A standing ovation
Winning players at awards
By Gelbel
May 12 2013
A fun bus with a loo! Wow, that’s not happened for a long time and just shows the numbers of supporters setting out from Headlingley Stadium on a sunny Sunday morning. Supporters who joined up with others from near and far to sing, cheer and chant the players from Leeds Carnegie to within a whisker of the RFU Championship play-off final. But would different tactics had made the difference?
Leeds were defending a narrow five point lead going in to the second semi-final. They knew they could not sit back to defend that lead. They knew they had to get deep in to Newcastle’s territory for the chance to get more points but they went a strange way about it. You do need to have the ball to be in with a chance of scoring and kicking it away means you do not have the ball. Newcastle came out all guns blazing and Leeds started a long 80 minutes of defending as if their lives depended on it. Uncharacteristically McColl spilt the ball. This lead to an intense attack on the line for which Newcastle were rewarded by Gopperth putting away a penalty.
Leeds carried on defending and managed to get hold of the ball. All that happened was it was punted straight down the field and back into Newcastle’s hand with virtually no chasing from the Leeds’ players. And that happened virtually every time Leeds got the ball. At this first attempt though, Tait didn’t run back to us but kicked into touch. Leeds squandered the line out. The Newcastle attack continued, another penalty was awarded and Gopperth duly obliged.
Yet more attacking play from Newcastle and Leeds were defending like demons. Buzz was popping up all over the place and disrupting the attacks. But another penalty was awarded and Gopperth missed a relatively simple kick. Freer was pinged for a high tackle and it was soon 12-0. Newcastle fluffed the restart and Ford opened Leeds’ account. Leeds were penalised for taking a man out in the air. Well sort of in the air and sort of taking him out – but laws are laws and Mr Barnes made sure they were applied where Leeds were concerned. Ford managed a good punt down field that allowed Leeds to build an attack which earned them a penalty. Unfortunately the swirling wind meant Ford’s attempt was wide.
Newcastle came out attacking but Leeds held strong and were defending like their lives’ depended on it. A great scrum from Leeds saw them push up the field and Ford popped over a drop goal. 12-6. The kitchen sink was being thrown and still Leeds kept Newcastle out. A couple of penalties were given away but Gopperth missed both. And now the whole kitchen department of B&Q, Homebase and IKEA put together was coming at Leeds and the defence wasn’t breached. When Leeds did get the ball they kicked it down field to set up another Newcastle attack. A Leeds player was deemed off-side and Gopperth kept his cool to convert. 15-6 but with all to play for as there was just 4 points in it.
More defence from Leeds and an unprecedented third miss from Gopperth. More kicking from Leeds going straight back in to Newcastle’s hand or kicks going straight out from outside the 22 and one going over the dead ball line. With a few minutes left on the clock Leeds had some opportunities to attack. A Leeds player was brought down in the air but nothing was awarded for it. Griffin was pinged for a forward pass but the ref hadn’t seen the couple in front of his own nose by Newcastle in an attack that was taken out wide. I’m not saying these were game changers but there was much inconsistency from the premiership grade referee. More attacks from Leeds but all from too far out. Newcastle got the ball and kicked it out. But time was not up, another attempt from Leeds after Newcastle kicked the ball straight out on the full. Griffin knocked on, Newcastle cleared the scrum and that was it.
Post match the players were bitterly disappointed – the game had not gone as they hoped or planned. But if you’d told me in a fog bound Jersey airport at Christmas we’d be in the play-offs, scoring more tries than table-topping Newcastle and losing out by a four point margin over 160 minutes I’d have said you needed your head seeing to.
So the season’s over. A season that have seen a squad of youngsters come of age and become a team who play for each other and play exciting rugby; a team that is going to be something to be reckoned with next season. A team that has made it the best season I’ve enjoyed in my twelve year of supporting Leeds.
I think Leeds have won many fans this season - especially in the past few weeks, let’s hope they come along to support the team next season. Let all supporters, old and new, give a standing ovation to show how proud we are of this team and how proud they should be of themselves.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:06:16:16:59:43 by Wildwillie .
Bring on next season .
sent off carried off never backed off
My moment of despair this season was at Donny - seems a long long time ago now
A word too for the fans who kept at it all afternoon willing the boys along, well done to them.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
Just need to echo what a fantastic end to the season it has been with a magnificent seven wins before today. This team was not only winning but doing so playing exciting attractive rugby.
Fantastic effort. Well done Players and Coaches. The fan base will increase if they keep this up which will in turn promote better performances from the team. We didn't want promotion this year but a season dominating the championship will stand them in good stead for a proper assault.
Quote:Time Trial
Just need to echo what a fantastic end to the season it has been with a magnificent seven wins before today. This team was not only winning but doing so playing exciting attractive rugby.
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Yep - all good stuff!
Fantastic end to the season to think we were only 4 points away from the runaway leaders of our division especially remarkable for those who witnessed the towelling we got when we last appeared against them in the Artic in September.
Already looking foreword to hitting the ground running next season in what should be a landmark season.
Well done to everyone associated with our magnificent organisation you have been good to watch after the rubbish we have witnessed before.
ultimately experiance told and we didnt take our chances
great young team which will get better with age and experience
I dont want to quibble but id have played with the wind in the first half which would have put more pressure on the falcons and less on our youngsters
Exactly how I feel, Gel, after 11 years.
I thoroughly enjoyed it yesterday and the way they defended their line in front of us at the end reminded me of the Powergen side. Who would have thought that we could do that at the beginning of the season? This is a real team who are great to watch - what a pity it wasn't a proper summer day to let them express themselves.
I do give credit to DE but I don't need to be coached into that by NNS. It's the Leeds nomads players I've been watching that have made this season so good. I'm disappointed for them that they couldn't quite make it yesterday but what a season to look forward to in August!
I think if we had played to our strengths we could've sneaked it however, I was also at KP back in September and if anyone had said then that we would be a match for them by May I'd have thought they were mad.
The lads have been magnificent for the last couple of months and the one thing that stands out for me is the team spirit that is clearly present within the whole squad. The difference between now and this time last season could not be more marked.
This season has never been about promotion for us, it was always about team building in readiness for a promotion attempt next season, and from that point of view, mission well and truly accomplished.
Myself and the boy are very proud to be Leeds supporters. Very well done lads, next season will be ours.
I wasn't born in Yorkshire but I got here as soon as I could
Credit to all involved, including the back room staff, a lot of whom are leaving, including Giles!
Good luck to all!
Next year a new Chapter starts in Carnegie History and I for one, can't wait to be a part of it!!
Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It
'proficiscor in una'
Still recovering my voice after the exertions at KP as no doubt the rest of the Leeds crowd are.
Great effort by the Young Leeds squad. No MOM for me. It's the whole squad! For 30 minutes in each half the defence was awesome. The other 10 mins in each half with ball in hand and moving it about we looked good and probably more likely to touch down.
If only... It's spilt milk so no use in crying over it!
Looking forward to season 2013/2014 already. Only FOUR months to go. Have a good holiday Boys and come back fighting!
My slight concern along with the comment what if we had played at HC all season?
The atmosphere for the first leg was awsome- just like it used to be at Leeds, I feel Newcastle started that feeling but the Leeds fans joined in and created a great atmosphere. Few if any of this team will have ever played in such a stadium with the fan noise so loud I hope they enjoyed it and want to replicate it next year. Can we start next year where we have left off?
You never know I may buy a season ticket once again?
Quote:Bran
....
You never know I may buy a season ticket once again?
20 Years old and thrown in to the second row in a game of this magnitude against players with years of experience, he didn't look out of place.
If forwards don't reach their peak until their 30's then his potential has to be massive - get him signed up!