After last Sunday, any kind of performance would have lifted the spirits, and in the first ten minutes on Friday Leeds had already done more than the entire eighty-plus the previous weekend. Some good signs were there without in any way threatening the line, and Sarries took the opportunity to get some points on the board with two quick tries, Ernst Joubert and Schalk Brits taking advantage of a confused defence. A period of sustained cat-and-mouse ensued, Leeds mostly on the back foot but making some occasional forays into the Sarries half. Saracens eventually went in at the break 21-0 up, thanks to another try from Adam Powell, all three of their scores converted by the in-form Hougaard.

The second half welcomed Scott Barrow to first team rugby for the first time in a while, and it was territorial domination in the second half by Leeds, without really looking like crossing the line. There were a few lapses, one of which allowed notorious former Leeds player Justin "I'm No Quitter" Marshall to get over the line to seal the bonus for the Watford Boks. But it was clear that Leeds were playing an A-style game, eschewing penalty kicks to go for the corners and try to work some training ground moves.

And that is where the echoes of John Lennon's dolorous dirge should ring out, words modified, because it was the set moves that were clearly not working and/or telegraphed to the opposition defence. When in broken play, the young lads who had been called up to the back line regularly took players on and punched holes, Pete Wackett making yards on a number of occasions and ultimately scoring Leeds' only points with the last move of the game. His support play was exceptional and was far and away my man of the match.

The forwards were their normal selves, although in the first half were dominated at the scrummage by a fierce Sarries unit, but later in the match gained a certain amount of parity. However the rucks and mauls were once again painfully slow and watching the back row and half-backs directing traffic while nothing was happening was really quite annoying. Joe Bedford and to a lesser extent Scott Mathie need to have the box kick surgically removed, since it never, ever, ever does us any good.

The young bucks in the backs had the right idea. They were constantly looking for gaps to run into, and playing what is famously now known as "what's in front of you", i.e. no set moves, no numbers and fancy switches to learn, but good old fashioned heads-up rugby. Sadly they didn't get the ball too often, but they certainly showed that, if Leeds' management has the bottle, they could really be something special in the latter half of the Premiership.

Leeds have nothing to lose. They should play with freedom, and not be afraid of losing a match – they should be playing to dare themselves to win it. The young kids knew this, but time and again the senior players took it on themselves to go for contact and another ponderous set move.

I say this with something of a heavy heart – it's time to get rid of some of the senior players from the first team who seem to be too scared to do anything with the ball, and let the brash, confident, talented youngsters have a go. They may not keep Leeds up, but to be honest, I would be happier knowing that we'd given it a go with everything we have in the locker…

So, are we ready?

All we are saying, is give youth a chance!

All we are saying, is give youth a chance!

All we are saying, is give youth a chance!

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