By Markc on 03/05/2004
September 5 2005

The OPTA stats in the match program told their own story. Northampton Saints were superior on all counts to the Leeds Tykes. And despite a gutsy performance under the sun by the men from Headingley a blistering second-half performance from the midlanders... ....in front of a huge throng of travelling fans condemned Leeds to life in the ZP’s nether regions, whilst boosting their own Premiership hopes.

Leeds actually took the lead after four minutes, when a stray pass by the visitors was intercepted by Alan Dickens who raced unopposed 40 yards down the pitch to touch down, the try converted by Ross. This stung the visitors into action, and they started to turn on the pressure ending with Grayson converting a penalty on 11. Saints kept up the pressure, but stout defending kept them at bay; though not always legally as Tristan Davies was yellow-carded for a deliberate obstruction. As the Welshman trudged off, Matt Holt who had picked up an injury joined him. The young Michael Cusack took his place. With all respect to the youngster, the Leeds front row which had held their own until now started to struggle.

From yet another Northampton penalty Grayson found touch, Saints won the lineout and Fox powered over into the corner to put the visitors into the lead for the first time at 7-8. Fortunately for the Tykes, Grayson failed to extend the lead further by missing the conversion.

Leeds started a mini-revival of their own after this, and Northampton had to weather a period of sustained Leeds pressure. A sublime kick from Ross finding touch just outside the Saints line should have led to a Tykes try, especially after Grayson was hassled into missing his clearance in the dead-ball area. However, despite winning a scrum on the visitors 5 Leeds somehow contrived (again) to lose possession and the danger passed. A bullocking run by Gav Kerr from midfield led to a Leeds penalty but Ross unluckily hit the post from the resulting kick, and as usual there was nobody quick enough to follow up and the ball was cleared. The continual Leeds pressure paid off on 36 minutes, though, when another Saints infringement in a ruck led to Ross restoring the home sides lead to 10-8. Though we didn’t know it at the time, the face of the game was about to change when Shane Drahm came on to replace Paul Grayson. Leeds managed to cling on to their lead as the visitors applied pressure, but appeared mightily relieved as the half-time whistle sounded.

Whatever was said in the Northampton changing-room had the desired effect. Leeds scrambled to clear their lines after the Saints pack pushed the Tykes all over the shop. Regan and Hyde had come on to replace Rawlinson and Persico, who had done nothing wrong in his rare appearance in a Leeds shirt, and now the whole balance of the scrum had altered. Another Leeds break was nullified when Cardey kicked out on the full, and the resulting fine work by Saints scrum-half Robinson sent veteran Nick Beale in unopposed under the Tykes posts much to the delight of the visiting horde of Northampton fans. Drahm took the simple conversion to put the visitors back in front 10-15. Tykes took another hammer-blow at this time also; Phil Christophers took an injury and had to be helped off, his place taken by Duncan Hodge.

Another poor Leeds restart led to more pressure from the rampant Saints, and poor defensive work led to another Northampton penalty following fine work between Robinson and Drahm, the latter putting a further three points up for the visitors.

Leeds still refused to lie down, and from the restart David Rees was halted just short of the try-line following a fine run by Phil Murphy. Once more, however, any gain was wasted after Scarbrough’s poor drop-goal effort. Northampton took this all in their stride and their patience was rewarded by yet another penalty on the halfway-line. Drahm’s stonking kick stretched the visitors lead still further 10-21.

Northampton started to turn the screw with Leeds now having to be content in picking up scraps. The familiar story was being replayed more and more as basic errors or stout Northampton defence was losing any home gains. This was compounded on the hour mark when Dan Scarbrough, who until now had been no better or worse than most, failed miserably at trying to chip Ben Cohen resulting in the England man racing alone down two thirds of the pitch to touch down. The unfortunate Scarbrough was immediately substituted to make way for 17-year-old David Doherty, who at 17 is the youngest player ever to represent the Tykes at senior level.

Tykes still refused to lie down, and from the restart Ross almost burst through to score in the corner, but the afternoon was once more summed up as the Scot dropped the ball before grounding it. Further pressure was applied, including a thrilling burst from Doherty, but the usual combination of stout defence and poor home handling negated any advantage Leeds tried to make. The Saints defence was finally breached, following a raft of Saints substitutions, when after a Leeds lineout David Rees snuck over for a well deserved try. Ross slotted over the conversion to reduce the arrears to 15-26. By the way Leeds were now playing a losing bonus point was the very least on the cards. This was not to be, as the visitors now extended their lead by arguably the finest try of the game. A poor take from the restart resulted in a Northampton scrum over on their left. Drahm received the ball, and executed a stunning cross-field kick straight into the hands of Ben Cohen who thundered over to take his second try of the match. Drahm’s accuracy deserted him for the conversion, which clouted the post to go wide.

Leeds came back once more, to their credit, but with the match now deep within injury time desperate measures were required to try for a losing bonus. Ross sought to emulate Drahm’s cross field kick in the last play of the game, but sadly it was delivered into the hands of young prop Michael Cusack and with all due respect “England winger he ain’t”.
Cusack was bundled into touch and the ref’s whistle brought both an entertaining yet frustrating match to an end.

Northampton came out to applaud their army of travelling fans, one worries as to what the ‘crowd’ would have been without them, and indeed it must have seemed like a home game to them.

Leeds, to their credit, battled to the end. The defence was, on the whole, stout. Palmer is proving to be a colossus in the lineouts. Once more, though, their old enemies of careless play and poor scrummaging beat them. If the opposition nullifies PC in the centres then there appears to be no vision. Last season, the weapon of “Braam’s Boot” spoilt us. This year, we have had no such luxury and have suffered as a result. Hopefully the management will learn from this and invest in a mean front row.

The visitors on the other hand show how it should be done. They are a model club both on and off the park and their attractive side and sporting supporters deserve each other. Indeed, if Robinson and Drahm is their second choice halfback pairing then we can only go green with envy.