Sarries fightback in vain as Tykes triumph

By Jason Harris (filed: 12/10/03)
October 13 2003

Despite a terrific second half fightback at Headingley on Sunday, Saracens left West Yorkshire empty handed as two late Leeds Tykes tries sealed a home victory and denied travelling the Men in Black a bonus point.

Trailing 28-8 at half time, Saracens staged a rousing comeback after the break to level matters at 31-31, but instead of capitalising on the momentum they had gathered, two mistakes at the death handed the win to the hosts.

Leeds were first out of the blocks and had secured their bonus point after just 38 minutes when no8 Dan Hyde crossed for their fourth try. Hooker Rob Rawlinson opened the scoring after just four minutes from a catch and drive lineout and Dan Scarbrough extended the Tykes lead when he went over just four minutes later. Duncan Hodge added one conversion to make it 12-0 to Leeds.

Andy Goode reduced the arrears with a penalty and a spectacular 70-metre try. The Sarries stand-off took a quick tap just outside his own 22, ran ahead and chipped the ball foward to regarther and outrun the Tykes cover. Unfortunately for Goode, he was probably a little too breathless to add the extras and that was the last of Sarries scoring for the first period.

Leeds, of course, were by no means finished. Hodge added a penalty before Phil Chistophers scored Leeds' best try of the afternoon. A solo 50 metre effort on 33 minutes putting the home side into a 25-8 lead. Fullback Tim Walsh completed the first half rout with a penalty goal in the eigth minute of injury time and Sarries looked dead and buried.

But Saracens rose to the huge challenge facing them and began to chip away at the 20 point disadvatage.

Goode and Walsh exchanged penalties to take the score to 31-11 and that became 31-14 as the Sarries man added another a few minutes later.

Saracens'second try from Ben Johnston was just as spectacular as the first as he ran in from deep inside is own half. Goode converted and landed another penalty and suddenly Sarries were within one converted try of the Tykes at 31-24.

The run of play was certainly with the visistors as they continually pressurised the Leeds line. Several times they were repelled by stout Tykes defence and the whilstle of referee Goodliffe as the home side were penalised for misemeanours around the ruck area.

Just as Goodliffe was playing a third consecutive advantage, Goode appeared to have a rush of blood to the head as he fired out what looked like a poor kick from right to left. However, the kick was inch-perfect for Thomas Castaignède who came in from the left wing on an angle to take the ball magnificently and waltz throgh the wrong-footed defence to score near the posts.

The mountain had been scaled but the coup de grace eluded Sarries after two mistakes in the dying moments of a thrilling - if at times untidy - contest.

Hooker Joe Ross missed his man with a lineout throw just five metres from the Sarries line. Leeds pounced upon the loose ball and moved it right to Scarbrough who scored in second try in the right corner. Walsh missed the conversion and Saracens still had a chance to take the game right at the death.

Leeds, however, had now acquried their second wind and pressurised Saracens, pushing them back deep into their 22. And even more pressure was applied to Goode who had a clearance kick charged down by opposite number Hodge who flopped onto the ball in-goal to seal Sarries' fate.

One final opportunity to salvage a bonus point was awarded, but a 48-metre shot at goal for one bonus point was shunned in favour of a kick for the corner and a possible try for two. The resulting line-out was lost and along with it the chance to take something from a match that was looked completely out of reach after 40 minutes.