Yorkshire Carnegie
Leeds vanquish Moseley on Vasey’s Return
A lineout, doncherknow!
By Richard Payne
November 25 2008
On a brisk afternoon at LS6 Moseley arrived to take on the unbeaten league leaders Leeds Carnegie. Leeds have faced challenges over the past 3 weeks facing 3 top teams and were able to come through unbeaten all be it without securing try bonus points, the target for this game was to secure the 4 tries and produce a very good performance. At 3.00pm the game kicked off and unfortunately Lund knocked on at the start so no-one was able to beat Kearnan's 13 second try from last week. Leeds did start brightly though with Welding crossing the line after 1 minute, unfortunately this was pulled back due to a forward pass by Calum. Leeds had the advantage at the time and decided to kick for the corner. Leeds successfully secured the lineout and drove over the 5m line, Moseley conceded another penalty and Leeds went for the try again with another kick to the corner. Another catch and drive but the attack broke down and Moseley cleared. Leeds countered and Moseley conceded another penalty, Bedford took it quick but the attack came to nothing but as Moseley had not retreated 10m we had another penalty, this time Alberto went for the posts and made it 3-0 on 5 minutes.
Moseley returned to the half way line and Vasey kicked off, confusion arose from the kick-off but Leeds did manage to retain the ball. Di Bernardo received a pass and put a loose kick downfield with no real chase from Leeds, the ball bobbled near the touchline but the Moseley winger could not take it and it hit him and went into touch. A very smart piece of thinking followed, a quick lineout was taken and Goodridge went over the line and rounded under the post to get his name on the scoresheet after 7 minutes, Alberto was successful with the conversion taking the score to 10-0 after 8 minutes.
It was Moseley who scored next, just on the Leeds side of the half way line Lund was on the wrong side (and got a shoeing too!). Ollie Thomas lined up his kick and slotted it over taking the score to 10 - 3 with 10 minutes gone.
Jon Goodridge was involved a lot in the good play from Leeds showing his cracking boot, where he returned a kick by Jack Adams with interest, with it going from 22 to 22. 13 minutes in Moseley were on the attack but our defence parted and the tackle was missed, Lee Blackett tracked back to make the tackle, Moseley tried to offload but the ball went to ground, Goodridge tried to pick it up but failed and knocked it on.
On 15 minutes we stole a lineout and went on the attack, again Goodridge entered the line but this time his offload went straight into touch. Lund used his size to good effect by stealing the Moseley lineout, Lee Blackett popped up in his usual centre position, he popped the ball to Hepworth who committed the tackler and passed, YES PASSED, the ball to Goodridge who dived over for his 2nd try on 17 minutes. Alberto lined up the conversion but missed leaving the score at 15 - 3 after 19 minutes.
From the restart Bedford had his box kick charged down and Moseley were on the attack, unfortunately for them the attacker held on to the ball which allowed Leeds to relieve the pressure with a decent touchfinder. Leeds pressed on the attack while some handbags went on off the ball, Moseley conceded a penalty on the 22 and Bedford took it quickly but had his head separated from his body from a Moseley defender. Moseley had their flanker, Mason, sin binned. Alberto went for the corner and our lineout, which was functioning very well, was won and yet again Goodridge entered the fray by breaking the line, the next charge from Juan Gomez yet another Leeds prop who is good in open play, the only way Moseley could stop Leeds was by conceding another penalty. With 22 minutes gone Leeds took the scrum and the forwards set up the attack. Rhys picked the ball up from the back and rampaged forward, the ball was passed out to the backs but the ball was held in contact and Moseley were given a penalty on their 5 meter line. Vasey cleared the danger for Moseley (for now) as his touchfinder only just passed their 22. On the 24th minute the Moseley lineout was not straight and Leeds were given the scrum. The settled scrum yielded a good attack where again Goodridge broke the gainline, the ball went loose and Calum dived on it to secure it. Bedford picked the ball up and went through the defence but was scragged, he spun round and offloaded to Alberto who showed a clean pair of heels to the defence and went over under the posts, he also converted the simple kick to take it to 22 - 3 after 26 minutes.
From the kick off Pendlebury was taken in the air, the forwards drove on but Alberto kicked another loose ball but this time it was Jack Adams, on loan from Gloucester, who ran the ball back at Leeds who were this time on the wrong side of the official by conceding a penalty. Ollie Thomas, who has looked good at full back for Moseley, lined up the kick and slotted the ball over for another 3 points taking the score to 22-6 after 28 minutes.
Di Bernardo got things underway again but the Moseley jumper could not get the ball and Lee Blackett stormed past, collected the ball passed infield to Phil Nilson, the ball went into contact and was passed wide, unfortunately a knock on relinquished possession and this was the sign for Moseley's flanker to return from his 10 minute vacation to the North Stand. From the next attack Alberto put a lovely ball to Danny Paul who stormed through the line but unfortunately his pass did not go to hand, it was re-gathered and the ref awarded a scrum to Leeds. From this attack Leeds were awarded with a penalty, Bedford took it quickly and went on the attack, he passed to Henry Paul who committed the tackler and popped the ball to Blackett who crossed for his first try of the season from his new berth on the wing. Alberto lined up a difficult conversion from the touchline and put a lovely kick through the posts taking the score to 29 - 6 after 34 minutes, that try wrapped up the bonus point.
A few minutes later Rhys showed his prowess with the boot (please run it next time), the ball was collected by Moseley who went through the phases but their attack ended with a forward pass by Vasey to the Moseley tighthead. From the scrum Alberto put through a cross field kick that was secured by Sharpells, the Moseley 14, but great rucking by Leeds turned over the ball with the ref awarding a scrum to Leeds with 38 gone.
Leeds ran from the scrum but were pinged for holding on, Moseley kicked for touch and secured a lineout on the ½ way line, another missed tackle allowed Moseley to make ground but the attack petered out and the ref blew for half time.
Half-Time: Leeds Carnegie 29 - 6 Moseley
At half time the Carnegie Stand occupants decamped to the West Stand, that was not the only change as Danny Paul was subbed with Hendre Fourie starting for the second half. Alberto restarted and Leeds retained the kick off, we drove onwards and the ball was released to Hepworth, he passed to Alberto who passed it back to Hepworth before he shipped it to Goodridge who went over to secure his hat-trick. This was a great bit of back play showing what can happen if all our backs click and if they all pass! Alberto had another tricky conversion but again slotted it with ease taking the score to 36 - 6 after 42 minutes.
From the next scrum the Moseley 8 picked and drove, Bedford was brushed off but Welding made the hit, some good work at the breakdown led to a turn over, Hepworth went on the counter and made some good yards. The ref awarded a penalty on ½ way, Di Bernardo took it quickly and retained possession, unfortunately on the next attack a laboured pass by Alberto was intercepted by Bressington who cantered in under the posts, Thomas converted taking the score to 36 - 13 with 46 minutes gone.
Leeds hit back on 48 minutes, Welding's defence forced Moseley into a knock on, Henry Paul passed to Alberto who went on the counter attack, and the ball went a rampaging Fosi who made some good yards before he passed inside to Alberto who crossed the line for his 2nd try. He missed with the conversion (hit the uprights) which left the score at 41 - 13.
Fosi's run took its toll as he had to be subbed with McGee taking his place. From the kick off there was another infringement by Moseley and their flanker, Mason, received his second yellow of the day for taking a man out in the air....that was his game over. Leeds now had the numerical advantage but they did not make this count and the next 15 to 20 minutes Leeds had their usual mid match nap as Moseley took advantage of this.
Ollie Thomas made a great break into the Leeds 22, we conceded a penalty which was taken quickly and Leeds were pinged for not being 10m. Moseley put together a passage of consistent pressure as they stayed rooted in the Leeds 22 but good defence held Moseley out. Moseley attacked and a weak inside arm by Alberto allowed the defender through, Leeds scrambled back and finally the tackle was made. The ball was shipped wide and it got scrappy with the ball being knocked back and forwards before Paul Arnold, crossed to take the score to 41 - 20 as Thomas converted, 58 minutes gone.
Leeds made some more substitutions with Henry Paul, John Pendlebury and Phil Nilson coming off being replaced by Scott Barrow, Phil Murphy and Scott Freer. With 61 minutes gone Moseley had a scrum near the Leeds line, Leeds were penalised and the penalty was taken quickly. The ball was spread wide and Welding went for the ball and "accidentally" knocked on, the ref did not see it as an accident and sent Richard for 10 minutes in the bin, Moseley's attack however came to nothing. A not straight lineout by Freer surrendered possession to Moseley, the scrum was set and Leeds turned it 90o, good effort by the pack.
On 65 minutes Leeds were on the attack again, Goodridge ran at Moseley and some good interplay in the backs followed but it ended with a forward pass, as advantage was being played the ref brought it back for a penalty to Leeds. Alberto kicked for the corner, the lineout was taken well and some good back play allowed Lee Blackett to cross the whitewash, unfortunately he was pulled back for crossing, this seemed a tad harsh.
With 69 minutes gone Joe Bedford made way for Scott Mathie. A couple of minutes later Moseley were on the attack but the legend that is Hendre Fourie made his presence felt, he tracked back and made the tackle on the Moseley player, the then got straight to his feet and ripped the ball before setting off on another one of his powerful runs. Hendre then offloaded to Rhys and the ball went down the line before Blackett was forced into touch. Leeds supremacy in the lineout told as another one was taken on Moseley's throw, a loose pass was collected by Lund who passed to Calum who then released Goodridge who crossed for his 4th try of the game, Di Bernardo converted taking the score to 48 - 20 with 75 minutes passed.
From the kick off, Little Murph ran back at Moseley, some good continuity by the team led to the ball being recycled before Mathie grabbed the ball and crossed the line for his first and Leeds' 8th try, The conversion was missed leaving the score at 53 - 20 with 78 minutes gone.
And that was that, a knock on by Welding ended the game. As the scoreline suggested Leeds were the dominant team and never looked troubled by Moseley until they had their customary nap for 20 minutes in the second half. The man of the match was Jon Goodridge who was the stand out player, his awareness on how to cut a line and where/when to enter the line was exceptional and when he got involved something always happened. Everyone played well in the team but honourable mentions must go to Hepworth whose new found ability to pass has added another dimension to his game. Juan Gomez a player whom I have not seen play before and his play in the open field and in the tight was great. Blackett showed his strength in contact, both offensive and defensive, he however showed his best skills when he popped up in that his skills when he was in his usual centre position.
The development work by the management is bearing fruit as we are putting together a strong squad with more than one option in all positions, I am really looking forward to the day that this Leeds team puts in a full 80 minute performance!
Leeds Team
Goodridge, Welding, Hepworth, H. Paul, Blackett, Di Bernardo, Bedford, Palaamo, Nilsen, Gomez, Lund, Pendlebury (C), D. Paul, Clark, Oakley
Subs - McGee, Freer, Murphy, Fourie, Mathie, Barrow, Hinton
Moseley Team
O Thomas, Sharpells, Adams, Reay, Bressington, Vasey, Pasqualin, Sigley, Caves, Davis, Muldowney, Stott, Mason, Bignell, Evans
Subs - J. Thomas, Oselton, Arnold, Whitney, Williams, Binns, Taylor
Leeds 53 - 20 Moseley
Leeds
T: Goodridge 4 (7, 17, 41, 74), Di Bernardo 2 (25, 48), Blackett (33), Mathie (77)
C: Di Bernardo (8, 26, 34, 42, 75)
P: Di Bernardo (5)
Moseley
T: Bressington (46), Arnold (58)
C: Thomas (46, 59)
P: Thomas (10, 28)
Attendance - 2203
Saturday 22nd November
Doncaster 50 - 21 Bedford
Exeter 45 - 8 Coventry
London Welsh 30 - 36 Nottingham
Manchester 14 - 15 Otley
Plymouth Albion 36 - 14 Esher
Sunday 23rd November
Cornish Pirates 56 - 14 Sedgley Park
Rotherham Titans 62 - 5 Newbury
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If God wanted forwards to kick he wouldn't have given them size 13 feet.
I think that we dominated the lineouts partly because the Moseley forwards were not very tall - from the first whistle it looked like their pack would have a tough game & so it proved.
Some say he has a Tykes flag with team signatures on.
Others say that he's doing the same to the Carnegie flag,
All we know is that he's called Leeds carnegie signed flag.
Thanks Rocky!
looking forward to the Premiership next Season already...!
