By Tracy Gonçalves
April 4 2010

The problem with listening to a game on the radio is that you televise it in your head. At the mercy of the commentary team and the crowd reactions (which ones cheered? which ones groaned?) and with the horrible next door neighbours (known as the Clampits to everyone in the Close (I have another name for them that can't be published))

We will fight them on the beaches…………Marching on Together!

Leeds Carnegie 7 - Northampton Saints 14

Saturday 3^rd April 2010

By Tracy Gonçalves

Of the many famous people from Leeds, Thomas Chippendale, Ernie Wise, Gabby Logan, Peter O’Toole, our own Ian McGeechan and even Marco Pierre White, how would the city’s most famous son – John Craven - report it on his Newsround on Monday? Banana skin or Banana split – with a cherry on top? Well it was neither – but a win’s a win and I’ll take that any day of the week.

To be honest, I’m a tad bored with the off-pitch events that have overshadowed this very important clash and so won’t mention it – there’s plenty enough on all the message boards already and it’ll all come out in the wash anyway.

Back to matter on the pitch, clearly both teams have been salivating over a win; Leeds to maintain their survival hopes after Sale overcame Worcester and us to keep the pressure up on our bouncy mates up the road.

From the whistle, Leeds were off to a ‘hats on wheels’ start running over Kruger, charging down a Dickson box kick that was, thankfully, recovered on Saints five meter line. Not completely sure what happened next but in Frank Bruno style, Kruger dodged a punch from Myall that left Whitey White no option but to do the honourable thing and binned him. Smyler scored a penalty in return which was a direct result of all the kicking practice he had done on Skeggie beach............(0-3)

As with the Gardens, there was much advice from the crowd to assist the touch judge as Saints started putting the pressure on with Mooj crashing through the stationary Leeds defence/attack – they weren’t sure what they were doing either.

Now, I really don’t like it when we score first, it might be my imagination but whenever we do, our game descends in to a disjointed, mistake ridden, bottom clenching event, and I wasn’t going to be proven wrong this time either.

A missed drop goal by Smyler from in front of the sticks was followed by a certain amount of ponderous play from both sides, until the Saints decided to start playing and counter attacked a Leeds kick from the back of a scrum. Keeping the pressure on, Leeds couldn’t seem to get out of their half (I made that bit up since the commentary team don’t want to tell us, but it’s how I imagined it).

A cameo appearance of Edward Griffiths in the chat room brightened up what was turning into a dull affair, but even he got bored and popped off again (you wag you).

At one point the crowd became so quiet I can only surmise that they had popped into the bar to watch the Boat Race or that they had actually started doing the Sudoku in today's Yorkshire Herald. After some more poor handling by the Saints, the subsequent Leeds penalty landed just outside the Saints 22, but Titterall had an issue with his set square and handed a scrum to the Saints. Phew, you may say, but phew it was not as the Saints collapsed in to panic play and yet again handed the ball to Leeds 10 metres out from our try line.

Needless to say the game got scrappy, but Leeds seemed to want to score more and start putting immense pressure in the Saints 22. Time after time the Saints repelled the onslaught, but there’s only so long a defence can hold out and after further sustained attacking play, the big bearded Gomez crashed over to score the first try, which was duly converted (7 – 3).

It’s a shame that Mark Easter didn’t have a big game seeing as it is his weekend J, but after a pants kick off, Mr Easter dropped the ball that was gratefully collected by Leeds who thundered into the Saints 22, who, by now, are reeling and a rocking. Luckily, a turnover gave Foden the opportunity for a great up and under and Saints were on the attack smashing into Leeds 22 – but that’s when it started...........it’s a game called “let’s get within five metres of Leeds try line and then knock it on”.

This the saints did – attack, five metres from the try line – drop the ball, attack, five metres from the try line, turn it over and finally, attack, five metres from the try line and, you’ve guessed it, knock it on again! arrrhhhh

I can’t help feeling that may be there was half an eye on next week’s game, the Saints lineout was poor, the scrum was under pressure and – those flipping knock-on’s and turnovers were becoming more apparent. The game degenerated further and it became all a bit crash back wallop, but then a glimmer of hope. A lost Leeds lineout handed a scrum to Saints who picked up the pace and pressed the Leeds line again............only until they reached the five metre line and.............................knock it on again.

Thank god it’s half time – I need a cup of tea.

Within two minutes of the 2^nd half, an offence in the scrum gave Smyler an opportunity to narrow the gap to one, which he did and that trip to Skeggie was starting to pay off. But then again both sides wander off into a bit of sloppy play – Leeds were fighting for their premiership lives, Saints just doing enough to keep them at bay.

This was never going to be a classic and when Saints started pressing again, perhaps, I thought, we’d see a bit of the rugby we’ve had the pleasure to witness in previous matches, but loose play and another handling error, handed the ball back to Leeds. Another bit of naughtiness with clenched fists nearly landed Ashton a ten minute rest, but intervention from the touch judge spared him and a Leeds player from anything more than a telling off from the man in the middle.

Again Saints pressure and attack, throwing the ball left and right, crashing through the middle and pinning Leeds back on their line, with inches to go for their first try, what do the Saints do? Give away another daft penalty...arrrhhhh again!

Finally wholesale changes for the Saints and a massive cheer from both sets of supporters when Tiny enters the breach or should that be, the beach. The replacements make an immediate impact, and Saints put Leeds under a tornado of pressure, attack after attack, inching forward – surely the Saints would score, surely, surely and yes, surely enough, five metres out and we knock it on AGAIN.

But this disappointment is short lived as the Saints continue to press Leeds line, past the dodgy five metres – phew, not a dropped ball or turnover but a penalty awarded to the Saints that was easily converted by Smyler (7 – 9).

Leeds realise what’s at stake and attack the Saints with gusto only to infringe and provide Saints with a relieving penalty with 11 minutes to go. Whatever happened next – I have no idea - ended up with a scrum being awarded to the Saints in the Leeds half much to the disgust of the Yorkshire crowd, but they soon cheered up when the scrum collapsed and they earned a penalty.

On the saints 22, Leeds had the perfect attacking lineout opportunity, but yet again Titterall, fails to throw the ball straight and a relieving scrum is taken by the Saints.

It’s squeaky bum time (can I say bum?) as Leeds start pressing forward with 5 minutes to go, but a turnover won by the Saints lets Dickson make a terrific break, allowing Bruce to attack at speed and pass the ball to my MOT(radio)M Foden who pounces over to score a try PHEW! Smyler misses the conversion (7 – 14)

With two minutes to go, young Cannon comes on and Saints hang on for gritty win.

Any away win, is a good win and when it’s against a team that are finding their premiership feet and fighting for their top flight life, it’s even better.

Credit to Leeds, they didn’t give up and I, for one, hope they do stay up. What I do want from my own side is a vastly improved performance; otherwise next week’s ‘No Fear’ Munster match may turn out to be a very fearful experience indeed.