Hero or villain?

By WildWillie
December 12 2011

The drive down to Leeds on Sunday lunchtime was a worrying time. So many imponderables. Could we compete witht the mighty Pirates? Were we in for a re-run of the "Mennaye mauling"? Would the lads give the Pirates a jolly rogering? So much to think about that I was in LS6 in no time at all, and, with a tightening knot in the pit of my stomach, I realised that I was about to find out......

The game started pretty much as I had dreaded. Pirates win possesion, Pirates keep possesion! Punching holes in our midfield defence and running through their repertoire of attacking moves. Leeds looked in for a long hard afternoon until, on the first venture into the Pirates half, Joe Ford slotted a DG to give us an undeserved lead. This did not last long as we had a lot more Pirate pressure to deal with. First an infringement let their fullback in for an easy three then, with 15 minutes to the break, Doherty got past Stevo in a foot race to the corner and Mike opted for the obstruction (+ penalty try and yellow card). Had he waited for the ball to bounce then we might have maintined par for a while longer.

The 10 minutes when we were a man down proved, for me, to be the catalyst for the eventual win. In that time we attacked with gusto and came away with points on two occasions so that when Stevo came back on with 5 minutes to the break we were back in contention at 9-10. A silly penalty meant it was 9-13 at the interval but the team had showed that they could rattle the visitors. In the second half we were to see a lot more of that.

Leeds came out with Scott Barrow replacing Joe Barker and started into the Pirates from the off.  Thornley made some good breaks, one of which should have led to a try for Tommy Bell. Joe Ford was unleashing some high kicks into the night sky - finally one of these was spilled by the Pirates fullback in his 22 and the lads piled in, scenting blood. It was only fitting that Mike Stephenson should score what would turn out to be the winning try in the corner in front of the South Stand and his face showed how much it meant to him.

As the clock wound down Diccon sent on two of his pups ( Beck & Walker) who immediately added energy and aggression to the pack and we started to believe that a win was possible/probable. Despite both props playing the full 80 minutes we were clearly the stronger team at the end and the jubilation at the final whistle was echoed around the ground.

The entire pack, led by a fired-up skipper, were magnificent but for me Sean Hohneck had his best game in a Leeds shirt despite the champagne going to Thornley. The backrow grafted throughout. Danny Paul is back and we are back in the mix. A deserved break next week then off to Donny for the festivities. Bring it on!

'Neegs edge Pirates in Tense Thriller

Discussion started by TykesRugby.co.uk (IP Logged), 12/12/2011 07:09

TykesRugby.co.uk
12/12/2011 07:09

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:12:18:10:52:39 by WildWillie .

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Rocky's Dad
12/12/2011 11:10

Thanks Willie
Good report

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Beeston Lion
12/12/2011 20:40

Good one Willie. You are in 'good' company re the forwards because Mike Ford heard the announcement of MOM and immediately said it should have gone to a forward.

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farmertyke
12/12/2011 21:12

Thanks WW....as you say bring on Donny.

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Haxbytyke
12/12/2011 21:37

Good report my friend. I was certain you would find room to comment on the 'shoeing' given to the Pirate who inadvertently, (?) lay down on the wrong side of a ruck. He didn't do it again.

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almostatyke
12/12/2011 21:55

Brilliant report, I thought that Pirates were close to going on the pillage on several occasions but were just about kept in check. And then superior fitness, the will to win and the home crowd saw a narrow victory. Overall a superbly-contested match and a fitting rehearsal for the play-off final (or am I getting carried away?)

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Newtfish
13/12/2011 07:38

Quote:

almostatyke
Overall a superbly-contested match and a fitting rehearsal for the play-off final (or am I getting carried away?)

Yes.

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Wildwillie
13/12/2011 18:50

There are a number of teams wh are "coming into form" at the moment. We will need to find a couple of extra gears in the new year if we want to stay the course.

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datz
13/12/2011 20:35

I also thought it was Hoenecks best performance. Which was gratifying after the pre match loud verbal baiting of him by one "fan" during the warm up. Go and say it to his face or shutup.

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ellishicks
13/12/2011 20:40

Perhaps whoever said whatever they said could go and do it again next time.
It seems to have worked a treat.

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Mark_C
13/12/2011 21:35

Hohneck looked ill and unfit at the start of the season, but he's really turned things round since Bedford.

Big Sean, Big Ern, and Big Red are giving us a solid-looking second row!

Miserati - and Proud to be!

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Carnegiette1
13/12/2011 22:24

Good report!

Still on a high now.....

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