From whichever side of the fence one sits though, when the dust has settled (or at least in this case the snow!); both sets of fans will have to acknowledge that over the three games, it has to be 'honours even'. Equally, both sides have produced as fine an advert for rugby as you could wish for.

Conditions before last night's EDF cup tie had worsened as kick off time approached, with snow falling heavily and threatening the excellent work by Headingley's groundstaff to make this fixture possible. This, and the contentious decision to switch the game to a Friday evening, certainly contributed to the poor attendance of 882; but all present were intent on making this as much of an occasion as possible. Besides, if all else failed there was always the prospect of huge snowball fight to amuse if necessary!

Leeds began proceedings and immediately applied pressure on the Pirates receiver. The ball though was successfully recycled back to Di Bernardo who cleared. Unfortunately the kick fell short of touch, inviting Leeds to run the ball back and so begin a ten minute spell during which Leeds slowly made inroads towards the whitewash.

They weren't though able to turn this pressure into points as the Pirates defence signalled it's intent from the outset with a 'none shall pass' mentality which ultimately contributed to the eventual outcome. Consequently the home side had to settle for a Vasey penalty only, which finally allowed the Pirates a chance to break siege and venture forwards themselves.

These early foray's often came about from some good work at the breakdown with Motusaga and Cowley in particular prominent to compliment some massive defence, notably by McKeen. But this was to come undone with a loose final pass or a knock-on or some such. Thus Leeds were allowed to regain possession and generally enjoy the lion's share of territory and pressure as the game entered it's second quarter.

Even so the fact that they'd only troubled the scoreboard once for all this dominance, began to tell as the visitors at last came more into the reckoning. Going forwards now, they looked sharper than their opponents had done, and started to cause problems of their own.

Di Bernado missed one opportunity to level things after 18 minutes, but made amends on the half hour mark to level things at 3-3.

This signalled a shift in the game's pattern with the Pirates seeming to take more control and Leeds looking a lot shakier, especially at the set piece. Beardshaw and Cowley appeared to cherry pick the lineout ball which in itself appeared to be offering itself into the new national lottery running; but still the killer touch went astray as the conditions too played their part.

Scrum time too was turning into a one horse race, as the Pirates pack nudged ahead in the pecking order, as they created havoc with the Leeds put in. For all said and done though, when the half time whistle was eventually blown; 3-3 seemed a fair assessment with nothing to choose between the teams as per normal; Vasey having missed a penalty opportunity just before. Thoughts that this game was going to go down any route other than to the wire, were fanciful.

Di Bernardo restarted the second period with Leeds soon mirroring the pattern of the first half and encamping themselves in Pirates territory early on. There was a distinct feeling of deja vu as Leeds again made inroads towards the whitewash, with crucially the Pirates defence again holding firm. There was no real change at the set piece either with Leeds struggling to win their scrums cleanly and losing a few of their own lineouts too.

Having weathered this secondary early storm, the Pirates once again wrestled their way into the Tykes half.

Their first serious visit to the Leeds 22 after an hour, produced another Di Bernardo penalty to give the Pirates the lead for the first time at 6-3. The build up had been inscisive and had seen a rush of blood to Leeds' scrum half Darren Edwards, who subsequently went to jail for a blatant stamp on a helpless Pirates player, provoking the first of several melee's to break out between then and the final whistle. As if any proof was needed as to how serious both sets of players were taking this game? In this inst', Hooper and Seal took on the lead roles with a points decision split between the judges. The resulting penalty allowed territory to be gained, before the subsequent lineout infringement gave Alberto his chance to kick for goal.

Now down to 14 troops, Leeds to their credit were inspired. As the ten minute period progessed, and after a difficult touchline penalty was missed by Vasey; they successfully regrouped and launched another scathing attack producing a well worked try by tighthead MacDonald, after many phases of patient play. Vasey made no mistake with the extras and so any advantage the Pirates may have had withered as the scoreboard now displayed a 10-6 lead in Leeds' favour.

A match that had so far produced plenty of excitement, suddenly went through it's gearbox. This setback sparked an immediate response, as the Pirates sought to re-affirm their standing in this tie.

From the restart, Welding once again cleared his lines asking questions of Winnan whose handling had been, and remained all evening, imperious. Possession overall was maintained allowing the Pirates to rumble their way towards the Tykes try line. The perfect reposte now seemed inevitable, as an unstoppable 11 man maul pierced the whitewash for the first time; Vili Ma'asi being the joyful mole at the bottom of the pile.

Sadly, Di Bernardo pushed the conversion wide of the mark but the Pirates were back in front by 11 points to 10, thus setting up an exciting final ten minutes. Both sides having everything to play for still.

This game had always promised to be a cracker, and so it proved as Leeds rallied looking for the score that would possibly pinch the game from the jaws of defeat once again.

Memories of the league match here last September were revived as Leeds gradually made their way into the Pirates half and looked like setting up a drop goal as substitute Hinton kept positioning himself in the pocket.

His chance for some Wilkinson-esque glory never materialised, but as play worked it's way over to the right, he soon found himself with a different opportunity. Receiving the ball mid pitch and going forwards, he launched a meitculous long pass to his left, which via some further quick hands floated nicely for Tykes winger Tom Biggs to dive over in the corner for easily the best piece of backs play all evening.

Crucially, Vasey slotted the difficult touchline conversion to leave the Pirates needing a converted try to win with stoppage time rapidly disappearing. Evans came on for the ever dependable Jet to try and provide some extra grunt up front for what surely had to be a forwards driven finale; whilst Anderson also replaced Seal in the front row. Dan later reporting that the knock received was OK.

Leeds gathered the restart but a forward pass set up a final attack for the visitors. The scrum was won and the Pirates slowly but surely ground their way forwards towards the Tykes line once more. Now only 5m metres out and with the knowledge that a place in the quarter final rest in it's outcome, the Pirates pounded the defence with everything they could muster.

Just as it seemed the chance had gone, some quick thinking by Cattle, and a deft offload in front of the posts seemed to be destined for the simplest of tries for Roke. A stray Leeds hand however prevented this, but was only punished with an attacking scrum 5m out.

With this won easily, another 10+ man maul was formed and drifted to it's right only to be hauled down giving the Pirates one final chance for glory as the final play was called.

Senekal took the tap and go and brought play to within 2 metres of the Leeds line. Phase after phase followed with the Leeds defence looking to be doing enough to hold on. One final surge involving all 15 Pirates finally breached the White Wall; the backs obviously realising it was best to get closer to the fire on a such a bitter winter's evening.

Paver came up with the ball and earned the shared title of saviour with Di Bernardo who after being rushed too early before kicking, slotted the winning conversion.

Scenes of joy and despair followed as Mr Small signalled the end of another pulsating and dramatic clash between the top two sides in England's second tier. Time too for both sets of players and supporters alike to draw breath and reitre to warmer surrounds to ponder events just passed.

Leeds 17:
Welding, Holtby, Hepworth, Snyman, Biggs, Vasey, Edwards, McGee, Parkes, MacDonald, Hooper, Myall, Dunbar, Schusterman, Oakley.
Replacements: Cusack for McGee (60), Isaacson, Bouza, Lock, Rauluni, T Rock, Hinton for Vasey (74)

Tries: MacDonald, Biggs
Cons: Vasey [2]
Pen: Vasey

Pirates 18:
Winnan, McAtee, Roke, Bell, Hylton, Di Bernardo, Cattle, Paver, Ma'asi, Seal, Senekal, Beardshaw, McKeen, Motusaga, Cowley
Replacements: Moore, Wells, Vinnicombe, Evans for Motusaga (79), Hobson, Makin, Anderson for Seal (80)

Tries: Ma'asi, Paver
Cons: di Bernado 
Pen: di Bernado [2]

Referee: Andrew Small
Touch Judges: Trevor Fisher, Rob Sawyer

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