Wrecker of dreams
The famous shed was subdued and we looked like a Premier team. True Gloucester scored a try from a scrum break by Qera but Leeds bounced back almost immediately with 2 penalties from Di Bernado. Ryan Lamb responded with a penalty and a Di Bernado drop goal meant we were only a point behind at 10-9.
A fracas between Hooper and James, nothing really, resulted in a 10 min break for both. A quickly taken free kick saw that man Qera make a break with Azzam scoring from short range. The few supporters who made the trip were still hopeful - the pack were going well, Hooper, Bouza and Oakley were stealing line out ball from some very poor throwing from Azzam, the scrum was as settled as I can remember and the tackling was making life difficult for Gloucester to get anything going. So with us playing with the wind in the second half we were hoping for a close game and maybe the upset of the season.
Then it all went wrong. Alberto just could not find touch - his kicks just landed in the laps of Gloucester players who simply ran at us in waves. Had he found touch just a few times and with Azzam throwing like he was we would have had real chances, however the constant wave after wave of attacks finally paid off for Glos when Alberto for once decided not to kick and threw a pass - one that was intercepted by Lamb for a try under the posts.
Maasi came on and was soon in the bin for tackling a player without the ball. From the penalty that followed Gloucester decided to scrum and drove Leeds over for Qera to score a try. Soon after from a throw to the back of a lineout that man Qera collected the ball to score under the posts. With 10 minutes left and with Brookes on for Alberto Leeds reverted to playing controlled rugby and following a yellow card for Bortolami, Darren Edwards dived over from short range from a 5 metre line out.
All the forwards played well Hopcroft, Macdonald, Bouza, Lock and Oakley all carried and tackled well, in the backs Hinton caught everything and kicked well, Burrell dropped a couple of passes but looks the part, Armstrong didn't see much of the ball but is a big lad with pace. He did tend to go lateral and got himself isolated on occasion but he will benefit from this game.
Yes we lost, yes we're relegated but as a Gloucester supporter said to me after the match, if you play like that next year you will get promoted and do a lot better in the GP next time.
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