By Tykefalcon
May 14 2002

Looks like we’re a bunch of glory hounds as according to the poll results our favourite Tykes win of the 2001 – 2002 season, with 48% of the vote, was our resounding thrashing of the Premiership & European Champions Leicester Tigers back in November. The Tigers match took place on an international weekend, and Leicester fielded what was for them a second string team, although it still included ex-All Black Josh Kronfled. The match saw Tykes win 37-16, with tries by Kerr, Palmer, Emmerson and Scarbrough. The one by Gavin Kerr being particularly memorable – a prop not only running 20 metres and but also having a side step!

In second place with 19% was Tykes first away win in the Premiership, beating Saracens on their own turf back in February proved that Tykes could turn it on away from home, not just at Headingley. Tykes won 37 – 15, with 2 tries from Japie Mulder and one from Chris Hall, the rest of the points came from the boot of Braam Van Straaten.

Nostalgia came in third, with 17% of the vote the Bath game. The 10 – 6 victory in the first game of the season kicked Tykes off to a great start. Cameron Mather scored our first try of the season, and the Tykes held on and kept Bath from finding the try line in the last minutes of the game. It might not have been the prettiest rugby we’ve played all season but the team’s determination and effort won them a lot of fans.

Fourth place went to the Quins match with 9%. Dan Scarbrough’s awareness and quick thinking plus his sheer speed led to him scoring two tries. The look on Dan Luger’s face said it all! The final score Tykes 23 Quins 18.

The resounding 24 – 6 win over Bristol picked up 6% of the votes, tries came from Craig Emmerson and Dan Scarbrough and our man with the golden boot, Braam Van Straaten, slotted the rest of the points.

And last but not least the Sarries match. Only got 2% of the votes, but will still be a fond memory for everyone who witnessed our pack shoving Sarries back off the ball in the scrum, and Mike Shelley putting in a huge hit on Benazzi. Tykes won the match 24 – 14, Dan the Man scoring one try, Carl Hogg the other and Dan Parks having a good day with the boot.

Maybe the win over Tigers was the obvious choice, but Tykes can be proud we may have finished up at the bottom of the pile but we’re one of only 4 teams to have beaten the Premiership winners this season, and who’d have put money on that a year ago?