Leeds Battle On to Sink Exeter
Dear Santa ....
By Martyn Horwell
December 21 2008
Leeds Carnegie extended their lead at the top of National Division 1 with a hard earned victory over nearest rivals Exeter Chiefs at Headingley Stadium. Until Exeters' slip up last weekend, this had been billed as the 'title decider', with both sets of fans convinced their own heroes would come out on top...
... and while the game may not have lived up to the pre match hype in terms of flowing rugby, it had more twists and turns than a seaside roller coaster.
The was a festive atmosphere inside the ground when Exeter emerged from the tunnel, and their supporters were in good voice despite their long journey. Leeds kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground. The opening play was scrappy, and Leeds managed to lose two line outs in the first few minutes. However, when Leeds won a penalty Jason Strange found a good touch, and from the line out good Leeds hands swept the ball across field, and Hinton, Goodridge and Bucknell sent Scott Barrow surging to the line. As the crowd rose to celebrate, the visitors defence scrambled back to prevent a try, and the danger was cleared.
Exeter took the lead on 11 minutes when Steenson slotted a 30 yard penalty between the sticks. Stuart-Smith made a 40 yard break to set up another Exeter attack, but he was penalised for holding on, and Leeds cleared the danger. Exeter returned to the attack and on 16 minutes Leeds were penalised for going over the top, and Steenson again kicked the penalty to give Exeter a 6 - 0 lead. It was the visitors who were pressing, and they should have increased their lead, but Steenson made a complete horlicks of a simple drop goal attempt close to the posts. Still Exeter controlled the ball, and a cross field kick looked as if it would provide fruit, only for Blackett to recover and tackle an opponent forcing a knock on.
By this time Mr. Debney was angering both sets of supporters with some of his decisions, but when one of these went in favour of Leeds, Jason Strange converted a penalty. Almost from the restart, Leeds produced a flowing movement down the South Stand side, with Hinton feeding Goodridge who drew the cover and produced a superb low kick deep into Exeter territory. The chase was good, and Leeds won a penalty from which Jason Strange levelled the match at 6 points each. With everybody waiting for the half time whistle, Exeter were awarded another penalty, which Steenson duly converted, and the teams went in for their lemons with Exeter leading 9 - 6.
The second half began with Exeter again forcing the pace. Bucknall had enjoyed a fine game for Leeds, but when he lost possession some 20 yards from his own line, the visitors took the scrum, and Steenson kicked to the far corner for Drauniniu, to collect and hold off Blackett's challenge to cross in the corner. Steenson landed the extras, and the Chiefs fans had plenty to cheer about.
Leeds could have reduced the arrears, but Strange missed a penalty, and from the resultant restart, Oakley caught the ball only to run straight into MacDonald, and Leds had needlessly lost the ball again. By now, Pala'amo and Myall had replaced Bucknell and Clark, and in the next few minutes, Biggs, Mathie and Nillsen were to enter the fray in place of Hepworth, Bedford, and Rawlinson, and if ever a coach made inpiring changes, then it was today. None of the replaced players had played badly, but after a few shaky minutes as they settled in, these replacements were to prove pivotal figures in the game.
Leeds began to hold the ball and gain good territory, and when Pala'amo made a driving run deep into Exeter territory, Leeds spread the ball wide where they had a 3 man overlap. With a try in the corner looking certain, Draununiu, foolishly knocked the ball deliberately forward to prevent the try, and the referee awarded Leeds a penalty try, and sent the winger for a ten minute rest. Strange converted from under the posts, and Exeter were now a player short. If that was a defining incident, then what happened next definately turned the tide in Leeds favour. Exeter restarted, and Myall collected the ball and went on a 40 yard swashbuckling run, scattering the visitors defenders all over the place. The crowd were behind Leeds now, and when the ball was recycled, Oakley threaded an inch perfect kick to the corner. Tom Biggs was after it like a greyhound, and he won the race to touch down midway between the posts and the corner flag. Mr Debney, who by now did not have a friend in the world, consulted his assistant, before awarding a try. Strange missed the conversion but for the first time, and after 65 minutes, Leeds were in front.
Scott Mathie was terrorising the visitors with darting runs, clever kicks, and tigerish tackling, and Exeter were now on the back foot, with one or two of their players looking very tired. From this point Leeds experience began to show, and most of the play took place in the visitors half of the field. Leeds controlled the ball well as they ran down the clock, but nobody in the 5,000 plus crowd could have anticipated what was in store. On 78 minutes, Leeds were awarded a penalty, and from 35 yards, and just to the left of the posts, Jason Strange took what would surely be the clinching kick. It looked in, the crowd cheered, it drifted left, hit the post, the Ex fans cheered, it bounced in field where Tom Biggs collected the rebound and headed for the try that would clinch the game. NO. The defence held him at bay, but Leeds had a scrum deep in the Exeter 22. The crowd were restless, even more so when Leeds lost the ball. Time was running out, Leeds conceded a penalty, and 'Sir' told the visitors this would be the last play. They ran the ball to the halfway line, and when the ball eventually appeared, a Leeds boot kicked it clear, and the whistle went. The end.
OH NO IT WASN'T. (oh well it is panto season). It was a penalty to Exeter on the halfway line just to the right of the posts. Steenson lined the ball up, and withh the tension almost unbearable, sent the ball into the Headingley sky towards the posts. It started to drop, and fell some 4 yards or so short of the crossbar. The ball bounced dead, the ref had had enough, and Leeds had come out on top of an extraordinary and pulsating game.
Had Drauninui not had his rush of blood, Leeds could have been beaten today, but when Leeds got their chance, they siezed it. They never flagged, and I was disappointed to hear one or two 'fans' criticising some of the Leeds players. Once again they defended with a discipline which kept them in the game. Full marks to Exeter for cramping our usual free flowing style, but we resorted to plan B, and it worked.
And finally, a special word for the players who came off the bench today. They slotted in as if their lives depended on it, and they must have given the coaches one enormous headache when it comes to next weeks team selection.
Merry Christmas to everybody, coaches, players, and you the fans.
What a present we got today.
Not sure about 'one or two fans criticising the Leeds players', from where I was in the Carnegie stand there was a torrent of uncomplimentary remarks from a whole load of people, including someone telling Hinton, at pretty close quarters, that he was 'greedy' and 'never passed'. Not especially pleasant...
1. We are substantially better than we were at Sandy Park back in September.
2. We are substantially fitter than we were back then.
3. Defensively we are in good shape - it took an excellent catch of a perfect crosskick to breech our line.
4. Our bench contained enough diamonds to cut up the Exe defence - Myall, Mathie, Biggs & Fosi all added to the intensity of the Leeds pressure on Exe in the last 20 minutes.
5. We are now playing an 85 minute game.
Thanx Tufty for your kind comments. Yes we were upset, but we were also so proud. You definitely didn't give up. I hope you don't mind me posting your comments on our site.
Happy Christmas to you guys
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:21:11:36:08 by farmertyke.
Pain is only temporary but victory is forever
I doubt very much that Josh deliberately went to knock the ball on. I know he has said that he thought he could take it and he has scored plenty of tries in this manner to back this up. Either way the ref. saw it as deliberate and the rest is history.
This was a turning point in the game but ultimately I think Leeds won the game because on the day you had a little more quality at your disposal. Until the incident above Leeds supporters were quite harsh on their team (I suppose you have become used to brushing the opposition aside) and in all honesty much of the Leeds play lacked precision. There were many overlaps created by Leeds that went a begging. But the very fact that those overlaps were created indicates that Leeds did indeed have that little bit more quality.
great report - see you @ Otley...
looking forward to the Premiership next Season already...!
Merry Christmas to all, see you at Otley.
Some say he has a Tykes flag with team signatures on.
Others say that he's doing the same to the Carnegie flag,
All we know is that he's called Leeds carnegie signed flag.
Wish you all a great Christmas and new year..
East Terrace Central
Our roads are paved with hope, and there are no stop signs.
"COME ON EXE!"
Let's hope we keep it up at Otley and don't take our eyes off the next game as the biggest game of the season.
Fantastic day, Exeter folk and team tremendous, I just thought that when, finally, we really ramped it up we had a bit more quality and intensity. Exeter's lengthy endeavour when they were clearly on top was never quite as convincing.
Lots of great performances on both sides, but most significant for me was Biggs back at his best - absolute class and sheer unanswerable gas. In the big step up to GP - if we make it - we need a sprinkling of magic players like him, like the Albanese and Scarbro types. We've got a good few players with grunt, attitude and quality, but you need the X factor to break top quality games.
If only ND1 could deliver this intensity and quality of play week in week out, but I suppose that is what the RFU are trying to achieve with their tinkerings.
Best wishes to Exeter - great fans, great club.
Here is the report from the Western Morning News (a Westcountry not Exeter paper)
LINK
Hope to see you guys again at Twickenham in the final of the EDF !
"As to the first try, unfortunately the referee hasn't seen a lot of Josh, because normally he catches those and runs the length of the field. It is disappointing for him."
I think that's hilarious - suggests that as a referee you should spend time analysing all the players in the game beforehand so you can see what they "normally do" !
And as to the controversy around Biggsy's try - there are two things to that: 1. It was a try. The score says so. 2. I was pretty close to it and it looked good to me. If ever I get to see a DVD of the game I'll come back to it, but these fingertip tries are why the wingers get paid the big bucks IMO...
Waiting for the good times ...
..and waiting ....
... and waiting ...
Law 12 1.e
Intentional knock or throw-forward. A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with arm or hand, nor throw-forward.
Penalty: Penalty kick. A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored.
Quote:Loosehead
I think their reporter needs to familiarise themselves with the laws of the game more so
Law 12 1.e
Intentional knock or throw-forward. A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with arm or hand, nor throw-forward.
Penalty: Penalty kick. A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored.
But Loosehead if it was not intentional (i.e. his intention was to catch it) it is just a scrum.
Look I didn't want to start another argument I just thought you might be interested in the link.
At the end of the day only Josh really knows what he was trying to do. Maybe with the benefit of a slow mo replay we could work it out. The Ref. was clearly sure it was deliberate and the rest is history !
Quote:Loosehead
Like I said before its the one handed attempt that gets you penalised if he went with 2 hands it would only have been a knock on
I agree that if he went with two hands there would be no argument but many one handed attempts go unpunished. I would say the majority. David Campese being the highest profile - not a good example because that was of course deliberate !
My recollection of it was that with one hand outstretched he made contact with the ball , which then went forward.
I know you guys think of him in God-like terms , but really, please , unless there was velcro or super glue or divine intervention invovled it was never going to be possible to catch the ball with one out stretched hand .
Seen plenty of these in Prem & international & always the result is a penalty ... & as is clear elsewhere , blackett would have scored so ... penalty try .
As you say , only he knows his intention , but the resultant consequences support the refs decision of penalty try
Quote:tykeman
Cornish Chief.
My recollection of it was that with one hand outstretched he made contact with the ball , which then went forward.
I know you guys think of him in God-like terms , but really, please , unless there was velcro or super glue or divine intervention invovled it was never going to be possible to catch the ball with one out stretched hand .
Seen plenty of these in Prem & international & always the result is a penalty ... & as is clear elsewhere , blackett would have scored so ... penalty try .
As you say , only he knows his intention , but the resultant consequences support the refs decision of penalty try
Given how many overlaps Leeds blew during the game I would say the probability of Leeds scoring was actually not that high.
You don't actually need to catch the ball just tip it up so that it can then be caught.
I have no sour grapes about the result I felt that Leeds did have that little bit of extra quality and as for the incident we are talking about as I have already said the Ref. clearly had no doubt and so awarded the penalty try.
are punnished as looshead says and 2 handed are deemed a knock on. A penalty try and yellow, a tad harsh, but this has happened to us on a couple of occassions in the GP for simular things.
A great game and day out, that you could have won if his kick wasn't short.I personally thought the ref was quite even over the whole of the game.
"Given how many overlaps Leeds blew during the game I would say the probability of Leeds scoring was actually not that high.
"
you might as well have said that given the kicks Steenson already blew the probability of Steenson kicking the last kick was actually not that high
Remember old chinese proverb ... He whose smiley thing laughs longer - laughs last .
"Given how many overlaps Leeds blew during the game I would say the probability of Leeds scoring was actually not that high.
"
you might as well have said that given the kicks Steenson already blew the probability of Steenson kicking the last kick was actually not that high
Remember old chinese proverb ... He whose smiley thing laughs longer - laughs last .[/quote]
I would agree tykeman. After all he had already fallen short from abot 8 metres closer. I did not expect him to kick it.
Did you not notice how many times your team created the overlap without taking advantage. This for me was the difference between the sides. We did not create the opportunities that Leeds were able to. The fact that you did not take advantage just left me feeling that you would eventually but our Josh (illegally) prevented you.
It's a bit of fun. You won you have the last laugh.To me this is the essence of Rugby .. win or lose both sets of supporters can still enjoy the "post - match banter".
It is & I hope always remains a bit of fun - if it ever changes , everyone is the loser.
We've been on the other side if before & I dare say will again - I hope I handle myself as well as you boys have done since Saturday .
Snippet of memory that will remain - The Exeter Cool Chant - I'll not forget that noise in a hurry
Cheers Cornish - have a good Christmas & rest of the Season
Hope you get to hear our chant again in the Prem.
Happy Christmas to all & enjoy the rest of your season in ND1
You won time to move on. It was very satisfying to put the Pirates in their place yesterday.
Law 12 1.e
Intentional knock or throw-forward. A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with arm or hand, nor throw-forward.
Penalty: Penalty kick. A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored.
the offence committed prevented a try being scored.
thanks PC for clip
Look at Drauniniu's reaction C.C. Speaks volumes 'cos he knows what he has done.
Happy New Year to you.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
Quote:haxbytyke
But was it really a penalty try ? Look at the reaction of your own player !
Look at Drauniniu's reaction C.C. Speaks volumes 'cos he knows what he has done.
Happy New Year to you.
I promise this is absolutely, definitely, categorically my last word on this......
.....Josh's reaction is that of a flying winger who has seen the opportunity to run the length of the field to score a crucial try for his team only to knock the ball on and spurn the opportunity. Someone will say but he couldn't have scored because Debney was already playing advantage to Leeds. Josh didn't know that.
I think I know him a little better than you and I absolutely believe that was his intention.
THE END
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:28:19:06:06 by CornishChief.
one for 'try of the season '
but Hepworth's at Notts is also a contender ?