Pirates 21 – 21 Tykes

As I pointed out in my last piece, I wasn’t around for the next few games.  I was in chilly Canada, trying my best to drink Canada dry (groan…) But rest assured, I was sat at my host’s computer at 6am on a Sunday morning, attempting to listen to the commentary from Camborne via the internet.  Alas, there were technical problems, but I was still able to follow the score via the two message boards. Phew. 

Dunbar, Hepworth and Rock scored tries, and interestingly Richard Welding was the place kicker – Hinton out altogether and Vasey on the bench.  Pirates snatched a stoppage time equalising converted try, and then a fracas broke out ending in the dismissal of Myall and a last gasp penalty attempt for Di Bernado from the halfway line.  Fortunately for Leeds the attempt missed and the game ended.  According to those I know who went, the match itself was dominated by Leeds.  But perhaps a draw was fair considering the manner of our win against the Pirates at home. 

Tykes 30 – 8 Otley

Otley, our friendly local rivals, popped over to visit for Christmas.  But they didn’t come with presents and good will in mind.  On the contrary, they did everything within (and beyond) the laws of the game to frustrate and annoy the Leeds team.  The predictable result was a scrappy start to the match, interspersed with random scuffles and squaring up.  Eventually Leeds managed a try through Hughes, more than cancelling out an early penalty from Otley.  A further penalty from Vasey made the halftime score 8-3.  The second half was better, with Rock, Vasey and Tuilagi all adding tries.  And there was an interesting debut for loan signing Pelu Taele – picking up a yellow card for a clothesline tackle just three minutes after coming onto the pitch.  Farcical scenes followed the game though as fans were turned away from the post match Carnegie Café experience, causing much consternation and bitter reproaches for days afterwards.

Rotherham 22 – Tykes 19

Another big local derby, and a game I missed altogether as I flew back across the Atlantic.  Apparently it was wet.  Very wet.  And muddy.  There could be a ‘very’ involved in that sentence too.  And with the rain, and a powerful Rotherham pack, the game doesn’t sound like it was too pretty.  Rotherham played the conditions better and won the match by a narrow margin.  Danny Paul was the Tykes only try scorer, though Hinton’s kicking kept it close.  Further disappointment came in that Leeds lost top place in the division too.  For Leeds, the highlight of the game had to be the welcome return of Andre Snyman.  A very welcome returnee!

Tykes 14 – 8 Plymouth

Back at last, and raring to watch some rugby.  And for me, a new place in the South Stand to watch the game (down by those noisy drummers, rather than halfway middle/back.)  What a game of contrasting halves it was!  Leeds took Plymouth apart in the first half despite the visitors scoring a try with a seventy metre play after recovering a Tykes knock on.  Only individual mistakes prevented the Tykes from scoring more than their two tries (Schusterman and Rawlinson), whilst Plymouth never really got out of their half again.  The second half was a completely different kettle of fish.  Plymouth threw everything at the Tykes, spending almost the whole forty minutes camped within the Tykes twenty-two.  But immense defence from the entire Leeds line-up held them at bay, and all Plymouth had to show for all their pressure was a single penalty.

Tykes 28 – 15 Nottingham

Nottingham had given the Tykes a run for their money earlier in the season at Meadow Lane, and most expected them to be a challenge again.  But whereas it was Nottingham’s forward power that posed the threat in the first game, this time their backs showed plenty of threat.  Leeds scored first through Pelu Taele’s first try for the club, but this was soon cancelled out by Nottingham after an interception and some enterprising back play to keep the ball alive.  Hotlby then scored after a Snyman break, and all within the opening ten minutes.  After this though, things became scrappy and neither team could keep hold of the ball long enough to add any further points before half time.  The second half began with the return of Tom Biggs after several months out injured.  He quickly slotted into things, but knock-ons and forward passes still hindered any scoring opportunities that arose.  Eventually it was Nottingham who broke the stalemate with a kick-and-gather try on the hour mark.  Myall stretched the lead once more, but again Nottingham replied with a try of their own.  With time running out, Chris Hughes raced onto a Tuilagi chip to score the bonus point try and finally end Nottingham’s challenge.  Oh, and Nottingham’s fly half - Neil Stenhouse - I can’t be the only one who wants to put ‘Muir’ on the end of his surname, can I?

Tynedale 3 – 36 Tykes (CUP)

This was a home game.  But it was a tad windy in the fortnight before the match, and it appears the new Carnegie stand isn’t made of ‘the right stuff’ as the roof became damaged.  So instead, the match was played at Tynedale’s small but welcoming ground.  From their point of view, I think they enjoyed the occasion.  There was a bumper crowd, the little pub outside the gates did a brief, but roaring trade, and the Tynedale team were not embarrassed by the mighty Tykes.  From our point of view, the trip was long, but the beer and food (especially the cheeseburgers from most accounts!) were good, the match enjoyable, the result fair, and within a week everyone had thawed out after visiting probably the coldest venue of the season….

Tynedale scored a penalty after two minutes to take the lead.  This was to be their last point scoring escapade of the day, but they continued to harass Leeds all afternoon.  Class told in the end as tries from Hepworth (2), Snyman (2), Rawlinson, and Biggs.  There was also a lesson for Richard Vasey – when it’s windy, have someone hold the ball on the tee.  Otherwise it may fall off.  If this does happen, ask permission to put it back on, lest a bright opposition player takes advantage and runs up to kick it away. 

Sedgley Park 20 – 27 Tykes

Another nice ground over at Sedgley Park.  Pleasant clubhouse with a nice balcony overlooking the pitch.  The beer was good too.  I guess I should mention the game.  Leeds were clearly the favourites going into the game, but Sedgley fought tooth and claw, their ‘Tigers’ name being suitably apt on this occasion.  Leeds scored the first try after good work from the pack, driving Park backwards before McDonald picked up and dived over the line.  Ten minutes later Hepworth sliced through a gap to score a second, and the score was 0 – 14 and all looked rosy.  But after a stoppage in play to allow a change of referee due to injury, things turned against the Tykes.  Sedgley were unlucky not to score form a clever kick through with the ball just going into touch before the try line.  Then moments later they scored a try after working a good overlap.  Leeds hit back through Tom Rock, but Sedgley scored a wonderful try beneath the posts after slicing through the Leeds defence. The half time score was 12 – 19, but Sedgley were looking the more dangerous in the closing stages of the half.  The second half was full of open, attacking play, but neither side could quite find the killer blow.  Shortly after the hour mark, Leeds appeared to have sewn the match up with the bonus point try from Snyman, but Sedgley just wouldn’t give in, and with five minutes left finally got another try of their own after a huge driving maul.  Leeds had to defend vigorously for the remaining few minutes, but managed to hold out for the win.

Tykes 31 – 0 Bedford

Revenge time for Leeds after the last gasp defeat at Goldington Road.  And impressive revenge it was too, preventing the opposition from scoring for the second time at Headingley Carnegie this season.  Both forwards and backs played excellently, the forwards dominating Bedford’s pack utterly, and the backs always appearing able to break the defensive line.  But it was Kearnan Myall who stole the show.  After just two minutes he ran through the Bedford line, beating two men before sidestepping round the fullback and out-sprinting the cover.  Just like a winger.  A very big winger!  Schusterman got in on the try scoring act a few minutes later, touching down despite having a couple of defenders clinging onto body parts.  Then it was Mayall again, this time not as extravagant, but equally effective out wide on the wing.  Schusterman added his second after half an hour and the bonus point was gained.  The second half was a defensive workout for the Tykes as Bedford desperately tried to overturn their 24 point deficit.  But no matter what they tried, the Leeds line held firm.  Eventually, Leeds gained possession of the ball long enough to allow one more sweeping move, culminating in Richard Welding breaking clear and running in the fifth try of the match.  Vasey’s conversion ended the scoring, and Leeds remained top of the pile.

So far, so good

And so ends the third part of the season.  Leeds looking good, still atop the division and facing a tasty looking third encounter with the Pirates in the cup.  But the league was still incredibly tight, and there were still many title rivals to face in the final run in. 

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