Leeds Lose Their Ninth Life...
By Tyke Steve
November 15 2005
Well here we go again, another game and another hope that we’d come away with something; that we’d have turned that corner; and the long trek up the Guinness Premiership table would begin. Strange things can happen, unfortunately Strange was on the Bristol team sheet and he bagged 22 points
I even tried to get some luck working on our side. Leeds played in the change strip, I thought this might work, surely it’s not unlucky? I also wore the “lucky” woolly Tykes hat. Chatting with Steve and his wife fellow Tykes supporters (yes there were several there!) before the match, Steve spoke jokingly about going home at half time as Leeds were often in the lead after the first 40 minutes! I wondered, if we were losing at half-time would we might then go on to win?
At the start of the season I had Bristol as prime candidates for the drop. Looking at the form book they’d not managed a Guinness Premiership win in a while as well. I was beginning to be hopeful and clutched my “lucky” hat more firmly (I was inside in the bar at the time so it was yet to be worn!). I have to say their ground seemed quite pleasant, decent terracing covering most areas of the ground with seating area as well. There are football connections though; I’m never sure about the logic of ground sharing with a footy side.
I took up my place on the Clubhouse (Bass) Terrace. The teams lined up and a respectful silence was shown as it was Remembrance Sunday, and tribute was particularly given to former Bristol players that had fallen in battles elsewhere.
Leeds started the game playing towards us. It was a while before they got close. Several penalties kept the scoreboard ticking over and Bristol started to edge away with the score at 12-3. Doherty showed some pace to get by Lima only to be stopped by the covering Bristol defence. A further penalty from Ross made it 12-6. However, just before half-time, Bristol struck with a Lemi try in the corner, which Strange converted giving a 19-6 lead at half-time.
The wife sent me to get a drink during the interval. At the bar I was accosted by a friendly Bristol fan who gave me the “You’re too good to go down” announcement. I told him, that if I had a penny for every time I had been told that I’d be a millionaire! Standing back on the terrace I thought about the chat with Steve before the start of the game, well at least we’ve broken the leading at half-time, losing at full time curse! I took the baseball cap off and stuck the “lucky” woolly hat on my bonce!
The second half started, Strange kicked a further penalty and Ross missed a pretty easy chance. Strange then missed another attempt, but the ball bounced back off the post, the Tykes players must have been asleep or simply admiring it as Lemi beat them to it and nearly crossed the line. We saw the obligatory 3 Tykes subs come on, not that it made any difference. To make matters worse Marshall got sent to the bin and it was good night Vienna. More kicks and tries left the final score at 32-6, a healthy win for Bristol and another nail in our relegation coffin.
Coming away I realised, if we’re winning at half-time we lose, it now seems if we’re losing at half-time we also lose. For once it’d nice to see us just winning at full time, full stop! I’m wondering when we’ll get a next win. Calvisano away perhaps?
“Did anything look good Tyke Steve?” I hear you ask. Well, no, not really. We lost line out ball, the scrum creaked, and we looked like we lacked vision in attack, all too predictable really. Marshall looked good in parts, again perhaps trying to do too much. Ross wasn’t effective at all, time for De Marigny to be given the 10 shirt I reckon. Snyman relied on the crash ball.
“What about the boys heads? Did they go down?” I hear you cry. To be honest, I’m not sure they were up in the first place. Some might say they were playing like a side getting ready for the drop. Perhaps it’s time to get those Sport Psychologist people in again? Either that or perhaps put some Prozac in the drinks during training!
The only good news was, now living in South Wales, I didn’t have great trek back home to Yorkshire to make, and 40 minutes later I was home. I felt sorry for Steve and his missus, another three and a half hour journey. Hope they got home safely.
Saints next week! Saint Jude is the Patron Saint of Lost causes I believe, we might need him on our side. Right I’m off to offer up a few orisons to him.
