Yorkshire Carnegie
The Headingley Buzz Returns
Captain Fantastic
By Happier Hax
April 19 2015
The 1,568 fans that turned up at Headingley today had a glimpse of ‘what could have been’ as Yorkshire turned in probably one of their best performances of the season. You have to say, London Scottish looked anything but a side who have qualified for the play offs, but you can only play what is in front of you, and this afternoon, Leeds were excellent.
The game had been put to bed after only 14 minutes as the hosts raced into a 24 point lead. An early Harry Leonard penalty was followed by a Pete Lucock break which ended with the supporting Chris Pilgrim galloping over by the posts. 5 minutes later, Matt Smith made a break on halfway, Charlie Beech carried it on, and Harry Leonard raced away from 30 yards to cross the whitewash. 17 – 0 became 24, when the forwards took control at a scrum and took Beech across the line
The visitors had not helped themselves, conceding 5 penalties in quick time, and also putting a couple of kicks into touch on the full. They did however come more into the game, Oli Goss making a last ditch tackle to prevent a try, and when Leeds conceded 4 quick penalties, Pilgrim was despatched for a 10 minute rest.
Scottish failed to take advantage, and Jack Walker made a great tackle which ended with a Leeds penalty and when Leonard hammered the ball upfield, Pennycock upset the referee, and he sent Chevvy to the levee to cool off. Leeds response was immediate; they won a lineout and drove Smith over for the bonus point try. For the only time all afternoon, Leonard missed the target.
The visitors did get on the scoreboard early in the second half when Jones missed his man on the blind side of the scrum, and Adam Procanin crossed for a converted try, but a Leonard penalty calmed the nerves. The lead was increased on the hour mark when the ball was turned over in midfield, and Pilgrim threw out a sublime pass to Ryan Burrows who raced 40 yards to score.
Scottish did almost score again, but Lucock reacted quickest to a kick through and managed to touch down before any damage was done. Then came the raft of replacements, but the flow wasn’t interrupted, and Leeds scored again from another catch and drive, Burrows being credited with the touchdown. The conversion completed the scoring, but in the last few minutes Ryan Burrows made a 40 yard break, and Leeds produced some magnificent running and handling to keep the movement going. Nothing came of that, but they were at it again moments later, and only a despairing tackle deprived Ben Hooper of what would have been a terrific team try.
There is no doubt, had Leeds played like this a bit more this season, they would be in the top four of the league. They did all the things they haven’t been doing. Hardly anybody missed a tackle in midfield, they held on to the ball at crucial times, and they did not concede needless or silly penalties. They once again looked like the decent team I think they are. Only downside for me was the persistent, and poor, box kicking from Pilgrim, otherwise a good all round team effort.
Ben Harris was outstanding, and the sponsors chosen man of the match, but as well as he played, as did, Jack Walker, Charlie Beech, Chris Jones and Harry Leonard, my bottle of pop is going to Captain Fantastic, Ryan Burrows. He set the tone of the game with a storming break in the first minute, made yards all afternoon, and was rewarded with two well taken tries. Well done Buzz.
So the final game next week, and the right results at Headingley and Bedford, could see Leeds finish in 5th place. Those heady heights didn’t seem possible around the turn of the year, but things are clicking into place, and today showed they are on the right track.
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19/04/2015 20:09
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:05:11:06:53:04 by Wildwillie .
Sorry for that, just spent a week in France.
Noticeable was that, when LS brought in the heavy guns in the second half no doubt in an attempt to moderate the score, after about 10 mins their effort fizzled out.
More of the same next week!
A Yorkshire Carnegie side, dormant for most of the season, exploded into life in the early spring sunshine at Headingley Carnegie this afternoon.
A clearly fired up Carnegie, expertly prompted by Leonard and the much maligned Pilgrim, raced into an early lead with a penalty and converted tries from Beech and Pilgrim himself.
After an opening 20 played exclusively in the Scottish half, the London side finally had their inevitable spell of possession and used it to work their way towards the Carnegie try line. The white wall held firm, although not before Pilgrim had been sent to the bin, and a Leonard penalty sent the Celtic invaders back from whence they came empty handed.
Some slick Carnegie handling, which was in evidence throughout the game, produced a try for Leonard and the second driving maul try of the game to give Yorkshire an early bonus point; Matt Smith emerging with the ball and the credit.
29-0 at the break
5 minutes into the second half Scottish announced their arrival in the game, Lock Adam Preocanin touching down for the Exiles.
There was a bit of a lull after that with a lot of huffing and puffing taking place between the two twenty twos but not a lot else. Then the half was re-ignited by a lovely little move involving Pilgrim, the superb Pete Lucock and Fitzpatrick along the south stand touchline. It came to nought but Carnegie retained possession and a couple of phases later Pilgrim, who by now was spraying passes around the Headingley turf like a laser guided lawn sprinkler, threw a glorious looping, dipping ball out wide to Ryan Burrows who gleefully collected and switched on the after burners – result inevitable, try scored. Job done; although Buzz did get another one later on for good measure.
So a 46-7 win and a 21 point personal haul for Harry Leonard who only missed one kick all afternoon.
London Scottish were awful, it has to be said. Whether that was because we were so good or because they had one eye on the play offs is open for discussion. It’s fair to say, though, that Bristol and Worcester won’t be losing any sleep on the strength of this Exiles display.
But, if Scottish played this game with an eye on the play-offs, Yorkshire played it with an eye on the future.
Matt Smith put in a towering, wrecking ball of a performance in the second row. Pete Lucock, the most under rated player at Headingley, was absolutely superb at inside centre and, what can you say about Ryan Burrows that hasn’t already been said? I’ve no idea how we’ve still got him but I’m very glad that we have. He frightened London Scottish to death today.
My man of the match though is a controversial one.
Some say that he looks like a mini Jimmy Bullard, others that he’s playing for his Carnegie future.
All I know is that Chris Pilgrim was absolutely magnificent today and if he keeps playing like that, he’ll force me and one or two others to eat a vast amount of humble pie.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
Love this from Leeming
Quote:leemingtyke
London Scottish were awful, it has to be said. Whether that was because we were so good or because they had one eye on the play offs is open for discussion. It’s fair to say, though, that Bristol and Worcester won’t be losing any sleep on the strength of this Exiles display.
But, if Scottish played this game with an eye on the play-offs, Yorkshire played it with an eye on the future.
Pilgrim's Progress (!) is apparent for all to see. However, I agree with others that his kicking was poor yesterday I'm afraid. Something to work on though.
Best of the season for us, and if the same mindset turns up on Saturday we can look forward to a great end to the season. Well done to Brush for what he has clearly achieved in his first four games.
Our forwards were (yet again) immense providing good quality ball to enable a very exciting game for the punters.
Looking back at the season, we can only think "if only" but it surely bodes very well for the 15/16 season?
Up the Yorkshire Carnegie TYKES !
Yesterday I thought his passing was excellent and he also mixed it up well, trying a little grubber here and there as well as the box kicking.
The pass out for Buzz's try was sublime and, after the criticism he has received, credit where it's due, he did well yesterday.
BR is clearly having a positive effect on our half backs.
I forgot to put it in my review but, for me, the most encouraging aspect of yesterdays performance happened a short while after Scottish had scored their try.
At 29-7 up we gained a kickable penalty and - we took it.
This might seem like nothing but for me it signifies a major step in the right direction. Namely that we have developed the ability make an intelligent decision based on the game situation.
Weve just conceded 7 - lets demoralise the opposition by taking 3 points straight back and then receive the ball from the restart.
This is something that's been missing for years and it fills me with confidence to see that we are starting to act and think like professional rugby players on the field.
Long may it continue and a massive well done to Bryan Redpath.
Occasionally we switched off but you cannot criticise too strongly any performance which results in that scoreline.
I will echo another comment, it was great to see so many in the Cafe bar....it was night and day compared to the last visit.
I hope for another performance like this next week and lets finish the season on a high followed by too many thoughts of 'what could have been'.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
If lucock stays fit and gets a proper full on pre season he will be great next year.
It was good to watch us scoring tries for fun again. It would be easy for us to be despondent after a poor season with nothing to play for, but the opposite is true, there is a "buzz" about the place now.
Looking forward to next season!
Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It
'proficiscor in una'
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
Thanks for the reviews Hax and Leeming.
With better overall team performance players are putting in outstanding individual performances as their confidence grows and shortcomings, like Pilgrim's box kicking, become highlighted but they can be improved by savvy individual coaching.
Notwithstanding the loss of outstanding players this summer it looks like there is going to be the basis of an excellent squad next season and a stable and effective coaching set up to work with it.
Like you I think BR is on the right lines and am looking forward to next season, and pre-season.
