By Gelbel
April 20 2014
On a bright and blustery spring day, Leeds travelled to the south of Sheffield and the edge of the Peak District to take on local rivals Rotherham for bragging rights of who is the best team in Yorkshire. Leeds welcomed back McColl from a long lay-off. He looked nearly as bulky in his upper body as a returning Tussac.
And it was the former who made a break which resulted in a successful penalty kick after three minutes. The score was doubled shortly after when Rotherham infringed at the breakdown. Leeds were enjoying the majority of the possession but could not make it pay. On the couple of occasions Rotherham were able to get hold of the ball they attacked on the right wing but lost possession. That was until Leeds were penalised for not releasing but Socino misjudged the kick in the strong wind.
Leeds went back on the attack with Graham going close; as ever he was good in the loose but his throwing was dreadful; Leeds lost a number of line outs while he was on the pitch, mostly over throws. Having said that, Leeds stole Rotherham’s line out just as much, if not more, throughout the match. Although these wins were for competing for the ball rather than poor throwing.
Hughes successfully kicked two more penalties following Rotherham going off their feet and then not coping with Leeds’ scrum. Leeds piled on the pressure and scored their first try after quick thinking just as Rotherham’s hooker was about to take his seat in the sin bin. Hampson took a tap penalty and the ball was picked up by Burdon to score. Hughes converted a kick made difficult by the swirling wind. 0-19 after 30 minutes.
Graham continued his good work around the park, turning over Rotherham. With good support from McColl and Hughes the ball was passed to Georgiou who ran down his wing to score in the corner. Hughes missed the conversion. 0-24.
Leeds had several chances to go in at the break with a bigger lead; Hughes was held up in the corner and following a penalty kicked to touch, the ball was lost in the maul. Rotherham ended the half strongly with several attacking phases, testing out Leeds’ defence. The half ended as their attack fizzled out with a knock on in the corner.
Blackett must’ve given his men the hair dryer treatment at half time; his team, aided by the slight downward slope and playing with the wind, attacked from the restart. Rotherham tend to score their points in the second half, proving it by continuing the frantic pace of the first and taking the match to Leeds. Whereas Leeds had enjoyed possession and winning penalties earlier in the match, the tables were turned and Rotherham gave wave after wave of attack, trying to break the Leeds defence. The ref. sent Rowan to the bin after a long advantage and the extra man told as Rotherham immediately scored an unconverted try.
Leeds’ defence continued to be tested and was rewarded with a put in to a scrum just short of their own line that ended with a penalty and the ball being taken into Rotherham’s half. Another penalty was awarded but Nilsen, on for Graham, over threw the line out. Rotherham ran the length of the pitch and would probably have scored if the referee hadn’t deemed them to have made a forward pass.
Leeds slowed the match down to relieve the pressure and stop the fast play of their opponents. Again, Leeds won a penalty from the scrum and were able to settle in to some attacking play of their own. By now a few changes had been made, Imiolek and Hooper in the front row, Green for Beck. Leeds were awarded a kickable penalty for not rolling away which Hughes scored. 5-27 just over the hour.
Leeds were having to run out of their 22, Rotherham were not allowed to take a quick tap penalty. Leeds won more penalties in defence, an attack came to nothing when McColl knocked on. Walker came on for Sisi. The TMO eventually decided Rotherham had scored a nicely worked try from a scrum awarded after a knock on from Burdon. Following the conversion it was 12-27 with 10 minutes left to play.
Each side used a series of see-saw possession to take the game to their opponents. A certain try for Rotherham was stopped due to a wrong forward pass decision. Leeds used a couple of quick penalties to set up some attacking momentum and were awarded a penalty try after driving from just inside the Rotherham 22. Bentley, on for Hughes, added the conversion. 34-12.
Rotherham scored the last points of the match with another try out wide which was run from deep inside their own half. With the conversion missed, the final score was 17-34. A thoroughly entertaining match where neither side let up at any time.
It was interesting to hear Sky’s pundits praising Leeds’ physicality, especially in the back row, their will to run the ball and organisation in defence. They also said that of the top four all appearing on TV this weekend, Leeds looked the most dangerous, are the dark horses and Bristol should be worried.
Man of the match? Burdon had another big game – in my opinion he is very much under the radar but delivers week after week, Sisi was strong with ball in hand and tackling. Sky’s MOTM Burrows, was very nearly mine having just watched my recording of the match for his carrying and line breaks. But my crème egg goes to Mike Myerscough for the amount of possession secured, including several line out steals, and his tackling at the set-piece and breakdowns. Special mention must to go Georgiou, in his two appearances he’s had the vision and speed to attack; he backs himself and is not afraid to take on hugely bigger opponents in attack and defence.
Thanks to Rotherham for a good on the road, match day experience; forced out of their home ground, Abbeydale Road is a lovely setting, although there was no pie and peas to be had, and their fans were in a less acerbic mood than usual, albeit still calling a spade a shovel. An egg-cellent way to spend part of the Easter weekend and a nice bit of silverware remains in Leeds’ trophy cabinet. The question is, can we add to it?
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Quote:PUDSEY PETE
I agree about Myerscough, looking more impressive every week. Its not going to be easy for Smith and Green to get back in the starting line up
Quote:PUDSEY PETE
I agree about Myerscough, looking more impressive every week. Its not going to be easy for Smith and Green to get back in the starting line up
Quote:Haxbytyke
Still worried who will partner Fred in the centre. Maybe Georgiou on yesterdays display.
Quote:Albert FishwickQuote:Haxbytyke
Still worried who will partner Fred in the centre. Maybe Georgiou on yesterdays display.
Indeed, neither Clarke nor Vickerman has impressed me since they joined. Where is Oli Goss?
Quote:almostatyke
Clarke and Vickerman have excellent credentials and I would have thought getting them to play to their potential is far better than playing a converted winger?