Dog Bites Shark, Shark Eats Dog

Leeds Carnegie returned to league action against Sale Sharks on Sunday. Recent games in the GP had given much cause for optimism amongst the home fans and consequently there was a belief running through the crowd before the match that a home-win was on the cards.

The ‘Neegs were out of the starting blocks like a scalded greyhound snapping at their visitors’ ankles and with only a few minutes on the clock Lee(Mick the Miller) Blackett

crashed over in the corner, confounding his critics with his speed and purpose. In tricky conditions Ceiron Thomas slotted over the extras from wide out to the vociferous delight of the Southstand. If this was not enough the Leeds backs then proceeded to rip up the Sharks defence. Rabeni seemed to have the beating of the Sale cover every time he touched the ball. Barrow had clearly had his shredded wheat that morning.

Despite the home superiority Charlie Hodgson pulled back three points after the influential Alfie To’ala was penalised. Still Backy’s dogs of war poured forward . The forwards, notably Myall and Lund were cleaning up the Sale lineouts giving Gommers and Thomas a steady supply of quality ball. Ceiron Thomas, wisely, kept the ball in hand so that, as the home side went through the phases, the Sharks were starved of possession for much of the first half. Just as halftime loomed Thomas picked out Barrow with a tasty pass and “cereal man” waltzed over to extend the lead. Thomas capped a fine half with the extras and the diehards in the Paddock could smell blood. No-one thought that it would be the canine variety!

Leeds made an injury-enforced substitution at half time which had a large bearing on the eventual result. Alfie was replaced by Denton with Myall going to eight. An astute coach might have told the team to give it more of the same in the second half. Mysteriously the ‘Neegs tactics changed. Instead of keeping the ball in hand the home defence started kicking the ball away which gave Sale more possession than they enjoyed in the first half. Ceiron kicked a penalty to make it 17-3 and at that point it was obvious which tactics needed to be employed.

On the hour Leeds made a second, and in my opinion crucial, substitution. Andy Gomarsall had had a splendid afternoon, even finding time to instruct Chris White in the finer points of refereeing. Once he had left the field all the team’s craft and guile seemed to go with him. Some of the Leeds players were visibly tiring and tackles were missed. The Sharks now started to circle their prey and “Hammerhead” Hodgson began to get a grip on the game. Cohen scored out wide on the left. Thomas brought down Hodgson yards short and Wigglesworth, second fiddle to Gommers for an hour, scampered home with Hodgson converting both. At seventeen-all we looked for some fresh legs but none were sent out. Sale wheeled a scrum and their sub managed to get the ball over the line for the winning score. Plucky Leeds, tykes in all but name, were beaten.

Most fans left the ground shell-shocked. The visitors could not believe their luck whereas the home fans had been given a glimpse of what the team is capable of if only………….