Attack! Attack! Attack! - Defend! Defend! Defend!

Attack Attack Attack
By Leedsexile on 22/04/2003
April 22 2003

Cliched it might be, but if ever a game could be categorised as a game of two halves then this was it. The Tykes were superb in the first half, defending well and at times frantically while being clinical in attack. The second half was total defence.

The game started badly for the Irish with Venter going off with knee trouble early on and it was a loss that they struggled to cope with during the first half. Immediately afterwards with the Irish rearguard still re grouping, a neat kick through by Ross saw an Irish infringement 35m out and straight in front. Up stepped BVS and Leeds took the lead.

Leeds defended well and again hit Irish on the break. A midfield melee saw a heavy collision between BVS and Danaher. Danaher was penalised but the big man went down with an injury he was subsequently to leave the field as a result of. Ross took charge of the kick and Leeds were 6-0 up. Irish hit back immediately though as Leeds were penalised for handing in a ruck and Everitt halved the deficit.

Irish were not playing badly but the truth of the matter was that they could not finish a move off. Every time Leeds attacked they looked dangerous. George Harder – man of the match by some way constantly made ground as he burst through Irish tacklers. Diego was superb in broken play and very reminiscent of Jason Robinson. He should remain at full back and although PD does not see Scabs as a centre, I believe the experiment should be tried again.

Ross benefited from Irish ill discipline when the referee marched a penalty forwards 10 yards into kicking range, Leeds 9-3 up and bossing the game. Leeds were determined to score points on every attack, Ross also went close with a drop-goal before the try of the game. With the home fans hollering for a forward pass and for touch, Leeds shipped the ball from left to right and then back again in a move spanning the length of the field before Dickens was on hand to touch down to the delight of the visitors. Ross tacked on the extra two and Leeds were in dreamland at 16-3. Ross soon added a drop-goal to take it to 19-3 at half time.

Half time saw the introduction of Mark Mapletoft for the Irish and he made an immediate impression. A comedy knock on in the Leeds 22 stemming from Ross’s pass to Diego led to a penalty which Tofty converted. The Irish sensed that they could turn it round and it is testament to the display from Mapletoft that he was Connor O’Shea’s man of the match.

Defend Defend Defend!

The Irish huffed and puffed at the Leeds line and persistent infringement by Leeds led to Cammie Mather taking a 10 minute breather. Leeds defended so well though and only conceded 3 from the original penalty whilst he was off. The Irish did bag a try in the far corner, good passing across the line from a 5m scrum after an Irish player was held up over the line gave the score a worrying 11-19 feel. A further penalty made it 14-19 to the Tykes. Entering the last 10 Irish were awarded a penalty on half way, this proved to be a crucial moment. Mapletoft could not convert it and it was to be Irish’s last throw of the die. An excellent midfield break by the superb George Harder led to a try in the corner for Murphy. Ross added salt to the wound by booting the conversion to give Leeds the win.