On a nippy Northumbrian lunchtime, game was initially as plagued with kicking as the first team game down the road at KP on Friday night, and Leeds began as they meant to go on with an opening try on ten minutes. From a lineout, the away hooker broke through the maul and touched down.

The Falcons almost hit back quickly on the left, and then what could have been a scoring pass out wide went just too high. As the Cardigan youngsters broke and looked good to score on the right a tap tackle saw the attacker fall into touch.

Back on the attack, Leeds’ pacy left winger was unable to get around the outside, and as the ball came right they scored again, the conversion swinging just past the post.

From a further lineout after the Falcons’ full-back was forced to carry into touch, Leeds mauled and then the tight head prop broke through the defence for another try, again unconverted, but the Falcons hit back immediately, our fly-half making a good solo run past the far post and diving over.

The game’s end-to-end nature continued, the visitors extending their lead to 7-22 by half time. A big kick was sent over from right to left, and the winger caught the ball, falling over in the process, before getting up and scrambling over. The wind made the conversion fall short, but I’m sure Leeds cared little.

Then it was into the bar for some blessed warmth, before returning out for the second 35-minute half. Unfortunately since I spent a lot of the half talking to Perry Green, I don’t have that much to say about the second period, although then again there weren’t a great deal of scoring chances to write about, and only two tries to the five before the interval.

The first came after 17 minutes of the second half, the Falcons making yards on the left before Leeds stole and came forward. The visiting inside centre had a winger free but decided to go himself, fighting through two defenders for his side’s second half scored.

The Falcons focused still on the left of the pitch, and our left winger broke through the defence after the ball was moved infield, although what looked to be a simple conversion was missed. From the final home attack, Leeds again turned over and came forward before knocking on, and the referee blew for full-time.

There weren’t as many people at this match as at the Sale game in September, probably due to a combination of the weather, the football, and there being no Premiership game nearby that afternoon. But it was an enjoyable game, with some exciting rugby from both sides, and at this level winning isn’t so important.

I’m still not sure about these plastic pitches though, at least not for the Premiership, as it takes away some of the skill of coping with the conditions I think, whatever it does for the fluidity of the match.