Can we forget the

By Terry H. Readcloser
April 10 2006

A Robbie Williams look-a-like, a monsoon, the worst line out call in history bar none, the regular conversation about "I promise you, it's a hamster!" and a 4 point-win. What more could you want from a night in Yorkshire?

Saracens made themselves almost mathematically safe from relegation on Friday night with a nervy 17-13 win at Headingley Carnegie Stadium (what's the Carnegie bit all about?). Tries from Bart in the first half, Glenda in the second half plus 7 points from aforementioned Glenda's boot pushed Saracens 15 points clear of Leeds. Leeds replied with tries from Biggs and Balshaw, but were unable to score the try the needed with the final play(s) of the game. Them's the facts. As ever, they only tell half the story though.

The evening started in the Skyrack (nice pub, nice barstaff), moving on to the Leeds Supporters Club despite Mr Yule's efforts to take us to a wine bar ("it's just down here"). It was good to see Tony Taff fall into the club with about 20 minutes before the start, a large throng of Sarries' fans gave him a suitable welcome. And so into the south stand, where we saw a Robbie Williams impersonator performing on the pitch - I think we made his night. The Fez en masse will now be entered for half time's Prop Idol, a rousing rendition of Angels (and a surprisingly good version of Rock DJ) endearing us to "Robbie". All we needed was a supply of lighters to wave and it could have been Wembley Arena...

...oh, then a game of rugby broke out. To be honest, I don't think we ever looked in that much trouble in the first half. The pack was dominant (to the point that Leeds made 2 tactical changes after 30 minutes)and we were creating chances. But, as it's Sarries, nothing is that simple. Scabs was pulled down just short of the line by Balshaw, Glenda hit a post with a penalty attempt and Cobus demonstrated his ability to tap dance and concede a penalty when we should have been attacking again. Slightly fortunate not to see yellow, but there we are. Glenda scored a pen to make it 3-0, then Leeds went and did exactly what we feared - a 22m drop out, Ross kicked it short, we missed it, Biggs caught it and raced to the try line despite Kyran (who we'll come back to later) and Bart's best efforts. 5-3 to Leeds and, on the balance of play, not really deserved. Another Glenda penalty attempt was just short, finally Bart pounced on a Leeds handling error to glide under the posts, 10-5. The half ended with a Ross penalty to make it 10-8 to Sarries, the general feeling amongst the gathered Fez was that we should have been ahead by 10 points, minimum.

And so the half time entertainment came on - lots of kids playing tag rugby. Wonderful. But then, with Spreaders standing on the pitch for the 2nd half along with the Saracens XV, the kids were still playing. And they still played on. Anyway, the team in green in front of us won 3 tries to 1 in the end we think.

The second half was played in a monsoon, the wind (and rain direction) favouring the Tykes. But still Sarries made it hard work for themselves. Bart ran 60 metres, passed it to Scabs, who dropped it with the line beckoning. Then ill-discipline cost us again, a penalty for "afters" being called against Sarries after a penalty was kicked to the corner, driven just short of the Leeds line and the attacking scrum awarded. When will we learn? Leeds were now giving this a real go, both teams were putting periods of pressure together without ever looking that threatening. But after one spell, Glenda waltzed over (although if he hadn't have got the ball down, the 2 man overlap outside him may have had a quiet word) and converted his own try to make it 17-8 to Sarries with 23 minutes to go. And still the rain fell.

And still Leeds gave it a real go. And still Sarries contrived to make it hard for themselves. On 62 minutes, Leeds scored another well-worked try; the cross-field kick to Andre Snyman, brilliantly executed and a brilliant pass inside for Balshaw to score. Fortunately, Ross missed the conversion, leaving the scores at 13-17 meaning that a penalty wouldn't do. Still Leeds pushed, using the wind to keep the ball inside the Sarries 22.

Now - we all know that being a Sarries fan isn't easy. It is stressful, sometimes exasperating, but never dull. And those last 5 minutes summed it all up. 17-13 ahead, make the game safe; kill it. Do the basics right. On that basis, the speculative kick through from Ross should have been dealt with by Bart and Scabs but somehow Leeds ended up with a 5m scrum and the sound of hysterical shrieking was heard from the assembled Fez with phrases such as "kick it out", "fall on it" or "for f***'s sake you two" being popular choice. And then the worst line out call in the history of rugby - what the conversation was with only 10s on the clock (real time) that went "I know, let's throw it to the back and see what happens" I have not a clue, but please can we throw it to 2 next time and roll the maul into touch? By overthrowing the ball, Leeds had yet another 5 or so phases to attack - not good for the heart rate. But it didn't matter, Spreaders blew his whistle for the final time and celebrations began.

Great of the players to come over to the South Stand - everyone knew just how big that game was. Admittedly, Kyran probably wished he hadn't as he had to limp all the way across the pitch to get back to the changing rooms, the rest of the team sodded off and left him to go at his own pace being used to this sort of event by now. Barb did offer the use of her stick to help him but he coped admirably without.

And so to the Long Room - suffice to say the monsoon hadn't stopped. We had the 4 points, let the party begin. Admittedly, there was a strange feel in there; the Leeds fans are a great bunch and made us unbelievably welcome. It seemed harsh to have a "we're staying up" party with them all there somehow.

So that was the tale of Leeds; if someone had told me at the start of March that we'd win 3 on the spin then I'd have called the men in white coats. But we have and need 1 point to be totally safe. Who knows, we may even qualify for the Heineken...

SCORERS: Leeds Tykes: Tries: Biggs (31min), Balshaw (74). Penalty goal: Ross (40+6). Saracens: Tries: Bartholomeusz (42), Jackson (58). Conversions: Jackson 2. Penalty goal: Jackson (26).

SCORING SEQUENCE (Leeds first): 0-3, 5-3, 5-10, 8-10 (half-time), 8-17, 13-17.

LEEDS TYKES: I Balshaw; A Snyman, C Bell, C Jones, T Biggs; G Ross, J Marshall; K Lensing (rep: R Gerber, 70), G Bulloch, R Gerber (rep: M Shelley, 32), S Hooper, S Morgan, J Dunbar (rep: T Palmer, 32), D Hyde, N Thomas (rep: J Crane, 68).

SARACENS: M Bartholomeusz; D Scarbrough, B Johnston, K Sorrell, T Vaikona; G Jackson, K Bracken (rep: M Rauluni, 80); K Yates (rep: N Lloyd, 41), S Byrne (rep: M Cairns, 66), C Visagie, S Raiwalui, T Ryder, K Chesney, T Randell, H Vyvyan.

Referee: A Spreadbury.

Attendance: 4,899.