Yorkshire Carnegie
No Love for Leeds on Valentine's
By Richard Payne
February 15 2009
Coventry are becoming regular opposition for Leeds, we have faced them once at home in October and came out victors 57-5, the memorable part of this game was a hat-trick (and surprisingly it was his first) for Tom Biggs, other scorers included Sparky (2), Hepworth (2), Hendre and Danny Paul.
Last week we faced Coventry in the Cup in the first game of this “double header” and put out a team with a blend of youth and experience which secured a 52-0 win (without looking entirely convincing I might add). With two games against the same team it gives our squad the chance to focus how best to take advantage of the opponents weaknesses.
The last time we visited Butts Park in 2007 we won 55-11, the try scorers that day were Aspinall with 2, Biggs, MacDonald, Snyman, Hinton, Hepworth, and Welding with Hinton converting 4 of them as well as a adding a penalty.
Before
kick off Leeds had played 21 and won 21 securing a bonus point in 15
of those matches. The general consensus before that match was that
another 5 points were on the card (and scoring 8 tries in the cup
match last week helps!). As I entered the ground my hopes for a
flowing game were dealt a swift blow. The pitch was, well no beating
around the bush, it was dire. I played on better pitches as a kid,
my disbelief at the quality of the pitch was compounded by the fact
that kids were playing on it prior to the game (plus the fact that
earlier in the week a schools match was allowed to take place). I
did let my mind wonder if this was a way to nullify our pacey and
elusive back line…….an opposition wouldn’t do that, would
they?
I went to take my seat with my fiancés family
including her grandfather (an ex-Coventry player) I was hoping we
would start the way we did last week, the tone of the game was
signalled by the Cov No.8 wanting to ‘introduce’ himself to
Blackett who didn’t take a backwards step. Blackett than showed
that the best way to silence the 8 by getting his name on the score
sheet. Coventry conceded a penalty after interfering with the ball,
Alberto kicked for the corner and the line went our way, the ball was
passed by Rhys to Bedford fed the ball to Blackett who crossed in the
corner after 3 minutes. Alberto pulled the conversion leaving the
score 5-0 after 4 minutes.
The
pitch was tearing up with every minute and was beginning to make the
outfield in Antigua look playable! Coventry kicked off and in
contact we were pinged as McGee was lying on the wrong side. After
10 minutes Coventry had a line out and attacked with purpose, the
ball was turned over in contact and Leeds countered. The ball was
passed to Hints who had several men in support but he chose not to
use them and the attack broke down. Leeds were able to extend their
lead after Cov were pinged for offside and Alberto set the ball down
and kicked it to take the score to 8-0 after 8 minutes.
Leeds
made a hash of the restart, the ball was fielded by Rhys who threw a
Mauro Bergamasco pass over the top of Alberto, Boyde secured the ball
and Alberto cleared the danger. From the line out Coventry attacked
and our good friend Rowan Kitt duly whistled for Leeds lying on the
wrong side giving Coventry an easy opportunity. 8-3 after 11
minutes.
Coventry were very committed in the breakdown not
giving Leeds any time which led to a lot of slow ball. Unfortunately
the sound of Ofa’s whistle was punctuating the game with him
blowing for numerous offences (some of which I still do not get).
Now I know I am biased but it did seem like, as soon as Leeds player
in possession of the ball went into contact he was pinged for holding
on/hands in the ruck etc. When Coventry took the ball into contact
they seemed to have a lot more time to recycle the ball compared to a
matter of seconds for Leeds.
Anyway back to the game and
unfortunately it was time for Rowan Kitt to stamp his authority on
the game, Big Mac was on the receiving end from a kick by Coventry
second row Burgess. Even though this was spotted by both him and the
touch judge nothing was done as “they were not sure if it was his
boot on knee that made contact”. As Neil Back has said on the
official site, aren’t they both illegal? No action was taken and
the game continued with Big Mac suitably incensed.
Leeds
showed that the best way to respond was with a try and again this
happened from a line out. Rhys rose above all others before popping
the ball down Bedford who passed out to Di Bernardo before a lovely
ball put Rowan into space who crossed untouched under the posts, ADB
converted taking the score to 15-3 after 23 minutes.
Coventry kicked off and proceeded to throw the kitchen sink (and the entire contents of a plumbing department) at Leeds but we managed to hold them off. Ironically considering the earlier altercation it was Leeds’ captain who had a 10 minute rest after Rowan Kitt decided he was fed up of the persistent infringements. Coventry took the points taking the score to 15-6 after 38 minutes. Leeds saw through to half time with 14 men and knew they would have to come out and perform better if they were to come away with any bonus point.
Half
Time – Coventry 6 – 15 Leeds Carnegie
Over
half time I spend most of it thinking how well looked after the pitch
at Headingley is. Leeds would have to up their game as this Coventry
team were up for it and were showing that they are a different
opposition in front of their home support (the pitch was a good
equaliser too).
Leeds came out for the second half with the sin binning still in effect. Coventry kicked off and made some good ground but handling errors meant the attacks broke down. Leeds saw out the remainder of the sin binning with Big Mac returning (alongside Rhys with Hopcroft returning to the stands following his excursion) but this could not stop Coventry getting the next score. A succession of penalties left Leeds pinned in their own 22, the next penalty was taken quickly but Cov came short, Kitt gave another penalty which was again taken quickly and the Coventry scrum half sneaked under the defence to score. The conversion was missed taking the score to 15-11 after 47 minutes.
The
pitch was taking its toll with players tiring and mistakes entering
the game, it was a war of attrition. During the first half I had a
feeling that Coventry would start to tire in the second but it seemed
like adrenaline and the chance to take the most prized scalp was
their prime motivation. The 2nd
half was spend almost exclusively in the Leeds half, our inability to
clear the ball to anyone but the Coventry’s backs was taking its
toll. Everytime the Cov backline got the ball they either returned
it with interest of ran hard back at Leeds. The Leeds defence was
good in what must have been very difficult conditions, on the
occasions that Coventry broke the line Leeds tracked back and took
down their man.
I have to admit that the last 20 minutes had
me worried, a combination of poor kicking in defence, as well as
impressive confrontational attack by Coventry and strange decisions
by Kitt meant that Coventry were kept within striking distance of the
Leeds line. They had several chances to score but they were unable
to capitalise, the most likely chance was a four man overlap that
they squandered. They had kicks for goal but none of them went over
the sticks meaning that the final score was the same as it was in the
47th
minute. After last week a score of 15-11 would have been very
disappointing but after that half a win is a win and 15-11 was just
that.
Full
Time – Coventry 11 – 15 Leeds Carnegie
On
the journey back from the match I was wondering what the dressing
room would be like, would the players be torn apart for not
dispatching an inferior team or would they be battle weary and
supported by the management. It appears that the latter is the case
with Neil Back declaring that he was proud of his players and he
“thought
everyone of our squad could hold their head up high after the game
and we will move on from here to next week and a tough game at home
against Esher, who are scrapping for their lives“.
We are 12 points clear at the top of the table but Exeter have a
game in hand, we all know what Esher did to Exeter and we will
have to improve to ensure that we do not suffer the same fate.
Coventry
11 – 15 Leeds (HT 6-15)
Coventry – T: Walls (47), 2xP: Dorrian
(11,38)
Leeds – T: Blackett (3), Rowan (23); 1xC: Di Bernardo
(23); 1xP: 1 Di Bernardo (8)
Attendance
- ~1600
Coventry:
Russell, Johnson, Dixon, Sanders, Winter, Dorrian, Walls, Dugard,
Whitehead, Brits, Herrington, Burgess, Venter, Miller,
McGlone
Replacements: Pearl for Dugard (62), Whitehall for
Whitehead (62), Lyons for Herrington (58), Clayton for Miller (66),
Slater for Johnson (68), Hayes for Sanders (66), Atkinson for Burgess
(57)
Leeds Carnegie: Hinton Blackett, Hepworth, Barrow, Welding,
Di Bernardo, Bedford, MacDonald, Rawlinson, McGee, Murphy,
Pendlebury, Myall, Rowan, Oakley
Replacements: Hopcroft for
MacDonald (36 rev 46), Ma'asi for Rawlinson (52), D Paul for Oakley
(52), Boyde for Rowan (69), Mathie for Bedford (69), H Paul,
Goodridge for Hinton (77)
Referee: Rowan Kitt
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15/02/2009 23:18
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good report and congratulations on your recent engagement!
looking forward to the Premiership next Season already...!
Up the Carnegies !
