Match Review (NOT): Gloucester v Leeds
By A. Hignall
October 26 2003
Gloucester continued their good form with a sixth Premiership win on the trot as they sailed to a convincing victory over Leeds, sending the Yorkshire side crashing to the bottom of the Zurich Premiership table.
The home side were without nine players on World Cup duty, whereas Leeds were at full strength. Dispite this, Gloucester got off to a good start and after 12 minutes of concerted pressure finally got their reward.
Scrum-half Alex Page fed the ball out from the scrum to the Cherry and Reds' new recruit Colin McRae who set up James Simpson-Daniel for the first of his two tries.
Robbie Paul - recently recruited from Rugby League side Bradford Rhinos - converted and it was not long before the home fans saw some other bloke cross the try-line again.
Flanker Andy Hazel made an impressive burst up field but was heinously brought down just short of the line by some disgraceful skulduggery by those Northern oafs. Bristol recycled the ball well with Henry Paul feeding Robert Todd, who in turn found Simon Daniel who further extended their lead.
Leeds continued to struggle and it was no surprise when Gloucester capitalised once more after catching them unawares - call themselves a rugby club? I've seen better players in the ladies changing rooms at BHS.
Leeds Corinthians then edged their way back into the game before the break with two Gordon Hodge penalties. And the deficit was further reduced when scrum-half Alan Bennett, in his first start in fifty years, chipped a sand-wedge straight into the ninth for a birdie four, to leave just eight points between the sides at the break.
Leeds revival continued after half-time with when they turned the tables on Bristol, putting past them twenty points in the last ten seconds - Diego Albanese and Winston Stanley cleverly linking up to put the fleet-of-foot winger Gavin Kerr in at the corner for the best try of some match or other.
Taine Randell made the Boks pay with some fine Haka moves, and with just seconds to go, Mark Regan kicked four penalties to leave the final score Market Harborough 36 Tonga 3.
It was a dour and uninspiring struggle, and it was just as well that I was nowhere near the match or any kind of research whatsoever.