Will Leeds Blossom in the Gardens?

Last game for Leeds
By Haxbytyke
May 2 2011

There are four games remaining before we know which league Leeds Carnegie will be playing in next season. The first 2 of these games take place on Saturday, and everybody is aware that Leeds can guarantee Premiership rugby for next season, if they take two more points from their game at Northampton, than Newcastle Falcons pick up Bath.

The problem, for both Leeds and Falcons, is that their hosts also need to collect points as they strive to gain their place in the end of season play offs. Saints, who are also in the final of the Heineken Cup, only, need 2 points to reach their goal, Bath needs to get all 5, and even then they could miss out to local rivals Gloucester, should they beat Sale.

So all eyes will be on Franklins Gardens, Kingsholm, and The Rec., come 3.00 Saturday, and by around 4.45, either Leeds, or Falcons will have escaped the trapdoor for another season.

Leeds task may be slightly eased if Saints choose to rest one or two of their high profile players following their Heineken Cup semi final yesterday, as this will now surely be their priority for the remainder of this season. They will probably feel they can give a run out to some of their reserves and still achieve victory, much as they did at Headingley earlier in the season. For Leeds, this is the final act in what has been a very disappointing season. Their failures are well documented, and despite bringing in experienced players at the start of the campaign, the performances on the field have, with the odd exception, been poor.

Following the victory at Kingston Park which took Leeds off the bottom of the table, they have produced two lacklustre performances, and seen the Falcons grind out two bonus points in defeat to Bath and Saints. It is definitely Newcastle who holds the aces, and Leeds has to produce the kind of performance we haven’t seen for a long time if they are to get the desired result come Saturday.

Saturday will also see Kearnan Myall, and Luther Burrell, (if he has recovered from injury) make their farewell appearances for the club, before they hop over the hill to join Sale Sharks. They have been loyal servants to Leeds Carnegie, and I wish them a glorious finale and the very best of luck when they depart. Steve Thompson will also play his last game, and he has given us a glimpse of what might have been. Good luck to him too. However many more say good bye on Saturday will, no doubt, be dependant on the result, but it is plain to see, the club must make changes on and off the field, regardless of what level we are playing next season.

Whichever team Neil Back sends out on Saturday they must give 80 minutes to Leeds Carnegie. Anything less than two points and we will be propping up the table and planning trips to Rotherham, Moseley and Esher. No disrespect to them, but that in itself should be an incentive to Leeds.

Oh, hang on though; there are two more games to go. There is still the ridiculous situation of the Championship play off final to come, and this gives the team who finished top of the Championship the chance to stay in that division for another season. This of course would also give a reprieve, however undeserved, to the team at the bottom of the premiership, as Cornish Pirates do not meet the criteria required to sit at the top table should they win the two legged final. Although it will be another 11 days before we know the outcome COME ON PIRATES.

It is with more hope than expectation that I will journey down to the Gardens on Saturday, and if we can’t get what we need, so be it, but please, please, please, Leeds, make the trip worthwhile and show you care. It’s (nearly), our last chance.