fear that it's a case of too much muscle, not enough stamina.
Roll on the season proper.
Well done DE!
I'm off on holiday for a week while the lads work on their fitness! Back just in time for the new season, bring it on
But pleasantly surprised by the optimism on here - and on twitter - given the scoreline.
Great news - and roll on the season!
Quote:Carnegiette1
Wasn't there last night as was sunning myself on Yorkshire's East Coast (well ok maybe not so much sunning)
But pleasantly surprised by the optimism on here - and on twitter - given the scoreline.
Great news - and roll on the season!
Optimism doesn't come easy om this forum - lets hope the team can drive on from this encouraging performance and do us proud!
Miserati - and Proud to be!
Quote:Thanks for that -the perils of doing a report without notes & with a hangover!Bittern
Just for the record Richard Beck played the full 80 mins. Started at 6, moved to 7 when Burrows went off and ended up at 8!
Special mention , for me, must be made for Curtis Wilson who seemed to relish his tustle with Tom Varndell. If it had been a boxing match the result would be a points win for Curtis. Well done fella. Hope to see more of him this season.
