Can Tykes Keep the Party Going?

By simonh
February 4 2005

Things are buzzing at Tykes at the moment. The big question is will the party still be in full flow come 10pm on Friday? Emphatic wins against Saints in the cup and Irish in the league (yes, emphatic – we never really looked like losing either)...

... have propelled us into the semi-final of the domestic knockout competition and lifted us a place up the table. We’ve signed a big star from down under for next season, and there seems at least a chance that we’ll have another before long

We got an astonishing gate against Newcastle and the atmosphere at the home games is rocking.

 

So, down to Worcester it is then for a massive test of the team’s confidence, competence and ambition. The game is a sell-out, with even poor Hoops’s big sister unable to get a ticket. The home crowd will be baying for a win. They are confident, having pushed Gloucester close last week.

 

So how do the two teams shape up? We have won five this season, Wuss four. Our total points tally is 248 against their 218. We’ve shipped 293, they’ve conceded 355. They’ve scored one try bonus point, we haven’t had any. We’ve taken five losing bonuses, they’ve had four. We’re two places above them in the table; we’re on 25 points they are on 21.

 

On all counts, then, we are shading it. But not by many and home advantage will count for a lot.

 

In Wuss’s last three league matches they were thumped by Leicester away, beat Irish at home and lost to Glaws away. We on the other hand lost heavily to Quins away, narrowly to Falcons at home and beat Irish at Headingley last week. So no real clues there then.

 

International call-ups will disrupt Tykes in one key position – fly-half. Gareth Wright has shown himself to be capable at this level, but Ross has been playing confidently and has been deadly accurate with his place kicking. It will be interesting to see how Wright takes this chance and whether he has the skill and vision to open up our back line.

 

The main beacon of optimism for Tykes has been the collective performance of the forwards over the past two matches. Against both Saints in the cup and Irish last week the pack showed excellent control, scrummaged solidly and kept a tidy and productive lineout while stealing a lot of ball on the opponents’ throw.

 

It is time for cool heads and big hearts. If the pack can maintain its current form we should win the match.

 

Teams:

 

Worcester Warriors:

 

15. Thinus Delport
14. Giscard Pieters
13. Dale Rasmussen
12. Thomas Lombard
11. Daren O’Leary
10. James Brown
9. Matt Powell

8. Brad Macleod-Henderson
7. Pat Sanderson (C)
6. Drew Hickey
5. Craig Gillies
4. Phil Murphy
3. Chris Horsman
2. Andre Van Niekerk
1. Tony Windo

16. Lee Fortey
17. Chris Hall
18. Tim Collier
19. Neil Mason
20. Clive Stuart-Smith
21. Tommy Hayes
22. Gary Trueman

 

Leeds Tykes:

 

15. Iain Balshaw
14. Andre Snyman
13. Phil Christophers
12. Chris Bell
11. Tim Stimpson
10. Gareth Wright
9. Alan Dickens

1. Mike Shelley
2. Mark Regan
3. Rayno Gerber
4. Chris Murphy
5. Tom Palmer (c)
6. Scott Morgan
7. Richard Parks
8. Colm Rigney

16. Kris Fullman
17. Rob Rawlinson
18. Pierre Uys
19. Stuart Hooper
20. Mark McMillan
21. David Rees
22. Tom Biggs

 

---