Yorkshire Carnegie
Leeds Carnegie to Smother Exeter Backlash
Chiefs Miserable...
By Chris Doyle
December 18 2008
With Leeds beating Nottingham last weekend 12-19, which was a hard fought contest and Exeter drawing with Esher 12-12 that leaves a nice 5 point gap between the two sides playing at Headingley this Saturday. We will have to expect a big backlash from Exeter this weekend because they know if they can get a win maybe their promotion hopes are back on track...
...and us “Negie” fans know if we can get a win we could be either 9 or 10 points clear come Saturday night. But no matter what, it’s going to be a hard fought contest that we have all been looking forward to for months.
The squad for Saturday I think will be relatively similar to the Nottingham 22 maybe with a change in the front row with McGee coming in or even Gomez if he’s fit. The lineout didn’t function at all well last Sunday so I could see Murphy slotting in for Lund. Also I would like to see Di Bernardo starting but Strange’s kicking in the Notts game was faultless so I’d say he’d start maybe with ADB slotting in for the last 20. Mathie deserves a start as he’s been on the bench for the last couple of games and he keeps the game flowing really well when he’s on, which is not to take anything away from Bedford’s solid performances. There were a couple of knocks in the Notts game so maybe Vickerman or Blackett in the center and Biggsy on the wing. Fullback is getting harder to choose every week but I’d go with the reliability of Hinton. But all of this is up to Backy and im sure he’ll pick a good squad.
By the sound of things McDonald enjoyed himself last weekend according to the radio Leeds commentary he was being the pantomime villan as well as playing very hard, you can expect more of same against the Chiefs this weekend!
Exeter have a very large squad of around 50, obviously they got the squad selection wrong last week; apparently they rested 9 first XV players, will they get it wrong this week as well? Here's a quick run-down of a few of the key Exeter players:
Chirs Budgen: the 17st prop was at Northampton last season and was well liked there and is making a name for himself down in the west country.
Josh Drauniniu the 6ft 2 Fijian was away along with Biggsy and Vicks at the IRB World Series 7s, he has scored 9 tries so far this season, will he get any more this week?
Gareth Steenson: the 24 year old who I remember didn’t have the best of games when Leeds visited SP has scored 127 points this season from the boot.
Paul Mckenzie: the former Ulster man is apparently a rather nippy centre who has moved to the club recently.
Not forgetting former Tyke Clive Stuart-Smith, once considered a prospect as England scrum-half, is now plying his trade down at Sandy Park after spells at Worcester and Llanelli. Does he still have an axe to grind?
So do come down on Saturday K.O 2pm (gates open at 12) it will be a great day for the family, as there’s a Carnegie carnival on and before kick-off there’s the opera man Martin Toal performing. So come down on Saturday grab a pint and wear your Blue & Amber colours with pride.
The weekend’s fixtures:
Saturday 20th:
| Bedford | v | Rotherham Titans | 15:00 |
| Doncaster | v | London Welsh | 14:30 |
| Esher | v | Otley | 15:00 |
| Leeds Carnegie | v | Exeter Chiefs | 14:00 |
| Moseley | v | Newbury | 15:00 |
| Plymouth Albion | v | Nottingham | 15:00 |
| Sedgley Park | v | Manchester | 14:30 |
Sunday 21st:
Cornish Pirates v Coventry 14:00
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
18/12/2008 22:38
Waiting for the good times ...
..and waiting ....
... and waiting ...
