Yorkshire Carnegie
Notting our dreams
By Selby Kev
April 17 2013
...since the dark depressing hours at Donny or the ice-skating fiasco at Otley did we ever imagine that such a real opportunity would once again come knocking on Headingley’s door? But defying the laws of Championship gravity we kept our campaign train on track and now our fate has once again come to rest nervously in the palm of our own hands.
Many of us are still dazed with disbelief about the gathering momentum which we saw so well executed against Bedford. That ‘away’ win cannot be underestimated? It has been said eloquently before but still offers an important context ahead of the Notts game. It was brilliant, inspiring, resolute, mature and focused? Well, certainly in the first half! OK it wasn’t perfect. There were a few daft defensive errors that left the faint hearted skipping a few beats and made us mount ‘yet another’ heroic defence...but hey whats new!?
For the most part it is now abundantly clear that Leeds are most definitely starting to evolve into an accomplished unit...and as DE said on Sat “ just at the right time”. Bedford and Nottingham have come within a few points of beating Newcastle recently. We nearly did the same at Otley. I don’t think we should get ahead of ourselves, as there is still a long way to go, but on recent form (five straight wins) we have ‘not just’ hit a lucky streak.....but are increasingly looking like a team that ‘absolutely deserves’ on merit to be in the playoffs... and, indeed, will give anyone a good run for their money.
Of course, it’s very important that we keep our feet firmly on the ground and there still remains the small matter of overcoming Nottingham on Saturday. This is a team that have beaten us away ( or were we feeling generous?), have beaten Bedford and Bristol and come very close to beating Newcastle. They are very formidable opponents; they will not be intimidated by Leeds and it will take another supreme effort back at HQ, both in skill and concentration, to capture this scalp and....’finally’ nail our colours firmly to the Play Off mast.
Let us hope for starters that our fragile (post -Rotherham) turf has been lovingly restored with each wee divot carefully nailed back into position...and maybe even interspersed with the odd cluster of Craggy Island shamrock?
We must avoid any thought of what ‘others’ are doing on the day! Bris had a good win over Pirates...and are only 2 points behind....and ‘on the day’ anything can happen against Falcons....too many permutations to worry our heavy heads about! We simply need to win...end of story.
Nottingham are a talented squad. This is the team that spanked Bristol 63-7 in Nov. We need to watch out for their flanker/skipper /leading try scorer-Bret Wilson who was taken off injured against Pirates with a bad back. We wish him luck but advise him to rests up for the Play Offs!... Wingers Rhys Crane, Andrew Savage and Alex Lewington ( Leicester dual reg )... all look menacing along with Tim Steather at centre. Certainly a potent and creative back line...whilst also boasting a powerful set of well organised mauling forwards.
Meanwhile Leeds are coming to the boil quite nicely..offering a young but inspirational captain in Jacob Rowan, a power house at 15 in the shape of Wee Stevie, a demented greyhound on the wing out of trap 1 known as David Doherty , two solid and creative tacticians at 10 both ( on present form) with silvery boots. Against Bedford Griffin played a solid game with the promise of yet more to come. The forwards are holding their own in all departments and our defence is huge.... On the downside we can still make daft mistakes...and are often our own worst enemy. However I will leave the real assessment to that anonymous Bedford fan that Baldric quotes: “they’re ripping us apart...they’re 10% better in every department!”
On sat we must cut out the errors, play good position, good territory... and play 1-15 as a really cohesive team. I’m sure this promises to be a feast of rugby and a game of fluctuating drama...Shame the drums are silent now...but our croaking, strained and gravelly voices will surely find thunderous form on the day!?
We need to play positive rugby from the whistle. Attack, as we are increasingly demonstrating, is the best form of defence!
I may even be privately and quietly coming to the conclusion ( will know for certain after the game!) that DE is not, after all, playing such a bad hand?
Never thought we would be here...but we are...Marching On Together. Seize the day lads!!..”Cometh the Hour...”. Sorry folks no guesses on the score line...We have the talent to nail this... but any win will do. Come on Ye Tykes!
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
17/04/2013 05:48
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:04:29:06:48:25 by Wildwillie .
You've got it right - forget about the others, play our own game and get a win from this game.
We just need to find a way of keeping DE out of the changing room at halftime.
Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It
'proficiscor in una'
And now we need a performance on the Headingley turf.
Come on you Tykes!
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It
'proficiscor in una'
I have also heard that Nottingham are having some financial difficulties and are looking for a new sponsor, so the thought of uncertainty might be in a few players heads - thats to our advantage too
Life is what you make of it - you only get 1 so enjoy it
We play well - easy win., 5 points
We play badly, scrape a win, 4 points
We both play well, close game, 1 or 4 points
We play badly, get hammered, null points
Both my heart & head think it will be close
It was easy it would be called football.
Allez les Tykes
I wasn't born in Yorkshire but I got here as soon as I could
Suffering on the Leeds and Yorkshire roller-coaster since 2001
Don't want to slide into any sort of complacency or try to double guess this one...resting players...financial uncertainty etc.... Who knows?
Just hope we get a good crowd and play from the top drawer....oh yeah....and we avoid WW's option 4!!
Roll on tomorrow.
Suffering on the Leeds and Yorkshire roller-coaster since 2001
Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It
'proficiscor in una'
