- Holy Trinity Part 2 - Leeds Away in the League

Holy Trinity Part 2 - Leeds Away in the League

Back from injury

By Leipziger December 22 2005
After three weeks killing time with three non-events of matches, we return to important Premiership action two days after Christmas with the same fixture we had this time last year – Leeds away at Headingley, a place we have not lost at in our last six visits.

This match is seen by many as a battle between the two sides most likely to be relegated from the Premiership this season, however we both won our last league matches – us 17-15 at home to Wasps, and the Tykes 16-12 at Bath. Before then they had lost all of their first seven Premiership games, their first two Powergen Cup matches and against Cardiff in the Heineken Cup. However the Wasps win was the first of four games unbeaten which included an 18-18 draw at Headingley against Newcastle in the final Powergen Cup pool meeting. Since that match three weeks ago, Leeds have played Perpignan twice in Europe, winning at home and losing away in two tight games.

Leeds have a talented squad with a plethora of internationals: Andre Snyman (SA), Gavin Kerr, Gordon Bulloch, Gordon Ross, Jon Dunbar, Roland Reid (Scotland), Justin Marshall (New Zealand), David Rees, Tim Stimpson, Tom Palmer, Iain Balshaw (England), Roland De Marigny (Italy), Kees Lensing (Namibia), Richard Parks and Nathan Thomas (Wales) are those who have represented their countries. The signings of Marshall and Bulloch this summer were particular coups for the Cup holders, and they have three former Falcons in Dunbar, Stimpson and prop James Isaacson.

In addition both Kerr and Snyman were born in Newcastle, the latter the South African city of the same name as ours.

As previously stated, we have won at Leeds every time we have met them at Headingley except for a 30-30 draw in March 2004. A year ago we were victorious 15-11, and we have also won a friendly and Cup tie in Yorkshire. Therefore we must be looking to keep up a good history at Leeds, although such drama as Hall Charlton’s late try in February 2003 may be too much to expect.

Injuries have taken their toll on our backs recently, however the return from Sevens of Mathew Tait and signing of young scrum-half Shaun Richardson should alleviate the problem somewhat. After two big wins, and four games unbeaten, this game is a must-win to keep us away from the dreaded 12^th place.

Can’t wait for what promises to be a real blood and thunder battle.

Oh, and Merry Christmas everyone!

Falcons team:-

15 Matthew Burke

14 Joe Shaw

13 Jamie Noon

12 Mark Mayerhofler

11 Mathew Tait

10 Toby Flood

9 James Grindal

1 Micky Ward

2 Andy Long