Leeds Beat Jersey
By corporalcarrot
November 25 2013
Well another little offering for what it’s worth. Travel Sunday morning started really well with the Flybe flight taking off early and landing well ahead of schedule at 7.40am and then the wheels fell off the plan. A train was apparently on fire at Gatwick Station and they had evacuated all the platforms and shut the entire Brighton to Victoria line for 2 hours. I know it was a cold morning but I ask you isn’t a fire on a train a bit extreme if you are trying to stay warm? Anyway with a well known JEP sports reporter in tow I grabbed the only cab available and we worked our way expensively to Brixton where we got on the underground network and back in the game. I eventually got to Leeds around 12.30pm and after some family meet and greeting made it to the Arc pub for 2pm and had a genial beer with an hospitable Leeds fan who got me to the ground for 2.30pm in time to drop the toothbrush in the Headingley Lodge – a bargain at £55 for a huge room overlooking the cricket square – and walk the remaining 100 yards to the rugby ground.
Onto the game which I started watching from in front of the main stand which is all seating. I am unclear why but my standing near the perimeter boards seemed to be unacceptable to a steward who asked me to move over to the South Stand if I wanted to stand. I couldn’t possibly have been blocking anyone’s view in a stadium that size but I thought better of arguing the point and worked my way around. As I did so the first try was scored and it was a real comedy of errors which happened about five yards from where I was at that point. A long Jersey clearance was completely misjudged by the Leeds FB McColl and Latu chasing the kick found himself with a clear run in to the try line - if he caught the ball – Latu over-reaching fumbled the ball forward to a covering Leeds player who broke forward gave a lovely pass to the Doc who must have scorched the grass as he ran the try in. If we had been carrying a small bit of the luck we had against Pirates it would have been a Latu try on Sunday the breaks went to Leeds on that occasion and it was a try to the Doc.
I then worked my way around to the South Stand which is definitely the place to watch rugby from at Headingley. Not quite yet up to the experience of the South Stand at Kingston Park but if Leeds go up I am sure it will be. Full of great hospitable rugby supporters and real banter. I have acquired one of the ubiquitous fluorescent yellow beanies and will attach a Jersey badge so I can wear it for the return fixture in March. The drum and mascot are great assets – I have sent a photo of me and the mascot to the forum administrator who might be able to get it on line.
CC and the Mascot
Overall although Jersey lost it was one of the best performances I have seen all season against a very good Leeds side. Some specific points:
• Defensively the line speed was excellent (take a bow Dai Bishop) and the work around the breakdown area was great.
• There were a couple of occasions when the Doc literally scorched past his opposite number but that was bound to happen the Doc is a special talent.
• Drew Locke finished off a three quarter move with a try – a very rare event this season.
• If Mark McCrea had half a yard more pace he would be playing for a premiership club.
• Line outs were better. Felts missed an odd throw but so did Elvis when he came on.
• Nick Campbell had a storming game in the line out and scrums and is a great lad but must stop going into contact with the ball in his leading arm as it invariably leads to a turnover. It’s a regular failing that can surely be sorted on the training pitch.
• Our use of front row replacements baffles me. Against Leeds we swapped the tight head at 60 minutes then two minutes later we swapped the hooker but didn’t swap the loose head at all even though he must have been totally shattered. Given that you can bring front row players back in the event of an injury and we have a high quality front row bench it staggers me that we don’t swap the front row en-masse at 55 minutes. Selway goes from strength to strength and never seems fazed by the odd set back – a great signing.
• Williams had a cracking game and was everywhere. Special mention due to Dudley who played out of position for about 50 minutes and never took a backward step.
• Overall the best team on the day won fairly. 4-0 was about right. Jersey pressed really hard in the second half and on another day with a few breaks could beat Leeds – March will do. We might have got a losing bonus point if things had gone our way but I rate Leeds as good enough for the play-offs and wish them well. The standout Leeds players IMO were the half backs, the Doc, Big Nathan (and yes I am biased) and Rowan. Oh and the fans in the South Stand are a great bunch.
After the match I decanted to the Carnegie Cafe where John Bentley holds court and the players and fans mix. Horrible to see Dawson wearing a Moon Boot and Penberthy on crutches with a suspected broken leg. With a tiny squad we cannot really afford this level of attrition particularly in the backs. I heard on the grapevine that Joel Hodgson had been loaned out from Falcons – a real talent if we could get him as a D/R. I met up with Nathan in the bar and again have sent a photo to the forum administrator who might be able to get it on line.
CC and Big Nathan Hannay.
The Leeds fans are a great bunch and very hospitable but the beer supplies in the ground are woeful. They had one real ale which was already sold out by the time I got there – I place them bottom of my random beer poll. Around 7pm when it had eased off I went in search of more supplies and bumped into the Doc with his family in tow – great bloke. I then found a great Fish & Chip spot called Brett’s which had been recommended by the Leeds fans – 5 star service and food. The special haddock is exactly what it claims to be. I found a couple of pubs of note within a few hundred yards of the ground:
• The Skyrack – big pub which did York Brewery – Yorkshire Terrier – a bit hoppy for my taste but well regarded.
• Arcadia – a real find with a big stock of proper beer – my favourite was Ridgeside Brewery – Thunderstruck
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Good luck for the rest of the season.
"Our use of front row replacements baffles me"
Our replacement loosehead is first choice normally and a particularly powerful prop.
"Leeds fans are a great bunch"
Think you need to talk to Roth fans if you want a more acidic view
"my standing near the perimeter boards seemed to be unacceptable to a steward who asked me to move over to the South Stand" Don't get me started - world class jobsworths who seem to delight in being a nuisance. Anyway the south Stand (the Dark Side) is the place to be at Headingley.
Quote:ellishicks
Hi CC - sounds like quite an adventure! Is it like that every week on your travels? Your boys have always been combative at HC and the score flattered us a bit, but remember Doc was ours before he was yours. Saw your injured boys go off but didn't know why, I hope they have a good recovery.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
"Our use of front row replacements baffles me"
Our replacement loosehead is first choice normally and a particularly powerful prop.
"Leeds fans are a great bunch"
Think you need to talk to Roth fans if you want a more acidic view
"my standing near the perimeter boards seemed to be unacceptable to a steward who asked me to move over to the South Stand" Don't get me started - world class jobsworths who seem to delight in being a nuisance. Anyway the south Stand (the Dark Side) is the place to be at Headingley.
Cheers mate. I also rated Roth highly a few weeks ago and hope to have Donny back next year. I am definitely a committed Dark Sider at HC if we are lucky enough to stay up and Leeds are unlucky enough to stay down I'll be back next year. All the best and hope to see a few of your lads over at St Peters in the New Yea. I'll be the guy with the florescent yellow beanie with a JERSEY badge on it. If I learn to sew by then.
Don't kick it pick it up and GO FORWARD