Yorkshire Carnegie
Trick or Treat this Sunday?
Will be missed....
By Mark_C
October 29 2010
‘Negies tackle Wasps this Sunday, and as is customary when facing elite opposition the boys from Wycombe are smarting from a home drubbing by Northampton – so they’ll have nothing to prove then! Waspies have injury doubts about Rikki Flutey and evergreen Simon Shaw, but they’ve more than enough guns in their locker to put in adequate replacements. Dom Waldouck, Tim Payne, and Dan Ward-Smith have been released from England training duties there’s class in the backs with the choice from ‘Motorhead’ Lemi, Richard Haughton and speedster Tom Varndell, plus the ever-dependable Dave Walder making a foray closer to home. And not to forget Halloween, there’s the scary monster that is Serge Betsen waiting to join the back row. One gentleman who will not be making an appearance is Phil Vickery who sadly has had to bow to the fact that his neck will not stand up to top flight rugby any longer. Good Luck in retirement, ‘Raging Bull’, thank you for all the good times and for gracing our paddocks all over the world.
Back to our boys. Well, it’s Halloween – will there be a horror show for us to feast upon? This year the approach appears to be the psychological thriller rather than the Exorcist-style show where all is recovered in the last act. Like the production of Blair-Witch, there’s a totally new approach to the game, yet somehow it doesn’t appear to be the polished article. The last two home games have shown the Jekyll and Hyde of the team’s approach – some sublime play against the French aristocrats of Stade Francaise was only a breadth of Madam Guillotine away from success, whilst last week’s defence dominated clash against our friends from Sale was zombie-like in its execution....
So, to the team. Front row MUST include the Thing that is Wine-Gums. My favourite hooker (of the rugby genus) Titterell will return to take up his place as a rose between two Latin thorns as I’d start with the ‘Dark Master’ Alonso. Marco has his place cemented in, and street-fighting Ginger Tom will be there with him as a more than able lieutenant. Back row? Shrek’s away and Alfie’s still injured, so picking any combi from Myall, Browne, Oakley and the bullock that is Danny Paul will do the trick. Whoever starts will not let the side down.
Now for the backs.....and where do we go? Sadly, due to the fact that only plan 9 from Outer Space seemed to have been rehearsed we were treated to a crab-like pass-fest with as much penetration as a weekend in a convent. There’s no room for sentiment here, Mr Back has got to wield the Texas chain-saw and make the most of his WMDs. Fury at nine for his unpredictability, and Clipper at 10 as he’s still confident enough to write tales of the unexpected on the pitch. I’m putting Blackie at 11 to stop Lemi, and Henry ‘ at 14 simply because he deserves a start. Fulton to go 12 and a welcome return to Mr Barrow at 13. And as you all know if he’s fit Hints will always be my No1 15. That still gives us plenty of ammo for the bench, too, and those boys sitting there will be contented to know they are part of the squad, but fired up enough to get in the first XV the following week.
Will we win? Well, if we fall behind we must claw our way back and not fall into a black-lagoon depression. We must carry out our plans, count our moments, execute our moves as if on a training pitch and hammer the opposition. If the omens are right, we should avoid kicking ourselves in the ghoulies, and get as much from our possession as possible. This will raise our spirits and send our southern friends back home screaming for their mummies......
I’ll probably be a pumpkin, but I’m going for Leeds by 13......now where’s my garlic?
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29/10/2010 05:52
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"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)
The winds of change in the back line are upon us and its time for action!
Trick or treat? A bit of both would do nicely, as long as we get our first home win.
Suffering on the Leeds and Yorkshire roller-coaster since 2001
He's doing a (very good ) rugby match preview.
Why should he have some tacky American import involved in that? The preview is a very serious piece of journalism, not to be confused with ghoulishness and trickery.
Hopefully that will appear on the pitch and in our favour!
Up the Carnegie TYKES !
