Tykes Show Steely Resolve to Win Through...
By apb
September 5 2005
So what do you say in this situation? What do you sing? How are you supposed to convey your joy without necessarily rubbing the opposition's nose in it? It was, without doubt, the biggest win in Leeds Tykes' history since the last one, and importantly, took a massive stride towards securing safety.
But I do feel a bit sorry for the Quins fans who braved the M1 and made the four hour trip to support their team, only to see them serve up the same old fayre of knock-ons, poor passing and decision making and losing form. A four hour trek home, on a school night, and nothing at all to console the weary traveller.
There but for the grace of God...
The game didn't really get going for a while, with a full twenty minutes gone by before any scoring occured, and that was against the run of play, with a Jeremy Staunton penalty taking Quins into the lead. Gordon Ross had an opportunity to kick the equaliser a minute later, but the confidence in the Leeds team was such that he kicked for the corner instead. Although the immediate threat from the close in line-out was repelled, Leeds maintained good pressure and Andre Snyman went over for a try - given after an interminably long decision period by the fourth official. Ross added the extras, and a small sigh of relief for the Tykes faithful - 7-3 up at half time.
Second half started, and the South Stand - exceptionally vociferous on this evening - went quiet as a telgraphed pass (and I mean Chris Malone-style telegraphed) went straight into the grateful arms of Jeremy Staunton, who ran in under the posts from half-way and converted easily. Would this be another one of those days for the Tykes? Were we witnessing the end of the Leeds dream?
Nope. Showing stunning resolve and self belief, the team didn't panic, and came back with all guns blazing. From a ruck just inside their own twenty-two, the Leeds back line saw a four man overlap, and ran and passed the ball with panache, Christophers starting and finishing the move, following a clever return pass from Tom Biggs. Ross did the business and 14-10. From then on in, the only hope the Quins offered their by now suffering supporters was the chance of another interception; there was certainly no chance of anything being created directly by them, and their game plan seemed to rely on defending. This tactic was duly exposed when Andre Snyman went in on the left hand side for his second of the day, and Ross completed the task to take them to 21-10.
The four-try bonus was on the cards, and clearly the Tykes team thought so too, but their decision making ten metres out let them down somewhat, and penalties were given away. By now, the Quins were desparately trying to salvage something from the wreckage of the game, and spun the ball wildly left and right, looking for a way through, know that if the ball went dead, it was all over. One pass too many to Ace Tiatia - who had a mare with the ball in hand - and the knock-on signalled the Tykes victory.
That has made Tykes position much less precarious, but there is still a danger. All five of the bottom clubs can still be relegated on the last day, so its off down to Bath for my first ever trip to the Rec, there to shout, and cheer, and sing, and encourage the Tykes to finish the job off in style.