Nottngham 30 Tykes 37


By Matt Wilton
October 17 2006

The Three Musketeers headed for Nottingham, skilfully navigating around a reported closure of the M1, but not enjoying a lengthy diversion round the Nottingham ring road. Torrential rain started as we neared the ground, which given our usual form with ball in hand did not augur well.

On arrival two of the musketeers headed for the bar, while I met an old friend, a part-time Tyke based in Nottingham, for an excellent carvery meal.  The part-time Tyke has seen Leeds play on three occasions and never witnessed a victory. This was the last chance to end the jinx, no further invitations would be issued if we’d lost!

 

We settled back in our seats in the main stand, admiring the facilities and the pitch. It felt a little empty, but I was reliably informed that it feels empty when Notts County are at home, so the rugby club have got nothing to be ashamed of. Let’s hope they continue to grow the crowds ready for their new home.

 

Do you want a blow by blow account of the game? No? Good. You can always read the Yorkshire Post for that. The eye-witness view of the first half was that Leeds had produced a bit of a curate’s egg performance, which is something of an improvement on the last game I saw (London Welsh), which was more of a rotten egg. Or an eggnog. Mixing the sublime with the ridiculous saw us going in 18-13 up, having recovered from a woeful start and going 10-0 down. First try went to Rocky I, from a cunning cross-kick from Heppers. The second Tykes try of the half was scored by Jon Dunbar, who got on the end of a scintillating (it’s a while since I’ve used that word in relation to Tykes) move, involving Jonesy, Oakley, Welding and Tom McGee. Your correspondent was moved to shout ‘champagne rugby’!

 

Immediately following half-time Big Bad Jon was at it again, accelerating (ahem) onto a crafty grubber from Hepworth to score in the corner. Not long afterwards Mark Lock capitalised on some slick approach play and excellent inter-passing to rumble over, and Leeds were 30-16 up and into unheard of bonus point territory. Some loon declared it was just like watching Brasil, but this was qualified by the declaration that the seats were uncomfortable there too. From here Nottingham, playing an effective but limited game, should have been taken to the cleaners. But Leeds started to boil hot and cold, coughing up two pushover tries, which sandwiched Rocky I side-stepping over to a well-taken try. The loss of Dunbar to the sin-bin as part of a Dan Hyde tribute was certainly a factor in the loss of momentum, but more needs to be done to ensure the pack don’t get pushed about. Three pushover tries in one match is a worry, although half the Nottingham back line was involved in two of them.

 

Summing up, a good win, although it could and should have been by a greater margin. There is so much more space in National One than in the Prem, and Leeds have enough players with the quality to exploit it. The lack of familiarity is starting to disappear now, and some of the passing (in front of the man!) was excellent. Negatives – getting pushed around a little too easily, and the sorry injury to Jonesy, who was playing very well. But on the whole, an enjoyable performance, rugby to put a smile on the face of the travelling Tykes contingent, and building more momentum for the home game against struggling Sedgeley. Don’t arrive early, or you’ll be playing in the centres!