Silverware comes to Headingley
By Haxbytyke
April 1 2013
Leeds Carnegie became the proud owners of the Inaugural Yorkshire Regiment trophy with a deserved victory over Rotherham Titans at Headingley Carnegie. After a promising start the game, like parts of the pitch, disintegrated into a poor scrappy affair.
Leeds kicked off, and ominously the first scrum had to be moved and reset due to the pitch cutting up, but it didn’t deter Leeds who moved the ball well, and they took a deserved lead after only 6 minutes when Calum Green drove hard into the Titans defence, and when the ball came back, Leeds went down the short side and Matt Smith shrugged off a defender before feeding Chris Walker, who ran hard to cross by the corner flag. Clegg added a good conversion from wide out, and Leeds were playing some attractive attacking rugby. One flowing 50 yard move only ended when Clark, a late replacement for David Doherty, was bundled into touch by the corner flag.
The only reward for their superiority was 3 more penalties from Rory Clegg, and Rotherham’s only threat came when Charlie Mulchrone took a quick penalty and scampered through some woeful Leeds tackling only to see a team mate drop the ball.
Leeds went in at half time 16 points to the good, but they must have heard one of Diccon’s legendary half time talks, because the second half was poor fare from both sides.
Clegg increased the lead by three points when Garry Law was penalised for starting a midfield skirmish, and shortly after Hampson made a great break in midfield to set up another attack, but again this came to nothing. Roth gained a consolation try with 15 minutes left when Law crossed following a good move, his touchline conversion bringing the score to 19 – 7.
The raft of replacements followed, and nothing much happened until Ryan Burrows picked up the ball near his own line, and after bumping a couple of Titans out of the way he set off upfield, he rounded the full back near the half way line, only to be scragged by his shirt and dragged down after a 60 yard run. Matt Clark was on his shoulder with a clear run, but Buzz couldn’t get the ball out.
That looked to be it, but in the final minute Leeds won a scum just inside their own half, and the ball was shipped out to McColl who brushed aside 2 would be tacklers and sprinted 60 yards to cross in the corner. That completed the scoring, and Leeds had won a very scrappy game 24 – 7.
The result also kept alive Leeds’ hopes of a play off spot, if they win their game at Moseley next week, a top four finish is in their own hands.
A good team effort, with Scott Freer and Chris Walker leading a good forwards effort, but in a close call my man of the match is going to Craig Hampson. He controlled the game behind the scrum very well today, and if he learns to put the ball into the scrum and not delay it and concede free kicks, he could be a very good player indeed.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:04:08:19:08:10 by Gelbel.
Hopefully some photos of the game to follow.
I was throughly bored with the second half until Buzz's break, then 'that' scrap (disgusting really but it past the time). Still Mr Gel broke his losing streak voodoo which has to be a bonus. Interestingly, he comment that Leeds were playing as a team. He's the first to admit he's not the most knowledgeable on the nuances of the game, so it shows how far thus squad have come. Given his last outing was Jersey away that's praise indeed.
Quote:North needs success
. Quite clear pace was sadly lacking on the wings otherwise we'd have had the bonus point.
Funnily enough I was talking to a Leeds winger, who has pace, and was stood wearing a yellow hat, before the game. He didn't play yesterday, because...... he is on loan to Rotherham, and probably signing for them next season!!
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
I agree totally with the 'winger' discussion above. What is the point of playing centers on the wing, when we have people with real pace either out on loan or simply not selected?
Diccon, that's bloody stupid !
The first half was a joy, the second was quite frankly, awful and gives the clue to why we are not home and dry in the play-off's already.
How many times this season have we dominated the first half and then gone to sleep in the second? Buzz, Kirsty and Jacob being the exceptions consistantly.
I was about to add:
We need a five pointer on Friday at Moseley to stand any chance of getting into the play-off's now, as neither Bedford away, nor Nottingham at home will be any walkover as Donny, Roth or Mose should have or will be.
Better selection would help. The forwards are gelling quite well. I liked the look of Currie and Ben Harris had the best game that I have seen him play. Freer was excellent and close to the MoM I would have thought.
The backs are more of an issue as we are not finishing things well.
Do you recall the old adage:
Forwards win games, the backs decide by how much !
Sadly at the moment, our lot don't !
Up the Carnegie TYKES !
Quote:farmertyke
Haxby and I agree on sartorial dressing, poor farmers and the merits of Ladies day at Aintree. But I cannot share his enthusiasm for Mr Hampson. In the early part of the season when young Doherty was the preferred choice we scored tries for fun. Coincidence..... I do think Scott Freer had a cracker, lets hope he can keep off the injury list.
I don't think there is much between our scrum halves, and I don't like to see either of them messing about when they should be feeding the scrum, but, in my humble opinion, yesterday, Hampo had a blinder. Roll on Friday, Ladies Day at Aintree.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
I wasn't born in Yorkshire but I got here as soon as I could