Back in 2006 the home game against Albion proved a turning point in the season. Before the fixture at HC Plymouth were the form team in ND1 and  the game was a titanic struggle with Leeds having to defend a slender lead for much of the game. This time the ‘Negies, “are in a good place”, according to their head coach. It is difficult to argue against this point after the comprehensive demolition of Newbury last Saturday. Other points that  support his statement are the fact that the squad has competition in every position.  The rotation policy means that everyone gets game time and the team’s position at the top of ND1, unbeaten in fourteen games. The Plymouth boys, by way of contrast, have won eight and drawn one of their fixtures with a positive points difference of forty-two.

On paper then an easy win for Leeds, hmmm! Home fans will remember that their side has struggled to beat opposition from the top half of the table, “dropping” four BPs in the process. This has meant that the Exeter Chiefs are only three points behind in the table with the halfway point in the season approaching. Bonus point fever seems to grip many of the Leeds players after the third try is scored. Neil Back said after the Newbury game that he thought that the players were now getting used to the playing patterns and were playing without having to think about them. This should make for a more fluid style of play of which we have only had glimpses so far.

The form of some of the players has varied up to now with some of our bigger names failing to live up to their reputations. However one thing is certain in that Hendre Fourie is playing out of his skin week in week out. This form seems to be rubbing off on other members of the pack and means that the forwards are providing a good platform from which the backs can launch their attacks. Jon Pendlebury is consistently good and our two SH props have shown a  propensity for making the hard yards.

Although Plymouth is a potential banana-skin I do not expect Leeds to slip up. What is less certain is the size of the victory. Can Leeds secure the bonus point? If the players have learned the lessons from the Bedford and Doncaster games then the answer is yes. Much will depend on player selection. If the backs play as a unit and not as a set of individuals then Carnegie will win by a comfortable margin. Five points must be the target on Sunday.

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