Jonny Strikes Back

By Loosehead
September 5 2005

In what was billed as the battle of the North, and Leeds Tykes smashed their previous best attendance record by nearly 7000, the Tykes again struggled to impress the 14,293 in attendance.With both teams taking to pitch to sounds of Fanfare for the Common Man the game had the makings of a classic..

All the right ingredients were there; England Rugby Golden boy, the record crowd, the season of festivities.... however both sides never read the script and instead we had a dour showing. Leeds started well with a Ross penalty on 7 minutes but Leeds lost young Winger Tom Biggs to an ankle injury during the build up to the score.

During the first 20-25 minutes Newcastle rarely threatened the Tykes line with their only threat coming from a may kick ahead Leeds won the race to the touchdown. Leeds looked to be starting to dominate the game but tow costly errors in attack allowed Newcastle back into the game.

With Ross fluffing a drop goal with Leeds in attack and within minutes Walder had kicked 3 points to level the game shortly afterwards Wilkinson entered the fray for Taione and within minutes he had landed a further penalty to make it 6-3.

Leeds however, hit back with a well worked try from Mark Regan, with Dunbar taking the ball in the lineout and setting the platform up Leeds managed to drive over the line.

Newcastle were not to be out done with more Leeds indiscipline Jonny Wilkinson again added the extra to make the score 9-8 Newcastle, with game now deep into injury time in the 1st half Wilko again dropped a goal to push the Falcons 12-8 up at the end of the half.

The 2nd half a was a dour affair with no team looking likely to do anything Stimpson failed with a monstrous 52 m drop goal but with both teams defensive patterns taking a stranglehold on the game Wilko added a further penalty to make it 15-8 Leeds replied with a Ross penalty to make it 15-11, Leeds rarely looked to trouble the Falcons try line.

If Leeds are serious about wanting to play infront of big crowds such as this one week in week out then they will need to do something on the pitch to ensure that fans will be wanting to come and see the Tykes play again. A dour game such as this one will not help their cause.