Carnegie tie themselves in Notts
Top gun
By Haxbytyke
September 2 2012
Leeds Carnegie began the 2012 season with a trip to Meadow Lane, and although they came away with a bonus point, it could have been so much better..........
Leeds got the game under way, and Lee Imiolek put in a massive hit on a Notts defender. The hosts made the first attack, and with just 2 minutes on the clock, Arlidge gave the home side a 3 point lead when he converted a penalty. The lead didn’t last long, Joe Ford equalising with a good kick from 30 yards out on the touchline.
For the next 20 minutes,Leedsplayed some scintillating rugby. Quick ball, good distribution, strong running and support play, and a good kick and chase game. After 11 minutes quick hands created an overlap which our very own Stevie McColl exploited to cross in the corner. Joe slotted over a superb conversion, and then bettered that with a monster penalty from 5 yards inside his own half. Leeds were rampant, even spurning the opportunity of 3 points to kick for the corner, and this paid dividends when the pack crashed over from short range, who got the score, I’m not sure. Joe did the rest, and all looked good.
For thirty seconds that is! Leeds caught the restart, but gave away a needless penalty for crossing, and for the first timeNottinghamhad some territory and possession. They made this count when they too chose to go for the corner when they got another penalty. Whether the ball was actually kicked to touch is a matter of conjecture; but still they took the ball and drove their forwards over through some flimsy defending.
Arlidge converted, and only an excellent cover tackle from James Doherty prevented another score, but when Burrows and David Doherty made inroads to the home defence, another Ford kick extended the lead again.
Leeds looked comfortable, but on 35 minutes Notts drove from a lineout again, and although the visitors managed to slow it down, the ball was worked across for Savage to cross in the corner with two Leeds defenders hanging on to him. The ref was perfectly placed, but only after a chat with the TJ did he award the try. A good conversion made the score 17 – 23, andLeedshad one more chance prior to the interval, but Ford’s effort from the half way line drifted wide. Although a home player dropped the ball behind the line, Mr. Roberts decided it was tea time and blew for the break.
The second half started disastrously fo rLeeds.Wilson dropped the kick off, and although Ford cleared the lines, the hosts piled forward and again Savage was end of the move which saw him cross in the corner. Again Arlidge converted, and for the first time in the game,Leedswere behind.
They regained the lead when Savage blatantly obstructed McColl as he broke through and kicked ahead. Mr Roberts reached for the yellow card, and Joe once again put the ball between the sticks.
With the extra man we expected Leeds to move the ball about, but instead they became involved in a game of kick tennis, tactics which suited Nottingham as they tried to keep play inLeedshalf of the field. Leeds won a line out in the Notts half, but lost the ball, and when a high kick was delivered, Wilson again made a complete mess of catching the ball, and although he recovered, his pass to McColl was definitely in the ‘hospital’ category. Stevie dropped it, and only quick thinking by Ryan Burrows prevented a try, but only for a few minutes, as from the resulting scrum, the Notts pack again drove through some weak tackling to cross by the posts, Arlidge increased the lead, and Leeds now trailed by 5 points.
During this spell, Leedsconceded numerous free kicks and penalties, time wasting, pushing in the line out, crooked throws, scrum offences, all basic errors which more than negated the extra man advantage. A raft of replacements came on, but an incident in the 72nd minute probably summed upLeeds second half display. McColl collected a high kick on his own 22 with acres of space around him. He decided to spin the ball 30 yards across the pitch to Ford, who chose to kick downfield. His kick however hit the retreating Lucock and came back towards the Leeds line and into the hands of a home player. Leeds got in a tangle, conceded a penalty which Arlidge converted, and Leeds trailed by 8 points.
Leedsgot back into bonus point territory when Ford kicked another good penalty, but with the last play of the game some shocking passing in their own 22 saw the visitors driven backwards and another penalty awarded to the hosts. Somehow, Arlidge missed the target, andLeedshad the point, whether their second half display deserved it is another matter.
Lots of good things, especially the first half hour, but sadly the wheels came off as a result of a silly mistake. What Leeds lacked last night was an experienced leader to take control, but if they can cut down on the unforced errors they look a useful side.
After 30 minutes, 15 players were in contention for player of the match, after 80 not so many. Freddy (Eric) Burden and James Doherty were the pick of the backs, Lee Imiolek, Richard Beck and Ryan Burrows the pick of the pack. A close call, but my vote goes to Ryan Burrows, who gave a good display in both attack and defence.
Not the result we expected at half time maybe, but we are 1 point better off than we were this time last season. That is an improvement.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:08:07:11:53 by Wildwillie .
Hoping for better on friday!
as i couldn't remember the last time we won an opening away fixture, i went investigating. turns out it was back in the last century, at orrell. so the result at notts was nowt out of the ordinary for us..
***last away win in an opening fixture...***
Lots of positives but positives dont achieve promotion.
As for the team-talk, don't know about that one, but they allowed Nottingham to come at them like a battering ram, and they should have expected as much. As has already been alluded to, an old head was required to slow things down a bit and stem the home side's momentum. It wasn't there, though.
I'd have taken the bonus point prior to the game, but without taking anything away from Nottingham we should have held a 20-3 lead. That collapse worries me.
Miserati - and Proud to be!
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
The tide certainly had changed prior to half time despite Leeds still holding the lead. A fair point about needing an older head, Notts game management was better than Leeds in the second half annd their kicking game more effective
There were some shocking individual errors which I will not highlight but the lack of a steadying influence was key. Rowan was not as vocal as he needed to be although he played fairly well, Graham did not bring much when he came on in the set piece nor around the park and I believe Phil or Hannan would have been a better option.
As Mark has said, before the game I would have taken a losing BP but after the first 25 anything other than a BP win was a failure.
Notts started the second half fired up, we just didnt start. The decision to make wholesale substitutions is a typical "Leeds" problem and we never learn from it.
Post match, at least the players acknowledged the travelling support which was appreciated and something that has been lacking in recent history.
Finally, for those of you who think players don't care there were some players who were inconsolable after the final whistle. There were also some players who put their hoods up and left quickly through sheer anger at what had happened.
I think the forwards do need replacing - its such a physical game these days and the bench is there to be used but I'm not sure about replacing Docherty at 9 for example when he's playing well.
Miserati - and Proud to be!
Good sart but again we don't seem to be able to hold on to a lead.
Onwards and upwards.