Twix

By Andy Brown
April 17 2009

We have the last final of the cup before a major re-vamp of the competition. The two competitors are on the one hand a side that has been dominant all season and that has never lost a Twickenham final who are overwhelming favourites, against a team with good players but struggling frantically against relegation, which is surely it's prime concern.

The fans of the former team are supremely confident of a win. The fans of the latter just happy to be there. The date is April 16^th, 2005, and the teams in question are Bath and Leeds Tykes.

Nobody gave Leeds a hope in this cup final. Yet their energy, physicality and sheer tenacity, coupled with the best game of his life as a Leeds player from Gordon Ross, produced the result that none of us could really have expected. Hoped for, yes, expected, no.

Fast forward by almost exactly four years, and we have the same sort of set-up, but the roles are reversed. Leeds will have to be supremely confident but their recent meeting with Moseley, together with Moseley's outstanding performance against Exeter prior to that should ensure that any air of arrogance should be well and truly stamped upon.

Moseley proved that relegation candidates they may be, but they have a physicality up front that is not to be ignored (unlike, with all due respect, our two most recent league opponents where the scrummaging from the Leeds tight five(s) was supremely dominant), and that is coupled with extremely fast backs. Although I didn't make the trip to Billesley Common, I am reliably informed that the Moseley backs made us look a bit ordinary in the second half.

But then again, the Moseley coach Ian Smith has been interviewed and seems to be suggesting that they shall be concentrating on the league fixtures they have backed up after this weekend. He has implied that the strongest possible XV isn't necessarily the XV that will take the field at noon on Saturday. "It'll be a nice day out, but we'll have most of our thoughts on avoiding relegation" is the basis of his message.

But don't be fooled. A cup final is a cup final. No matter where you are in the league, you want to win matches. You never, ever, ever go out to limit the damage and hope you can move on to better things after that. Leeds' visit to Twickenham in 2005 was the catalyst for better things. They beat Bath in that intense final and used that mindset to drive them on to secure their top-flight status in a winning streak which still hasn't been bettered at the wrong end of the Premiership table (much to Harlequins' chagrin that year!).

This year, Leeds have nothing left to prove. Neither do they have anything left to save themselves for, with promotion secured they can go all out and put out the very strongest team possible; especially as it could be the last appearance in a Leeds shirt for one or two players who may be moving on to other clubs.

So, taken at face value, with Moseley not caring and the promotion pressure off Leeds, it should be a cakewalk, and a comfortable afternoon of free-flowing, try scoring rugby and rock-solid Leeds defence, allowing a carefree afternoon for all the Leeds faithful travelling down the M1.

But the memories of 2005 still bug me. Being the underdog was good for us that day. I just hope we can do to Moseley what Bath failed to do against us, and maintain our 100% record at HQ.

Favourites, or Underdogs. Which is Best?

Discussion started by TykesRugby.co.uk (IP Logged), 17/04/2009 10:42

TykesRugby.co.uk
17/04/2009 10:42

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

Tartan Tyke
17/04/2009 10:58

Good report Andy
My sentiments exactly,this is a cup final and as we know from passed encounters anything can happen.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

Reply Quote Report

LS3
17/04/2009 11:03

Thanks Andy

Reply Quote Report

tyke93
17/04/2009 11:04

Cheers andy, great preview

LEEDS CARNEGIE TYKES - MARCHING ON TOGETHER TO THE PREMIERSHIP

Reply Quote Report

merry
17/04/2009 11:08

cheers andy. you've highlighted my main concern there about mose using hq as a springboard, much like we did. i'm still quietly confident, but also quite nervous. hope the lads are on song tomorrow.

Reply Quote Report

Rocky
17/04/2009 11:13

Can't be at the match but I will be listening to it on BBC Leeds. I hope those who go have a great time and lets hope for some great rugby!

Reply Quote Report

LS3
17/04/2009 11:15

Quote:

Rocky The Tyke
Can't be at the match but I will be listening to it on BBC Leeds. I hope those who go have a great time and lets hope for some great rugby!

And the right result!!

Reply Quote Report

Baaartman
17/04/2009 11:51

Many thanks for your updates in the past Rocky, such a shame you can't be there in person. I for one will spare a thought for you - thats assuming I don't get too caught up in the atmosphere and forget!!!!!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:17:11:52:04 by Baaartman.

Reply Quote Report

Tufty the Tyke
17/04/2009 19:51

Cheers Andy, Give the lads a big cheer from me. BTW, what does "almost exactly" mean exactly? Have a gud 'un.

Reply Quote Report

tyke93
17/04/2009 20:29

Are you not joining us at HQ Tufty?

LEEDS CARNEGIE TYKES - MARCHING ON TOGETHER TO THE PREMIERSHIP

Reply Quote Report

Haxbytyke
17/04/2009 20:57

Quote:

tyke93
Are you not joining us at HQ Tufty?

You weren't joining us until this morning!!



COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.

Reply Quote Report

tyke93
17/04/2009 21:05

Thats true haxby, but now I am, so surely I am entitled to say 'us' seen as I am now part of the travelling party?

LEEDS CARNEGIE TYKES - MARCHING ON TOGETHER TO THE PREMIERSHIP

Reply Quote Report

Timofe
19/04/2009 10:48

Very good premonition / warning, apb.

Suffering on the Leeds and Yorkshire roller-coaster since 2001

Reply Quote Report

dragon27
19/04/2009 10:50

Yeah it's your fault apb.

Reply Quote Report

Mark_C
19/04/2009 13:43

Spot on piece of writing, Andy.

Well done.

Reply Quote Report

tyke93
19/04/2009 18:17

Id agree. And Underdogs obviously in answer to the question!

LEEDS CARNEGIE TYKES - MARCHING ON TOGETHER TO THE PREMIERSHIP

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, you do not have permission to post/reply in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net