By Tukey
November 29 2004

Dull, Horrible, Miserable, Dire and Wet were all words that could describe the weather at the Stoop yesterday afternoon. They could also be used to describe how Tykes played in parts as they lost their third match in a row going down to Quins 31 – 17.

It started evenly enough with both sides playing open running rugby. Staunton landed an early penalty for the home side after Stimpson missed an earlier one for Leeds.  It was Stimpson again missing touch that lead to Quins scoring a well-taken try.  Stimpson’s missed touch found ex Tykes favourite, George Harder, who went on a bullocking run and found Tani Fuga in support.  Staunton missed the conversion.

 

Stimpson made a partial amends when he scored a penalty, which was quickly cancelled out by a further penalty from Staunton.  A good move in the backs saw ex Quin Chris Bell break the gain line and put David Rees into the corner.  Stimpson converted and it looked like Tykes would go into half time with a 10 – 8 lead.  However, another Staunton penalty saw Quins go into the break 11- 10.  It was all to play for in the second half.  But what was said to the Tykes at half time, God only knows.

 

Staunton scored another penalty early in the half and Quins never looked like loosing their deserved lead. Tykes had their chances; unfortunately they were not taken.  The backs lacked shape and ideas. One man charging at the defensive line does not pose a problem for an organised defence.  I lost count of the amount of penalties we gave away and how much turnover ball we conceded. 

 

Tykes’ defence was better, at times brilliant and there were some good cover tackles being made.   But Quins were strong in the forwards and another penalty at a Quins driving maul resulted in So’olialo taking a quick tap and driving over the line.  Staunton, who had a good game all round, then scored his forth penalty of the day. Another error, Regan’s over throw at a lineout, resulted in Quins beginning a rolling maul from almost 25 metres out which resulted in Easter being forced over the line. A week is a long time in rugby, is it only a week since we were doing the same to Bath. 

 

By now I was very wet and cold I started to walk around the ground to the exit.  However, I did see Tykes score a consolation try through Chris Bell, after a break by replacement Phil Christophers, which was converted by Stimpson.  The Quins came back strong and were pushing for the fourth try and with it a bonus point; it was only Tykes strong defence that denied them.

 

Where do Tykes go from here? I don’t really know. We seem to have a strong squad with players competing for positions.  We have quality players in most positions. What I don’t think we have is imagination; a second or even third game plan when the first one fails is needed, and critically we don’t seem to have the belief in our own ability. Playing for a short period of a match does not win matches; playing for 80+ minutes does.

 

I watched the players warming up on Sunday. There was no spark, they appeared to be going through the motions, (this is before it started raining). Something is missing - what that is I can’t say as I am not close enough to the players. Maybe it is all the negative talk from the club management. Maybe there are rumblings about Phil Davies leaving (I heard them in Grenoble). Something is wrong and unless it is put right Leeds Tykes are in for a miserable second half of the season.

 

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