With Matt Burke restored to full-back in place of David Walder, and Stuart Grimes starting his second Premiership match of the season, our side looked well capable of producing a victory at Headingley.  However, that is not how it turned out as Leeds began the match very much the stronger side, threatening our line on numerous occasions before our first real attack produced a chance on the left with Cory Harris and Mark Mayerhofler both free, however we moved right and Mathew Tait was able to chase through and touch down ahead of a defender for the opening try after 15 minutes, with Burke converting.

Home fly-half Gordon Ross missed a chance to pull back three points when he missed a penalty, however his second attempt after a failed drop-goal was pulled back for advantage (this law really must be looked at) was better and the deficit was cut to 3-7, however Burke was on target with his first penalty of the match from the halfway line near the half hour.

Leeds’ dominance was almost total though, and had a probable try chance pulled back for a knock-on before eventually Andre Snyman scored on the left from a cross-field move after we ran out of defenders.  Ross converted.

It looked like the scores would remain levels until the break, but Joe Shaw took a catch on the left and crashed through into some tackles to win a penalty which Burke kicked amid much abuse to give us a tight 13-10 lead at half time.

For the second half Rob Andrew sent on Mike McCarthy and David Walder for Owen Finegan and Toby Flood, and the difference was noticeable as Walder was able to orchestrate more attacking play for us, whilst McCarthy’s pace in defence and attack were useful.  Leeds were still the better side though, and Ross missed a penalty before his team looked to have scored a try on the right after breaking through a pack of defenders, but the referee pulled the move back for a (correct but marginal) forward pass.

We competed and attacked more than in the first half but in the end had to rely on some resolute defending to keep out the Yorkshire side.  But it was not to be in vain, as the Geordie element in the crowd erupted with joy as another tense match finished with the Falcons gaining four points which they may not have deserved for enterprise but certainly did for effort.

Complements to Leeds for their beer prices in the bar after the match (if not the speed of service), and also for a much-improved and bigger programme, and we will be able to look forward to the last match of the season at KP against the Tykes still having only lost once to them.

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