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Things Can Only Get Better

Tight-knit group...
By Michael Gapik
August 29 2008
"Things Can Only Get Better" was the title of the song used by the labour party as their theme on the way to winning the 1997 general election, and in a lot of ways it could also be used to sum up the way Leeds fans felt as the end of last season, when once again we were relegated to National division 1.
Its only 17 weeks ago that Lanny announced he was leaving the club for pastures new with the RFU, and we wondered what would happen wit the club during the off season with rumours abound who will fill the role of the new Head Coach/Director of Rugby and we all now know the outcome off. For only the 2nd time the club appointed someone outside the clubs structure to the position,

With the announcement of Backy and Key there were more rumours on who else the club would look to sign, with a slow, slow drip feed of new players signing, with Henry Paul being the biggest playing name there were some very astute signings and most had a number of years experience in either the S14/GP, or Magners League.

On Sunday Leeds kick off the 1st game of the season at home against Nottingham Archers who had a very good season in Nat1 last season finishing 3rd but on equal points to Exeter who beat them by points difference, the Archers are going to provide a formidable opponent and are a well drilled outfit, who pushed London Irish in their pre-season game and beat a Saints 2nd XV. Leeds know that they need to get off to a strong start and cannot afford to be complacent as 2 seasons ago we come unstuck against a spirited London Welsh side.

However, we are in a far stronger position than 2 seasons ago nearly all the players have had a season battling in the GP and a number of players have been together for 2 years. Then there is the Head Coach who was a formidable player who never gave less than a 100% in no matter what shirt he was wearing be it a Leicester, England, or Lions and now the Head Coach he will demand no less than from his players, we have already seen his imprint in all the pre season games to date we have gone in the 1st half trailing the opposition but have come out in the 2nd half in each game stronger scoring a number of tries in each game we came back to beat Connacht and Newcastle and push a very strong Sale side at home all the way.

So what of Sunday's game It will be tough game for the first 45/50 minutes but I believe that our fitness and all round skill across the park should see us come out winners at the end, as I have said earlier we have finished the stronger side in our 3 pre season games and I think this will continue so it will be Leeds to pick up the maximum 5 points with the final score being ..........

Leeds 42 ( 5tries 3 c & 3 pens) Nottingham 17 (1 try & 4pens)

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