Now The Dust Has Settled.
By Haxbytyke
June 1 2015
Although the season ended for Yorkshire Carnegie at the end of April, it has taken until the end of May, well into the cricket season, to finally determine who would be promoted to the Aviva Premiership. After two exciting games, Worcester Warriors make an immediate return to the Promised Land, but before the season is completely forgotten, maybe it’s worth a quick look at where it all went wrong for YC.
Even before a ball had been kicked, there was turmoil at Headingley. Head coach Jimmy Lowes had upped sticks to return to his rugby league roots, and at the 11th hour Gary Mercer was appointed in his place. Tommy McGee took charge for the first game, while Ming settled in, and despite everything YC had a good win down in Cornwall and things didn’t look too bad.
However, within a week a pattern began to emerge of YC taking a hold of a game, only to then throw away decent sized leads. This was to prove costly, as, in my opinion, had they been able to close out even 3 of these game, they would have featured in the end of season play-offs.
YC turned victory into defeat in the games against Nottingham, against Bristol twice, Bedford and London Scottish, as well as scraping a last minute draw, at home, against a 13 man Plymouth. Leeds looked clueless at times, and it wasn’t a great surprise when Gary Mercer and the club parted company. Tommy McGee stepped into the breach but he was left with a side who had won plaudits for their style of play the previous season but now looked anything but a team with play off aspirations.
There were also home defeats in the two Yorkshire derbies, the Rotherham game being a contender for the worst game seen anywhere last season.
Some big victories in the B and I cup could not mask the shortcomings, but a hard fought win at Jersey at Christmas time suggested better things lay ahead, but it was February before YC won another game. However, the week after, Doncaster tore Leeds to ribbons and some supporters feared relegation was more likely than a top four finish, even more so when Rotherham comprehensively completed the double over a weary looking side.
By the middle of March, Tommy McGee became the third coach to leave the club, and the Board quickly installed Bryan Redpath to take charge. This had a positive effect; as Leeds went on to win 5 of their last 6 games, only the Warriors proving capable of inflicting a defeat.
Injuries to key players didn’t help. Beck, Myerscough, Smith, Beech, Holmes and Burdon missed much of the season, but when they were fit, they certainly made a difference.
At the end of it all, 6th place was the final position, but Leeds had ended the season well. Three very good players decided to move on, but recruitment seems to have been good, so this now needs to be transformed into a promotion push next time round. With Bryan Redpath at the helm, there is much to look forward to!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:07:10:06:54:27 by Wildwillie .
Time to draw a line under the season and start afresh.
The team need to recover and come back fresh, they and the club need to engage the fans from the off. The very first game needs to be explosive, win or lose and the first game at HC (not home game the first one played at Headingley) needs to be started at the first kick and finished when the last drops of energy have been spent. Win or lose the way the team starts at home is going to e massive, the way they get the crowd involved in the game has to be greater if we are Yorkshire Carnegie it's time to get the crowd singing it again...
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
I hope the club put a massive display on first home game it will shape the fan base for the whole season. I they can perform before the freezing cold wet weather arrives people may continue to watch later. Might be nice if the wind drops at some time this year too but thats keely donavans fault.....
I also believe that we have in place a team from the coaches to the players that will bring in a good crowd and the Sinfield attraction will be only a good thing for the club.
We are going in the right direction as a club for the first time in a long time and it is a very nice feeling.
I know that the round trip for me is around 500 miles but as the proclaimers sang I would walk it to see us go up!!!
May do it for charity perhaps (NOT)
Yorkshire Carnegie
Redpath on Friendlies:
Fylde away 15 Aug:
Two more in planning; 1 away against local side; 1 home.
Radio Aire