It was good but is it enough?


In form.
By WW
March 23 2016

Last weekend Yorkshire Carnegie beat Jersey to reach the cup final. This Sunday the lads play Bedford Blues in a festive fixture which sees fourth against third as the league programme moves into it's last month. On paper we look to be in a strong position but last weekend's match raised as many questions as it answered.....

A win is a win and you can only play what is in front of you. Yes that is true. A lot of good things came out of the Jersey game. The continuing rehabilitation of Fred Burdon, the interplay of forwards & backs and the outstanding form of some of our players spring to mind. Fred got half a game on Sunday. That can only be a good thing going into the home straight of the league season. We could well be needing him if and when we get to the play-offs. Despite the size and strength of the Jersey forwards we secured plenty of ball. Our backs linked well with the pack resulting in some exciting rugby and some nice tries. Several key players are coming into form at just the right time. Buzz, Wakker, Jonah, Sir Kev and O'Donnell all played well against Jersey. Sinfield continues to improve despite his admission this week that the transition has been harder than he had imagined.

The bad things apparent last week seem to recur with alarming regularity. We all know what they are - defence, conceding penalties, game management & unforced errors. I do not intend to dwell on why they occur but I will question the efficacy of any remedies that have been applied over the last seven months. At one point, some months ago, Brush stated that they players had to be accountable and that if they did not improve they would be replaced. This has not been repeated recently.

We beat Jersey by one point, scoring five but conceding six tries in the process. On Sunday it is to be hoped that we might shut out the Blues a bit more effectively than we did the Islanders. If not then as long as we win the game I will be satisfied with that.

Bedford sit in third place in the Championship with the same number of points that we have but have won 11 games to our 10. Bedford have the second best attack( after Bristol) but have conceded 60 points more than we have. This does point to a high scoring game in the offing. In the reverse fixture down at Goldington Road we snatched a 22-21 defeat out of the jaws of victory. Some of you will remember a defeat by Bedford at Otley a couple of years ago when we shipped 50 points. I prefer to remember the game at Headingley a few years before that when a young Kearnan Myall collected the kick-off and ran through the Blues' defence untouched. 

If you detect a lack of cynicism in this preview you are correct. We are not playing as well as I thought we would be at this stage of the season but our destiny is still in our own hands. Win the games in front of us, no matter how many mistakes we make, and we will achieve our objectives. We do not even need to win all of them. A win on Sunday would be nice but it is not essential. Two wins will see us in the play-offs. Players who might be tired of this league will then see a window of opportunity for both fame and glory.

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season I can guarantee one thing. It will not be dull! So I will be on the rollercoaster on Sunday as will lots of others. We may get exasperated but we will not be bored. Carnegie to win by 6 in a high scoring game.

C'mon Tykes!

 

 

It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: TykesRugby.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2016 14:23

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:04:03:18:17:10 by Gelbel.

Re: It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: almostatyke (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2016 16:05

Excellent non-cynical preview WW.

Re: It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: Haxbytyke (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2016 16:12

Fine preview WW, but I disagree about the winning on Sunday not being essential. The sooner we get the wins we need, and 2 should be enough, we can stop looking over our shoulders. Bedford have to play us, Donny, and Bristol as well as Pirates, and even though Jersey are effectively 3 wins away from catching either us or the Blues, they have what appears to be an easier run in up to the final game of the season.
We don't want to be going to St. Peters on that final Saturday having to win to make the play offs.

COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:03:23:23:03:59 by Haxbytyke.

Re: It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: Bobba (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2016 16:14

Good preview WW. I'm hoping for a Leeds win in a tight game. The win would be handy as it would propel us to third place above Bedford. With a tough run in with London Welsh (A), Nottingham (H), Jersey (A), any advantage we have to stay in third spot above Bedford has got to be good and possibly help to avoid Bristol in the semis of the play offs. Then again, as we all have learned at our cost, at Headingley nothing is straight forward.

Re: It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: farmertyke (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2016 17:32

A fine preview WW. But I agree with my learned friend Haxby. We need a win and we need to play 80 minutes with as few penaltys concerded as possible. We were very lucky on Sunday.......and we had a strong team out.

Re: It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: LS3 (IP Logged)
Date: 24/03/2016 19:41

Excellent article (as always) WW

Re: It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: SideStep (IP Logged)
Date: 26/03/2016 00:10

Will be a tough challenge good to see Bedford back in the top 4. I remember when Myall was getting that try i believe they had Billy Twelve bellies in the centres and could see he would be special. Think we'll do it within 7 points.

The first Leeds Tykes child mascot...#leedswasps0203season. #cheersbentos

Re: It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: Carnegiette1 (IP Logged)
Date: 26/03/2016 20:16

Great preview WW

Though I would rather qualify for the playoffs sooner rather than later

Re: It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: Selby Kev (IP Logged)
Date: 26/03/2016 21:48

Excellent review. Agree with Farmer and Hax. Critical game.We are a target team to beat and could still come unstuck. Five pointer miracle would be nice??!!Need it to be a done deal before we fly away to Jersey.

Worried a bit about our defence which seemed to shore up Ok against Moseley but looked erratic against Jersey....who impressed!...A bit soft on their mauls and less than effective with our own?? Hope the new thinking beds in fast?If their 10 had converted better...well? Tight games and small margins from now on...all kicks and 'give away' penalties crucial.Hope Hodgson has been practising those long angles...we need em all!

If the scrum takes control early on I think we can do it?

Re: It was good but is it enough?
Posted by: Wildwillie (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2016 08:56

Probably just my failing memory but I think our defence is better when Pistol Pete is playing, though our attack may be less incisive.

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