By Loosehead
September 5 2005

An impressive forward display saw the Leeds Tykes through to the semi final of Powergen cup for the 2nd season running Leeds started the game in fine form by dominating the early exchanges possession & territory.

Leeds opened the scoring with a Ross penalty and within the first 17 minutes, they managed to build up a 12-6 lead with 3 pens and a drop goal from the boot of Ross.

Saints were lucky not to conceded a try  when Wing Diego Albanese looked like scoring in the corner after Balshaw off loaded in the tackle and Scott Morgan's handling set Diego free down the left, but England Wing Ben Cohen managed to knock the ball loose as he attempted to ground the ball.

Saints then looked to respond to the Tykes threat by moving the ball down field  but Saints managed to fluff a golden scoring opertunity when Seely knocked on after some good handling by the Saints backline.

The Tykes then mauled and drove their way down field from a succession of penalties and drives with Saints flanker Darren Fox being sin binned for diving into the rolling maul. Instead of taking the 3 points on offer from the boot of Goggs Leeds opted for the kick to touch and from another succession of driving mauls Leeds stalwart Mike Shelley scored his 1st try for the club in 4 years.

With Dickens causing all sorts of problems at the base of the Saints scrum Jonny Howard was subbed after around 35 minuets and former All Black Mark Robinson entered the fray. At the end of the 1st half the tykes were 17-6 up.

The 2nd half saw a quick Leeds try for Ronnie Regan who couldn't believe his luck when he found himself on the end of a pass from Alan Dickens. From the kick-off the Saints made a harsh things and with the ball passed backwards and no forward running, the ball came back to an unsuspecting Cohen who knocked on, Dickens scrambled on the loose ball, darted forward and found Regan on his outside to score. Goggs added the 2 points and Leeds were 24-6 up.

Saints needed to score quickly and got one on the 50 minute mark when Wylie Human chipped his kick and left the Leeds defence beating Diego to the touchdown, with a kick from the touchline by Drahm, and a further penalty on the hour it looked like Saints might have sneaked a win, but in what can only be described as a moment of  madness and taking the law into his own hands Saints scrumhalf Robinson was red carded for stamping on Mark Regan who was on the wrong side of the ruck.

With the Saints reduced to 14 men all chance of them sneaking a win looked to have gone although Drahm reduced the deficit to 5 points with another penalty and set up a nail biting 5 minutes. The Tykes defence held firm to give them a much needed win and boost of confidence, as well as a home draw against London Irish in the smei-finals of the Powergen Cup.

---