Budgies’ feathers ruffled
Muddy Leeds players
By Gelbel
February 10 2013
They came, they saw, they might’ve conquered, but Newcastle did not come away with the cricket score I was expecting. Neither did Leeds Carnegie capitulate as they did on their first trip to Otley against lesser opposition than today’s. In the performance of the season a bit of good luck, a half decent referee and less squandering at the line-out could’ve seen more than a heroic bonus point.
But this was not a team heroic in defeat. This was a dominant Leeds team giving the ‘home’ fans what they wanted – a will to win, some grunt, a competitive scrum, very few lapses of discipline and very few schoolboy errors in horrible conditions. To please those beleaguered fans we saw Jimmy Gopperth flat on his backside and, after the final whistle, Dean Richards with a face like thunder.
It all started rather worryingly as Newcastle were all over Leeds from Ford’s low, hanging kick-off and, within minutes, were handed three points to Gopperth to put away. Leeds woke up and started to take the ball forward with good work from the centres. But in that type of drizzle that gets through to your bones, Leeds knocked on and from the resulting scrum Newcastle went over for their first try. 0-10 after 10 minutes and I expect many of the Leeds fans were expecting the flood gates to open. But, surprisingly, that was the only try Newcastle scored. It was not from the want of trying – Leeds did a tremendous job when they had to defend.
The Leeds forwards took the game to Newcastle and moved the ball in the opposition’s territory with Harris, Myerscough and Burrows leading the way. And this is the tactic they deployed for the remainder of the match. When the time was right they were passing the ball to the backs or Hampson was popping up making himself a nuisance. Knock-ons (caused by the weather – we even saw the best making the same mistake in similar conditions in Dublin later) or missed infringements by the referee (off-sides, not rolling away – the usual stuff Mr Gamage tends to miss), aided by poor lines outs (which were, by the way, the only problem with Leeds’ game today - why throw long and high in those conditions?) were the downfall of many of the attacks.
The forwards did not stop there, they started winning scrums – and even found an ally in the referee who penalised Newcastle time and again for not going straight or collapsing. It did take a while for Leeds to be awarded their first penalty due to the ref’s blinkers and Ford put a difficult kick away. He missed a later attempt as he slipped a bit in his walk up. It remained 3-10 at half time - despite great attacking from Leeds they couldn’t find the extra needed to make a break though. After their try the away team had very little of the ball. When they did, they looked dangerous in attack, and got close to the Leeds’ 5m line, only to be thwarted by the home side’s defence.
I don’t think I was the only one who thought Newcastle would come out with all guns blazing in the second half. They didn’t - from the off the Leeds pack took the game to the Championship leaders. While Newcastle didn’t get into Leeds’ half for most of the third quarter, their defence did stop Leeds from going over the white-wash on several occasions. Most of these attempts were from the forwards passing out wide to the backs.
Penalties were traded – Ford made it 6-10 before Gopperth stretched the lead to 6-13. He could’ve stretched it more but slipped and ended up on his bum at another attempt. Leeds carried on with their dominance in scrummaging and open play and were awarded for their efforts with another penalty. 9-13 and it stayed that way despite Leeds’ best efforts and some good defending on their part too.
Grins all round for the Carnegie fans. Not for Deano when cheered by the Falcons’ fans. Rumour has it he went ballistic the last time (the only time this season) his team didn’t get a 4-try bonus point. I’d love to be a fly on the way when he gives his team his views after today’s match.
A few thoughts – I wonder if Leeds could’ve crossed the line with bigger backs on the park? Both centres and Georgiou aren’t the largest and were easily brought down. Hurrah – I saw Rowen talking with the ref. and galvanising his team. But more, and most, importantly, I expect the Leeds pack to perform like they did today for the remainder of the season – and that includes the play-offs as, on today’s performance, a top 4 place is achievable.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:02:15:07:41:57 by Gelbel.
Still a great game to watch, and Leeds' best display of the season. For those of us who were in the Arctic in September, this was a massive improvement.
Leeds did try to play some running rugby, but like you say, there was a huge difference in size along the threequarter line, but that was the only difference between two very well matched teams.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
I have never had us down as a team to perform well slogging it out in the mud on a wet day, so pleasantly surprised by that element of our game
I also thought Craig Hampson had a great game
Quote:almostatyke
Nice summary Gel. If we can keep this up the play-offs are a formality.
From the man who gave us this
"England to come second after a valiant effort, France to win".
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
I would just like to add a rare word of praise for DE - seems he (and his coaching staff) had prepared his team well for this match and got his selections right.
A bit more raw power in the backs may have even edged us a win...but am more than happy to take some points away. These bonus points...and again next week if possible?.... may come to make a massive difference at the end of the season?
I felt good to be a Leeds supporter at Otley...and all things are possible if we just get our heads down...do the simple things well... and show that tremendous commitment for the remainder of the season.
After today I definitely don't think Falcons are unassailable...we could be in with a fighting chance!! Well done lads..great game...and another biggun needed at Donny!!
Bring back the drums!!We need more noise!!
Delighted to see our front row embarrass the budgies. I thought Ben Harris played well last week especially as a ball carrier. This week he was MoM and totally dominated his oppo. Outstanding performance from the pack. Also very impressed with Hampson's game management. Both he and little doc I notice are running the Marshall line which is proving effective.
Having said that, he'll probably be sat at home next week, while baby Doc sits on the bench.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:02:10:21:00:26 by Haxbytyke.
[quote Haxbytyke][quote almostatyke]Nice summary Gel. If we can keep this up the play-offs are a formality.[/quote]From the man who gave us this
"England to come second after a valiant effort, France to win".
A fair cop gov, white flag already raised on that issue, hope I'm not wrong twice
Regarding Fordy, if Clegg is going to Falcons next season, and their fans near us today think he is, then the best he should get at Leeds is the bench.
Over the last few weeks OUR players have fronted up, and played as a team. They'll still be here next season, will Clegg, Frost or Currie? Somehow I doubt it.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
EDF Trophy Winners 2007
B & I Cup Winners 2010
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
We all spent quite a lot of time pre-xmas bemoaning the lack of cover at 10 - if JF had got injured we would have been stuffed.
The Scrumhalf situation is a strange one - I very much like J Doc and Hampson, for me J Doc would have been just first choice - until today when I though Hampo played a blinder. Signing a scrumhalf loanee would not have been top of my priority list BUT say we did make the playoffs and one of Hampo or J Doc got injured then we might be in need of cover.
I know we have good players coming through the academy BUT overall we are a very young side, we function better with a blend of experience and youth.In this league a team of just academy players would not have the nous to close out matches, and would probably be mullered each week.
And I agree with Spike - we have all been critical of the team selections - but today's seemed to be the right one for this game.
Everything about today was good from a Leeds point of view, can we say more than that?
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
to a bright future for our young team .
I hope they are still playing for L/C in a seasons time .
Sign 'em now.
sent off carried off never backed off
Quote:yeldor
Very encouraging performance today gives us good reason to look
to a bright future for our young team .
I hope they are still playing for L/C in a seasons time .
Sign 'em now.
Sources close to the club reckon that contract negotiations are way ahead of where we were last season at this time.
Quote:Haxbytyke
Another reason things went well today, in my opinion, was that we didn't bring the replacements on just for changes sake.
Agreed. I was dreading the 60/70 minute wholesale changes and, for once, that did not happen. I hope lessons have been learnt.
On the subject of loanees - I thought Dom Moon made a big impact as soon as he came on, making about 8 yards with the ball stuffed under one arm, battling them off with the other.
So missed our best performance of the season....
Arghhhhh
Well done the lads an excellent losing bonus!
Up the Carnegie TYKES
Line-outs were the only thing we were second best. Newcastle did a great job of disrupting our throw, but they were trying to hard to over complicate things. There was one I recall where I don;t even think we got anybody up as the players were scrabbling for position.
The last line-out of the game, a simple option going up two was won cleanly. Why oh why didn't they do that sooner.
Is Griffin injured? I think he could have been a great impact sub, where running hard and straight are exactly what you need.
The forwards did well in the conditions. At times in the second half I couldn't tell which team was which - they were all playing in brown by that point!
Overall, I was happy with the result, but we could have beaten them if we'd been slightly luckier, which must smart for the boys.
Newcastle are not the superteam that they appeared to be at the start of the season. Let's hope that we face them in the playoffs!
Suffering on the Leeds and Yorkshire roller-coaster since 2001
Quote:John R
And at the last minute, I wasn't able to go to Otley yesterday..............................
So missed our best performance of the season....
Arghhhhh
Well done the lads an excellent losing bonus!
Up the Carnegie TYKES
Me too, although there was nothing last minute about it, the early kick off did for me.
Excellent write up though Gel
Quote:Gelbel
The joys of a voice recorder on my phone Ellishicks. I end up nattering to myself and making the odd note that way.
Oh that's where you kept going!! Thought I was boring you with my , 'what happened there then?', questions!!
Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It
'proficiscor in una'