By SimonH
October 3 2004

Leeds Tykes scrapped magnificently to earn themselves a bonus point against a Sale Sharks team that purports to have genuine title ambitions this season. Sharks came into the match riding high – and indeed resumed their slot at the top of the Zurich Premiership after this win...

...but a dogged Tykes team made these title pretenders look distinctly ordinary in front of an improved gate of 4592.

 

Tykes successfully snuffed out the threat from Sharks’ fabled back three of Cueto, Hanley and Robinson, while Bell, Snyman, Biggs and Albanese posed a real threat when running hard at the visitors. A drop-goal from the mighty boot of Charlie Hodgson was all that separated the two sides in the end, and Tykes can be proud of the way that they absorbed sustained pressure from a superior Sharks pack and tackled the backs to a standstill.

 

The promised rain had not appeared at kick-off, and with bright skies and little breeze, conditions were close to perfect.

 

But Tykes got off to a disastrous start. Leeds kicked off, playing right to left from the South Stand viewpoint. A deep kick into Leeds territory was returned  into touch, but within a minute Sale had been awarded a penalty for a lineout infringement. Hodgson elected to kick into the corner, and from a lineout 20 metres out, the impressive Sharks pack rumbled relentlessly forwards for hooker Titterrell to touch down. This was bad, bad news. For a start Leeds were 5-0 down with only two minutes on the clock. Secondly, our forwards had been unceremoniously marched backwards for 20 metres with barely a murmur of protest.

 

Inwardly many of us were groaning, and – with 78 minutes still to play – praying that we were not going to be on the wrong side of a humiliating thrashing. Hodgson missed the conversion and Tykes re-grouped.

 

There followed several minutes of sustained pressure by Sale, with the ball failing to leave the Tykes half. Again and again the visitors pressed forwards, but the Tykes defences was mountainous.

 

At 10 minutes Regan came off with an injury to be replaced by Rawlinson.

 

Leeds began to make the odd visit into Sale territory. On one notable occasion Bell made a lacerating break, only for his chip forward to dribble into touch. This was the first of several incursions by Bell, who had a storming match and whose partnership with Snyman looked extremely threatening throughout the afternoon.

 

On 14 minutes, after Tykes first meaningful venture into the Sale half, we were awarded a penalty on the 22. It was taken quickly but Sale had not retreated the full ten metres. Gordon Ross, playing with assurance and confidence, and having repaired his radar in the Saracens match last week, slotted the kick. Tykes 3, Sharks 5.

 

Further pressure by Sharks followed the re-start, but again Tykes repelled everything that was chucked at them. Many times the ball flew along the Sharks line, through to Robinson and Cueto, but the visitors could not make headway. Eventually, inevitably, the pressure earned Sharks a penalty which Hodgson converted. At 17 minutes it was Tykes 3, Sharks 8.

 

Shortly after the re-start Leeds were awarded a free kick in their 22 following an infringement at the scrum. Quickly taken, the ball was spun wide to David Rees who carried it up to the Sale 10 metre line. More quick hands saw Leeds enter Sale’s 22. A long feed from Ross to Biggs was fumbled by the young winger, but ref Lander had spotted something and Tykes were awarded a penalty on the 22, which Ross duly popped over. After 20 minutes and against the run of play Tykes trailed by only two points: Tykes 6, Sharks 8.

 

Sale again turned the screw forcing Tykes to defend close to their own line. The Tykes scrum was beginning to creak ominously, with the Sale tight five exerting serious pressure.

 

Eventually Sale were given a kickable penalty which Hodgson put over with ease. Tykes 6, Sharks 11.

 

Leeds continued to tackle heroically and repel the marauding Sale pack. Once or twice Tykes would build up some momentum and run hard at the Sharks, and on these occasions we certainly rattled the opposition. Biggs made a couple of scintillating breaks, reminding us of what a great young talent he is. On one of these electrifying runs, bang on half-time, Biggs cut inside, just within the Sharks’ 22, and was felled by a high tackle by the rangy flanker Chris Jones. Jones was a tad lucky to remain on the field. Tykes opted for the kick to corner, but despite a big push for the line the ball was eventually fumbled and Tykes went into the break only five points adrift.

 

The big question during the half-time break was: will we eventually buckle?

 

The cheering sight of Tim Stimpson greeted Tykes fans after the interval, with the big former England fullback having replaced Biggs.

 

But the second half started much as the first had done – with Tykes again under the cosh. Rain had started to fall steadily, making the ball and the playing surface greasy.

 

The pattern of the first half began to re-emerge – sustained pressure by Sale, lots of scrums deep in Tykes’ territory, Sale pack pushing Tykes around, Tykes hanging on grimly.

 

But for all that, the Tykes defence was like a wall of granite. Gradually Tykes began to work their way back into the game. A missed penalty from Ross on 52 minutes was followed by a 22 drop-out by Sharks. Hodgson kicked the ball deep, where it was fielded by the solid Stimpson. He returned it as a mighty up-and-under, which was fumbled on the Sale 10 metre line to give Leeds the scrum. After a couple of phases quick ball surfaced and was shot down the Tykes’ back division like a bullet. Bell fed a beauty to Albanese who weaved electrically to within a couple of metres of the Sharks’ line before being overhauled. From the resulting mass of bodies – and I confess I was too far away to see clearly what happened – the ball came out, arms were raised aloft and Mr Lander’s right arm went up. A try for Chris Bell – and no-one on the park deserved one more than he. Fifty-six minutes gone, Tykes 11, Sharks 11. Ross put the conversion wide.

 

For the next 20 minutes Leeds worked hard to keep the visitors at bay. The Sale pack was undoubtedly superior, and the set scrum was a nightmare for the hosts. But Tykes continued to tackle their opponents to a standstill, and attacked with gusto and flair when they did manage to get some possession. Robinson looked threatening, as he always does, but failed to find a way through the Tykes defence. Hanley, largely anonymous in the first half, began to pop up dangerously here and there.

 

On 69 minutes, following a battering by Sales forwards and backs, Hodgson was fed a ball from a ruck which he coolly drop-kicked to make the score 14-11 to Sale.

 

Leeds then ratcheted things up a notch, launching waves of attack on the Sharks, but a combination of slippery ball and resolute Sharks defence kept things at stalemate.

 

In the dying minutes Sharks came back at Leeds, winning a 5-metre scrum deep into injury time. This was agonising. We had seen their pack shunt ours around the park for most of the afternoon. A try now would deny us the bonus point we desperately wanted. Sharks won the scrum, went through a couple of phases of picking and driving, before Hodgson was fed the ball for a drop-goal attempt. Mercifully it sailed wide, and seconds later Mr Lander called a halt to proceedings. Tykes 11, Sharks 14.

 

A rousing match then, showing that the Tykes can mix it with the best. It was telling that the Sharks’ only try came from a forward rumble, while ours was from slick, quick back play. The Sharks’ back three, undoubtedly a trio of the deadliest finishers in the game, were kept gloriously quiet.

 

Gordon Ross is playing with a confidence and self-assurance that we haven’t seen for a long time – long may it continue. Richard Parks worked tirelessly in the loose, while Hooper and Murphy were immense in the lineout and in broken play. Rigney carried effectively, and the front three were given a hard time in the set piece, but made up for it in the open and in those dark and mysterious places that only front-row forwards know about. Bell and Snyman looked great – bullocking runs one moment, soft, silky skills the next, and tackling like fury; and our own back three showed themselves to be as dangerous as their illustrious opposite numbers.

 

Well done Tykes; you stood tall, took everything that was thrown at you, lobbed some back again and were sunk by a solitary drop-goal from one of the great kickers in the world game. I salute you.