By Wildwillie
April 21 2013

We entered the stadium as the sun shone down on the lush Headingley turf. I wondered how the afternoon would pan out. Could Leeds win and secure a play-off spot? More importantly who was going to advise the match officials of the rules of the game now that our resident expert was frolicking in distant Antipodean lands! Well I need not have worried as a Nottingham fan (from here on called the Outlaw) in the Paddock kindly took on the role .....

The match started with Leeds playing towards the new stand with a light breeze behind the lads. Much early possession was evident and the pressure finally produced a kickable penalty. The usually reliable Joe Ford took an age to set the ball up prompting the Outlaw to advise the ref that "you could boil an egg in that minute". Joe missed the kick but we continued to hog the ball and Joe knocked over three penalties to get the scoreboard ticking over.

For twenty minutes we enjoyed total domination and the backs started to put some serious moves together. McColl and Griffin both threatened to score before the Outlaw asked, quite reasonably imho, "Can we have the ball please, we have driven 80 miles to get here?" . The Outlaw invited the touch judge to "get involved. If you are just watching then you owe me £17!" The Nottingham lads then decided to piddle on our bonfire and, in their first serious excursion into our 22, scored out wide. With no extras the scoreboard took on an ominous look. From 95% of the possession and territory we took in a  slender 4 point lead at half-time. The dreaded HT teamtalk was still to come.....

At this point I had a nasty sinking feeling. It got worse when Wee Stevie, our most potent attacker, went off injured  early in the second half.The lads , howevr, went on and did something quite amazing. They dominated the scrummaging. Total world domination was in our grasp. The visiting pack was shunted backwards at virually every scrum and Jake took this option at every opportunity. A penalty try was the inevitable outcome. Was I dreaming? 16-5 and we were heading for the play-offs.

The Notts pack was penalised again with the resulting yellow card. Young Currie came on and crossed the whitewash near the sticks. Joe converted and we started to relax. Big mistake! The visitors made a rare sortie into our 22 and...scored again. The sinner returned and...scored again! 23-19 with 5 minutes left.

Word filtered down from the north via Tw*tter that Bris were winning at KP. The lads threw caution, and the play-offs, to the wind. An attempted interception in front of the South Stand saw the visitors racing through our defence. For once they failed to score and we came back strongly. Burdon touched down, Joe converted and we were two scores in front again. Nottingham scored a fourth to secure an lbp and a tbp but the result was no longer in doubt.

Another epic ride on the Leeds rollercoaster. Into the play-offs. We have a puncher's chance! Two more games to enjoy. Can life get any better than this?

Stumbling on together!

Discussion started by TykesRugby.co.uk (IP Logged), 21/04/2013 08:01

TykesRugby.co.uk
21/04/2013 08:01

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:04:29:06:49:53 by Wildwillie .

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Zandra LaPoI
21/04/2013 11:13

The 'Outlaw' sounds funny!

I never thought that game would be anything else. As soon as we didn't capitalise on all that early pressure, I knew we would make a meal of it.

However, the fact we made the play-offs, and are the under-dogs, means anything could happen!

Well played boys, you are a close, tight little band which is what we want at HC, no more journeymen!

Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It

'proficiscor in una'

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Wildwillie
21/04/2013 13:53

The Notts fan was telling us that 5 of their squad are going to London Irish. Every time one of the 5 did something good he berated them loudly, saying " You won't find it that easy in Reading!"

Top bloke

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almostatyke
21/04/2013 14:47

Nice report WW. I thought that when Rory came on, at inside centre, we lost a bit of cohesion and tackling ability. It didn't look like we had practised for this eventuality.

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YorkshirePudding
21/04/2013 17:40

Congrats on cementing ur play off place leeds. U just never know but if it doesn't happen this year I think u and Bristol will be ones to watch. Wouldn't like to put any others in the mix as not sure of their signings.

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JDH
21/04/2013 18:52

we looked good till stevie went off, as mentioned the whole balance of the team was altered and it didnt work quite so well


is it def that he is out for the season? massive loss if so. he is the one who could do something out of nothing

time for CG to step up

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Selby Kev
21/04/2013 20:59

Good reort WW. With that much "forward domination"we should have had it nailed by half time!!.... still the jobs done...agree with JDH completely..may need some urgent restructuring?

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Bibby
21/04/2013 22:15

Best scrummaging since Gomez et al. Pitch held up too.

Really enjoyed albeit they put us through the ringer as usual.

McColl outstanding, but Chris Walker was good and Green was beastly in a good way.

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oopnorth
21/04/2013 23:02

Very enjoyable to watch especially SMs breaks, and the pack shunting Notts back at a rate of knots.

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bspa2
21/04/2013 23:26

We should have kept our dominating props on a bit longer. With odd exceptions - like Rotherham away - we seem to find it hard to maintain the pressure in the last quarter. The young players have done a great job but we do need a bit more experience later in the game.

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Bobba
22/04/2013 13:38

Some cracking rugby played by the lads and derserved result in the end. Play offs here we come.

Bristol have proven that the Budgies are not unbeatable. A determined win at Headingley on the 6th May then brick wall time in the arctic.

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farmertyke
22/04/2013 18:49

Lee IMO had a lot of grunt .....demolished both Notts props. Obviously shares the same thatch cutter as Calum. Is Lee still signed for Sale for next year ? I would like to see him back next year.

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John R
22/04/2013 19:06

Me too Farmer, he would be extremely useful for us!

Up the Carnegie TYKES !

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leemingtyke
22/04/2013 19:43

We're short of at least a couple of props at the mo, for next season I mean. Sign him up!

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JDH
22/04/2013 21:47

what is big mo up to at the moment? didnt he go on loan?

him back fit will be like a new signing. i rate him highly

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John R
23/04/2013 10:25

He went to a club in Lancashire, on loan.

Can't give any further update.

Up the Carnegie TYKES !

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Rocky
23/04/2013 11:31

He went to Preston Grasshoppers (Dave Baldwins former club) but I havent seen him in the line up for the last game.

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