Not so much a review as a press cutting scrapbook
Delighted!
By apb
September 5 2005
Its a bit late to be posting a match review I know, so this week I thought I'd do it a bit differently, and post a number of comments from various press sources, and of course, the multitudinous TykesRugby messagboard contributors.
First, the "professional" rugby press.
It seems evident that everyone in the Stadium on Friday night was watching the game through their own particular tint of spectacles, depending on what they thought the outcome should have been.
Ian Gordon of The Guardian was clearly in a foul mood, having been dragged up to Yorkshire to watch rugby in the rain: "If this was a preview of their impending Powergen Cup semi-final encounter then maybe the fans should already start asking for their money back. Not that Leeds will be unduly bothered after emerging with a vital victory from a dour struggle to end a run of five successive Premiership defeats". Dour struggle eh? . Tsk!
The Times, that august journal that brought you "Justin Marshall signs for Falcons" was actually a little more complimentary, and probably sums up my recollections of the match: "Leeds easily mopped up (the Irish) pressure, which consisted mainly of Mark Mapletoft hoofing the ball and hoping that something came of it in the first half. Leeds’s attacking efforts were more occasional but effective, as Tom Palmer led by example up front and Iain Balshaw applied his cutting edge coming into the line from full back."
Sam Wheeler in the Yorkshire Post was pretty happy: "If Leeds continue to play like this, their next game against London Irish will be the focal point of their season rather than a distraction from the serious business of avoiding relegation". "Generally it was a night for the forwards, and the home pack was on song. Prop Mike Shelley was prominent as ever, open-side Richard Parks was his usual irritating self at the breakdown and No 8 Colm Rigney maintained his bid to be voted player of the year." I'm sure Parksy will not be too chuffed at being called "irritating" - mind you, I know a few Saints fans who'll agree with Sam on that one....
The Newcastle Evening Chronicle was very complimentary, and perhaps went a little bit over the top: "The Tykes played all the rugby and even the Exiles' try came against the run of play". "Tykes threequarter line ... was full of inventive running." Inventive running? I like the sound of that!
As far as messageboard posters were concerned, it also depended on your demeanour on the day. Simonh posted "Terrific result; fantastic display of control. This has really put the season back on track." New Bluey White Dazz was equally impressed: "That was four well earned and badly needed league points. Great game considering the conditions. Ross is continuing to impress me with his current form and Dickens is shaping up". Even the measured, objective tones of TykesRugby's co-editor Timofe were for once gushing with praise: "for me it was the best performance the lads have put in all season".
However, notes of caution were sounded by the likes of Soft Centre: "An excellent forward display, but we are no nearer solving our problem in the centre ... Towards the end I got the impression the forwards are so sick & tired of the spills in the centre that they decided to keep it to themselves. Bring in the two centres from the development team, they simply cannot do any worse." David Gilchrist - voice of reason (!) - said: "A good result though I would use the term workmanlike".
So, we have the professional hacks wildly differing in their views, and - although not so different (as you'd expect since the vast majority of posters are Tykes fans) - the messageboard posters were much closer in their assessments. Of course, being the editor of this site, I'm completely objective. I obviously have the fount of all knowledge at my beck and call. Know what I think?
"The Boys Done Good!"