By apb
December 24 2004

This coming Monday (officially titled "Boxing Day" for the massed ranks of pedantry who may read this) sees a big day for Leeds Tykes - the annual ZP match at Headingley against the Newcastle Falcons.

Always a good fixture, the marketing bods at Leeds Rugby are especially pleased this year that the Falcons game is likely to see England captain Jonny Wilkinson out on the Headingley turf for the first time in two years, and that this fixture is the Christmas one.

A large crowd is expected, and anecdotally I know of several groups of people from my local club and the surrounding area who are going to be at this match, along with their children too. Great news for Leeds, who look like they might break their record attendance this game, but why all this interest suddenly in the Tykes? Well of course they're going along to see the mega-hero Wilko himself, and it's slightly strange to think of all those Yorkshire folk who just might be supporting Newcastle. However, a Leeds win in style would be just the ticket to get a goodly proportion of those people back for more, and who knows, some may even become season ticket holders one day!

But to do that, the game and the day itself needs to be a spectacle. The non-rugby part of the match-day experience is covered, with Leeds Rugby hosting many local clubs in the hospitality suites before and immediately after the game, while the LTSA is holding a free Christmas party in the South Stand Supporters Club Bar after the match, where the newly installed "Tykes Corner" - pictures and memorabillia of Tykes' past and present - is located.

Yes, OK, but what about the Match itself?

On the one hand I'm very confident that Leeds will go all the way and win big. The last three weeks has seen the opportunities to muscle out lowly opposition (Valladolid at home), try some new, improved tactics (Valladolid away), and to verify those new tactics in higher intensity, more important competition (Pertemps Bees). Confidence is high, skill levels are greatly improved, and the team are gelling well in all areas of the pitch. Couple that with Newcastle's relatively disappointing showing of late, and you'd go for a Tykes win.

So, a five-pointer then?

Well, maybe, but we mustn't forget that Newcastle have had a completely different few weeks. They deservedly won the Powergen Cup last year, consequently earning a place in this year's Heineken Cup. And so for up until last week they have been competing in the world's greatest club-level tournament beating Scotland's best regional side Edinburgh twice to leave them with a 100% record in their pool. Last week this was followed by a tough, uncompromising Powergen Cup sixth round tie against Sarries, where they narrowly lost out by 22-20. Two wins and, yes, a loss, but this was tough, high level competition of the sort you find in the ZP.

I'm confused! So you think a Newcastle to win, then?

Nope, I don't think so. I still think Leeds will have the edge. Jonny Wilko is warming the bench again this week, but is odds-on to come on at least at half time, but his kicking in the Sarries game was not up to standard - and not just Jonny's standard - it wasn't up to anybody's standard by all accounts. Although he will want to make amends for that this week, its not something that usually comes back overnight. (Then again, its Jonny we're talking about, so who knows?).

Leeds have had the perfect opportunity to improve their game in a gentle way, increasing the intensity over the weeks and making sure they are ready, fresh, and raring to go. Newcastle have had three hard, hard games, and last week's loss may leave them feeling a little bit unsure of themselves. Although this will be Marius Hurter's final game for the Falcons and he'll want to leave with a win, I strongly expect the Tykes to click together and to make this one a win for the home team. With the large crowd expected, and some encouragement from the drummers in the South Stand, Leeds can and should do the business.

Teams:

Leeds Tykes

15 Tim Stimpson
14 Tom Biggs
13 Chris Bell
12 Andre Snyman
11 Phil Christophers
10 Gordon Ross
9 Mark McMillan

1 Mike Shelley
2 Mark Regan
3 Rayno Gerber
4 Scott Morgan
5 Tom Palmer (c)
6 Jon Dunbar
7 Richard Parks
8 Colm Rigney

16 Matt Holt
17 Gavin Kerr
18 Chris Murphy
19 Dan Hyde
20 Alan Dickens
21 Gareth Wright
22 Matt Cardey



Newcastle Falcons

15 Matthew Burke
14 Tom May
13 Jamie Noon
12 Epi Taione
11 Mathew Tait
10 Dave Walder
9 James Grindal

1 Ian Peel (c)
2 Andy Long
3 Marius Hurter
4 Stuart Grimes
5 Andy Buist
6 Colin Charvis
7 Cory Harris
8 Phil Dowson

16 James Isaacson
17 Micky Ward
18 Matt Thompson
19 Mike McCarthy
20 Jonny Wilkinson
21 Hall Charlton
22 Joe Shaw

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