Flight of Fantasy
Aerial view of Keighley
By Peter Creek
October 13 2009
The squad of players plus coaches of Leeds Carnegie were noticeably quiet as they gathered at East Midlands airport for the Thursday afternoon flight to Geneva. All, that is, except Scott Barrow who had mistakenly picked up his wife’s passport & had to dash back to Leeds to get his own so he was noticeable for his absence. Other absentees were more of a concern, particularly Wentzel & Gomersall.
Those players who spoke of the game were looking for a win to boost confidence and get into some good habits.
The drive down from Geneva to Bourgoin is very picturesque with lots of postcard views of the region’s mountains. Bourgoin, on the other hand, is a dump. It actually reminded me of Keighley (minus the decent pubs) Fortunately our hotel had tall gates & was next to the Gendarmerie. There is very little to do in the town, so, like the locals, we pootled down to the stadium on Friday morning to watch the players train. Not for the last time that day Leeds did not show up. Bourgoin did manage a light session on the pitch and it appeared to me that the Good Doctor was in tip top condition. How right I was!
That evening, right from the kick-off the French side ripped into Leeds. The packs were about even but behind them the French pack had a fleet footed unit who had only come for one thing – revenge! (presumably for Agincourt or Crecy). The Doc had his kicking boots on but it was his passing that got the plaudits as Bourgoin ran in two sparkling tries. It was not so much gaps in the defence that were the problem, but that the French got up in numbers before the defensive line was formed. Strange kicked a couple of penalties but the home side could have scored five tries before the break were it not for a number of forward passes. At 23-6 down going into the break the ‘Neegies looked on the ropes.
After the break Leeds changed tactics ( why wait so long?). Instead of giving the ball to the hapless backs the pack went through the phases of pick and go. This deprived the French of any possession for long periods and 13 second half points went to Leeds. With victory in their sights the boys went a bit daft, first losing Rawly to the bin & then trying to drive out of their 22 in the dying minutes. The end was an anticlimax after such a good half.
What was obvious to me was the complete lack of leadership on the pitch. Our tactics in the first half were not working but no-one on the field felt able to change them. It was also apparent that our backs were dull, in comparison to their quicksilver opponents. Players who came off with credit included young Swainson who belied his 19 years with some tasty scrummaging, Tom Denton who was poleaxed and played on – he was still groggy after the match and Rhys Oakley who always relishes the close quarter stuff.
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Sounds that Tom Denton might have been slightly concussed from the description given.
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I would give Strange another go against Parma, assuming he hasn't picked up another niggle, and if he plays anything like stick him in the next Prem game. He hasn't got the pace now but is worth a run IMO.
The one where my mates hung out later was, errm, in Bourgoin somewhere
Quote:dragon27
How did Rhys play?
The boy done good.The second half tactics suited him. The whole back row did well including Alfie & Rowan (briefly) when they came on. I would start with Clark, Oakley & Fourie as my backrow on Sunday & bring Alfie on for 25 minutes.