Yorkshire Carnegie
Time to clip the Falcons wings?
Match winner?
By Haxbytyke
February 7 2013
This Sunday sees Leeds Carnegie travel down the road to Otley to fulfil another home fixture, this time against Championship high-flyers Newcastle Falcons. Our visitors boast an impressive 100% record from their 13 games, and they have only rarely looked like being in trouble as they average scoring 34 points a game, and have only conceded an average of 11 points per game, so the evidence suggests it is going to take a monumental effort by anybody to turn them over this season.
When the two teams clashed at KingstonPark early in the season, Falcons ran out comfortable 53 points to 10 winners, with Leeds having only a Stevie McColl try to show for their efforts .As last seasons’ relegated side, some thought Newcastle would struggle at this level, but an injection of cash meant they retained most of their decent players, most notably hanging on to points machine Jimmy Gopperth.
They are not a one man team by any stretch of the imagination, but in a close game, his influence has to be negated as far as possible.Leeds still occupy a play off place, lying 4th in the table, and this week will prove a real examination of Carnegie’s abilities. We all know how threatening Leeds can look when they have, and keep, the ball, but we also know how their indiscipline and their defending can put them under, sometimes, needless pressure.
I don’t anticipate many changes from last weeks match squad, although Rory Clegg will probably return if he is available, and Scott Freer will come in to replace Joe Graham. Whether Diccon throws either of our recent loan signings into the mix is anybody’s guess!
The pitch has had a lot of rain, and will probably be on the heavy side, and maybe the conditions will dictate how the game is played. If it is a forward battle, with the ball kept tight, then the game could well be decided by the team who show the best discipline on the day. This is one area where Leeds struggle and they must ensure this week they do not concede needless penalties in their own half. However, if both teams decide to play open rugby, then we could be in for a cracker, and in Dave Doherty,Leeds has a match winner of their own of they can get the ball out wide to him.
An early kick off may deter a few fans from making the trip, but I anticipate a decent sized crowd, with a few fans travelling down from the north east to sample the warmer weather.It will take a huge effort for Leeds to become the first team to clip the Falcons wings, and maybe Newcastle are just that bit classier than any other team in the Championship, so I will go for a narrow victory for the visitors, although I would be delighted if our heroes could prove me wrong.
Enjoy the game.
COME ON LEEDS
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07/02/2013 19:43
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:02:10:18:56:23 by Gelbel.
Quote:Wildwillie
Sleet and one degree predicted for Otley on Sunday!
Summer here at last!
Good preview though, it will take a monumental effort for us to succeed, but no one would be more pleased than I, if we do !
Good luck guys
Up the Carnegie TYKES !
[www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk]
Expect that with the forecasted sleet this will be very much a forwards game. 3 bus loads of supporters travelling plus independent travellers.
Onwards and Upwards!
High Hopes!!!!!Come on ye Tykes!!!!!!!!
Come on boys, let's start looking at the run in and building on what we have achieved so far.
Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It
'proficiscor in una'
[www.arborfieldoldboys.co.uk]
