Tykes Edge closer to Shield Semi-Final
By Lisa Rowland
September 5 2005
Tries from Diego Albanese, Tim Stimpson and Mark Regan pushed Leeds Tykes through the first leg of the European shield quarterfinals after a brave fight from Petrarca Padova.
Padova opened the scoring on the 24th minute when fly half Luciano Orquera scored a penalty. The Tykes bounced back on 29th minute after the French referee, Jean Pierre Matheu, awarded Leeds a penalty try for a collapsing scrum, and Ross was able to convert it. Padova carried on applying pressure and were rewarded with their only try of the match just before half time, when Orquera broke through to touch down right under the posts and was able to convert it as well. Regan then scored a try for the Tykes when he was driven over the line from a lineout, whilst Padova were reduced to 14 men, but Ross was unable to convert it. The Italian fly half also added a penalty to the scoreboard, and sent his Italian side in 13-12 up at half time.
As the Tykes came out for the second half, Stuart Hooper and Diego Albanese replaced captain Tom Palmer and Mark McMillan. Both substitutions came to immediate effect as Hooper stole the ball from the lineout inside the Padova half, and Diego raced over the line to score Leeds’ third try of the match, which Ross converted. Eight minutes later Diego scored his second as he held off Lopez’s tackle and ran over to make it 24 -13. Tim Stimpson further extended the Tykes lead with a clever move, after scrapping between both sets of players. Ross failed to convert it making it 29-13 before the final whistle blew, sending just over 1,000 fans home pleased.
The Tykes are now able to go to Italy with a 16 point lead for the second leg, where they know they must push even harder and not underestimate their opponents, if they are going to go on to reach the semi-finals.