Moseley swamped by Tidal Wave

Cricket supporters at Headingley Carnegie are used to seeing the scoreboard showing half centuries, but for the second game in succession, the rugby scoreboard went past the 50 mark. This was due to an absolutely superb display of rugby by the home team, the likes of which we have not seen for a very long time.

Moseley kicked off, and 30 seconds later they were lined up again, this time behind their own posts. Leeds had caught the kick, moved it along the line, and Lozowski dummied, shot through a gap and sent the supporting Jonah Holmes scorching in from 50 yards. Moseley applied a bit of pressure, but good defence from Vickerman and Burdon kept them out. Leeds got hold of the ball, made good ground, and when Vickerman went clear, Dave Doherty was on his shoulder to go over by the posts.

Leeds attacked again, and looked to have lost the chance to score when they lost the ball close to the line, but a defender made a complete horlicks of a clearance, and when the ball rolled along the line, Doherty was again on hand to dot down.

Craig Hampson had been influential in most of Leeds attacks, and when he picked up from the base of the scrum on halfway, and shot over from 50 yards. Leeds had the bonus point wrapped up with only 10 minutes on the clock. Lozowski had tagged on all of the extras, and it was 28 nil.

About now the referee seemed to decide if Moseley couldn’t cope he would give them a hand, and ably supported by his on field assistant (Moseley no. 5), he awarded a string of penalties against the home side, a number of which appeared to be the result of guesswork.. Leeds defence held firm and Lozowski sent a towering kick upfield. Leeds eventually had a line out some 30 yards out, and when Smith produced yet another clean take, and delivery, Hampson was away again, a dummy, and his pace taking him over in the corner. 

A marginal offside saved Moseley shortly after, when Burdon, and then Doherty kicked the ball into a big open space, only for Vickerman to be adjudged offside

Leeds had a bit more defending to do, but once again it was Hampson who sent a searing kick downfield for Griffin to chase. The defender could only play the ball into touch, and from the resulting line out and maul, Hampson took the narrow side to send Griffin in for Leeds 6^th try of the afternoon.

Another flowing move saw Doherty knock the ball on, and then Hampson, who had tormented the visitors all afternoon was shown a yellow card, for pulling a Moseley shirt. The half time whistle came, and Leeds, quite rightly, were cheered loudly from the field.

The second half had a scrappy start, and Moseley actually drove a maul across the line to score, but it wasn’t long before Hampson broke clear and sent Burrows surging for the line. He was stopped, as was Burdon, over the line, but from the resulting free kick, a long pass saw Holmes cross by the corner flag for an unconverted try.

At this point all the Leeds replacements were on the field and it took a while for them to find their feet. Doherty was pushed into touch as he was about to go clear, and another yellow card, this time for David Sisi, again left the hosts short handed.

It didn’t matter. Burrows tore down the wing and when play moved in field, Lozowski, chipped over the defence, juggled and caught the bounce, and rounded the full back to go underneath the sticks. A successful conversion brought up the half century. Leeds finished the scoring with two scintillating tries. From deep in their own 22, Burrows, Vickerman, Burdon and Lozowski combined to provide the space for Dave Doherty to claim his hat trick, but on an afternoon which saw some brilliant scores the best was yet to come. Again from inside their own half Leeds supported and offloaded in tremendous fashion. At least 7 pairs of hand moved the ball 50 yards at speed and mesmerised the visitors, and it was fitting that it was Ryan Burrows who took the last pass to gallop the remaining 30 yards to cross beneath the bar. Lozowski did the rest, and the scoring was complete.

Leeds have created a bit of a siege mentality in defence, when they have to tackle they do, and no better was this illustrated with the last play of the game when a Moseley attacker tried to break clear only to be met with a crunching tackle from Rob Vickerman. Rob may not be the quickest player on the park, but he can certainly tackle.

A very tricky conundrum for the choice of man of the match. In the forwards the line out was better than it has been for weeks, clean catching and good delivery, although at times the set piece didn’t look reassuringly solid. Ryan Burrow is a machine, and when Chris Walker joined the fray, he again showed what a talented young player he is. In the backs, well, have Hampo or Burdon ever had a better game in a Leeds shirt, I doubt it: Holmes and Doherty had the visitors panicking every time they touched the ball, but after much conjecture, I’m giving the pop to Alex Lozowski. Some outstanding attacking play creating huge gaps for his mates to run onto, clever improvisation, and not least some big tackling when required.

Downside, of course, the penalty count, I’d be interested to see the comparisons. I’m not sure how much was due to Leeds indiscipline, or some average officiating, but I do know it could be costly against a better team. Nevertheless, 5 more points in our push for promotion and a healthy addition to the point’s difference. Leeds now sit in pole position, the top points scorers in the league and although teams around them have a game in hand if Leeds keep winning, other results don’t matter.

A superb performance, a shame only 1,982 were there to see it.