Muddying the waters
By Gelbel
December 16 2012
And so to South Wales for the return B & I Cup fixture against Pontypridd, and I can’t help thinking there are more questions than answers. My nephew (proudly donning his Day-Glo yellow hat) and I arrived at a very wet and muddy Sardis Road just as the teams were lining up to kick-off and looked for some familiar faces to stand amongst. Needless to say we stood on our own and were perceived as a pair of oddities by the natives – so much so I checked for an underwear malfunction. The natives were actually quite friendly but made Rotherham fans appear faint hearted in the support for their team!
There had been much tinkering with the Leeds team - Christian Georgiou at outside half, Alex Lozowski at full back and another starting debutant in Pierce Phillips, with Rob Baldwin as captain the most notable.
From the start Leeds were defending and by the half hour mark were thirteen to nil down. Leeds were deemed to be off-side on several occasions by the referee and were seeing Ponty enjoy long periods of advantage served up by the Welshman with the whistle. When Leeds did get the ball, handling errors let them down or they were pinged for not releasing. However, Lozowski was lively, Georgiou’s distribution was, on the whole, good, while Smith and Barrow were tackling hard. Barrow thanked the crowd for their concern about his ‘lack of puff’ on several occasions and Chisholm did not snap as predicted when he was charged at on more than on occasion. I say charged at, as he needs to learn how to tackle. Before half-time Georgiou put away one penalty but missed a second. Half time 13-3.
The monsoon came to the Valleys in the second half and it’s a wonder neither team were kitted out with scuba gear so deep was the water on the pitch. Leeds were enjoying a spell of possession but were penalised for a high tackle – go figure as they say. They maintained the pressure but handling errors came thick and fast. We were treated to a rather spectacular handbag bout, resulting in a red card for each team – quickly followed by a yellow for each side.
Leeds continued with their dominance and, with some nice passing and side-slipping in the mud, through the downpour and dimness, from a distance it looked to me that Wilson scored a try. Seeing as the ref and linesman would’ve had a better view than me (albeit they were nowhere near the try line), I fail to see how they could not give it. However, with Leeds being dominant they were seeing favourable decisions from the referee who probably decided he needed to ‘balance the books’ to get out the stadium in once piece. There was no doubt when Wilson crossed the line shortly after, following a lovely break from Lozowski. 13-8
It must’ve been like juggling with eels due to the wet, muddy conditions, which resulted in Leeds missing some tackles and Pontypridd scoring their third try. Another handbags session kicked-off and, being close to the end of the match, players were lucky not be sent for an early bath – which I am sure they’d been glad off. In the dying seconds Ponty scored their fourth try. Final score 25-8.
Despite the result and the conditions, there were aspects of the Leeds’ performance I was pleased with. Alex Lozowski had a great debut – mixing it up, launching attacks, making yardage. I’d even say playing what was in front of him. I think we may’ve found cover for Joe in Christian Georgiou – he’s not the done deal but the potential is there. The lineout functioned well but the discipline, especially in the first half was poor, so was the ball handling. Having said that, the conditions were awful and Pontypridd are a wily bunch who know the tricks of the trade. What was good was the ‘never say die’ attitude – this side did not give up and they fought for each other (literally – I’d have Tutu in my corner any time). But we need to remember this was a ‘dead-rubber’ tin-pot cup match - it’s right that youngsters are given a chance but when do they get to play for ‘real’, when it really counts? Overall, ignore the score, through the layers of mud coating them, this team of youngsters had a chance to shine – some as beacons, some as glimmers of hope, but some as dull as the day itself. Diccon Edwards needs to work out when to flick the switch on the brightest.
It must’ve been like juggling with eels due to the wet, muddy conditions, which resulted in Leeds missing some tackles and Pontypridd scoring their third try. Another handbags session kicked-off and, being close to the end of the match, players were lucky not be sent for an early bath – which I am sure they’d been glad off. In the dying seconds Ponty scored their fourth try. Final score 25-8.
Despite the result and the conditions, there were aspects of the Leeds’ performance I was pleased with. Alex Lozowski had a great debut – mixing it up, launching attacks, making yardage. I’d even say playing what was in front of him. I think we may’ve found cover for Joe in Christian Georgiou – he’s not the done deal but the potential is there. The lineout functioned well but the discipline, especially in the first half was poor, so was the ball handling. Having said that, the conditions were awful and Pontypridd are a wily bunch who know the tricks of the trade. What was good was the ‘never say die’ attitude – this side did not give up and they fought for each other (literally – I’d have Tutu in my corner any time). But we need to remember this was a ‘dead-rubber’ tin-pot cup match - it’s right that youngsters are given a chance but when do they get to play for ‘real’, when it really counts? Overall, ignore the score, through the layers of mud coating them, this team of youngsters had a chance to shine – some as beacons, some as glimmers of hope, but some as dull as the day itself. Diccon Edwards needs to work out when to flick the switch on the brightest.
Muddying the waters
Posted by: TykesRugby.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 16/12/2012 19:31
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:12:24:09:23:25 by Wildwillie .
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:12:24:09:23:25 by Wildwillie .
Re: Muddying the waters
Posted by: Mark_C (IP Logged)
Date: 16/12/2012 19:41
Quote:Overall, ignore the score, through the layers of mud coating them, this team of youngsters had a chance to shine – some as beacons, some as glimmers of hope, but some as dull as the day itself. Diccon Edwards needs to work out when to flick the switch on the brightest.
Awesome, Gel, it's up to the gaffer now. Let's see him earn his corn.
Great report, hope you had a safe journey home.
Miserati - and Proud to be!
Re: Muddying the waters
Posted by: Gelbel (IP Logged)
Date: 16/12/2012 20:00
Cheers Mark. Quick and easy trip home this morning as my poor nephew stayed in bed 'never feeling so ill in my life' (he's 8). He must've been feeling awful watching the match. 6th Leeds match he's seen and 6th (big) loss. But he was impressed by the youngsters as he could relate to them - he's just started to tackle when he plays. He thought they were 'awesome'. It's watching some of the better lads in the team that inspires the kids starting out today.
Re: Muddying the waters
Posted by: Mark_C (IP Logged)
Date: 16/12/2012 20:47
Good Stuff!
Miserati - and Proud to be!
Miserati - and Proud to be!
Re: Muddying the waters
Posted by: leemingtyke (IP Logged)
Date: 16/12/2012 21:07
Very good report Gel,
I'm glad that CG did well, playing such a young lad out of position could have properly backfired with short term consequences for the team and, possibly, long term ones for the player.
How did the other two debutants get on?
I'm glad that CG did well, playing such a young lad out of position could have properly backfired with short term consequences for the team and, possibly, long term ones for the player.
How did the other two debutants get on?
Re: Muddying the waters
Posted by: Gelbel (IP Logged)
Date: 16/12/2012 21:17
Pierce made himself known. The scrum was much improved in 2nd half but can't comment on Tyson's impact. TBH everyone was so covered in mud it was difficult to pick the individuals in the forwards when they were in close contact.
Re: Muddying the waters
Posted by: Beeston Lion (IP Logged)
Date: 16/12/2012 21:36
Good one Gel, as I said elsewhere there were positives in this match but we have to be aware of the opportunities presented and use them judiously. I spoke to Chris Walker after the match and he quite rightly pointed out that this was a difficult test for a team used to playing in good conditions at HC, against a team used to playing regularly on a Sardis Road pitch which presented a challenging environment yesterday. Having said that they responded well and did not look like a team beaten by four tries to one and an seventeen point margin. Curtis's 'none try' was legitimately ruled out from my viewpoint but there was doubt because the line markings were very poorly defined all over the pitch. The in goal area at the end of the pitch to where Curtis kicked ahead, was shallow but appeared larger because behind the dead ball line there was large area which contained only a lone scrum machine. Ben Hooper also appeared genuinely distraught at his dismissal which resulted from the intervention of the touch judge and I was surprised when red was the colour for the first two of the four players sanctioned at that incident.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:12:16:23:47:51 by Beeston Lion.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:12:16:23:47:51 by Beeston Lion.
Re: Muddying the waters
Posted by: Gelbel (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2012 07:57
I was going to pop in the review that Ben slapped his head-guard down when he was sent off - and got a spray of muddy water for his troubles.
Funny decisions those cards - and for consistency he should've binned people for the 2nd bust up even though it was so late in the game. Dom Barrow did a spectacular jump up and over with a flying fist to reach a Ponty player.
Funny decisions those cards - and for consistency he should've binned people for the 2nd bust up even though it was so late in the game. Dom Barrow did a spectacular jump up and over with a flying fist to reach a Ponty player.
Re: Muddying the waters
Posted by: Beeston Lion (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2012 20:55
Found the following on one of the touch judges from Saturday. May go some way to helping understanding some of what went on at Sardis Road.
"Hugh David Watkins (born 3 September 1963) is a Welsh former rugby union referee who currently works as the video referee on the UK television gameshow Gladiators. In 2007, he went to the 2007 Rugby World Cup as a touch judge before being used as a television match official later in the competition. In 2008, he was hired by the Worcester Warriors rugby team as a consultant in charge of reviewing the team's performances."
"Hugh David Watkins (born 3 September 1963) is a Welsh former rugby union referee who currently works as the video referee on the UK television gameshow Gladiators. In 2007, he went to the 2007 Rugby World Cup as a touch judge before being used as a television match official later in the competition. In 2008, he was hired by the Worcester Warriors rugby team as a consultant in charge of reviewing the team's performances."
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