Jack Fairs

03.02.13

Leeds Carnegie 28-26 Plymouth Albion

Leeds Carnegie had to battle hard until the final whistle on Sunday to hold off a late second-half charge from visitors Plymouth Albion. While Leeds led the match from start to finish, the home side were far from assured winners.

After this fixture was originally completed in January, it was decided by the RFU that it must be replayed as the match had gone to uncontested scrums early on, destroying the game as a contest. With groundstaff keen to avoid excessive wear on the newly laid Headingly turf the rescheduled game was played at West Park Leeds RUFC. An icy wind blew sideways across the pitch but thankfully did not ruin the game as a spectacle.

From the first whistle Leeds seemed intent on earning a bonus point win, turning down shots at goal in favour of storming the bottom right hand corner. After a well executed rolling maul from the lineout, number 8 Ryan Burrows emerged last from the heap of bodies to claim the first score, which was duly converted by Joe Ford. Plymouth, without having any noticeable possession, managed to quickly reduce this deficit,  twice punishing Leeds’s indiscipline at the breakdown to make the score 7-6.

This did little to break the continuing trend of Leeds possession, made possible by strong carries from prop Ben Harris and flanker Rob Baldwin. Pressure eventually told on the Albion defence with Bevon Armitage, brother of Delon and Steffon, being sent to the sin bin for killing the ball. Leeds took quick advantage of the extra man, spreading the ball wide for full-back Stevie McColl to score.

Man of the Match McColl was once again at the centre of all things good for Leeds, skipping around the Plymouth defence inside his own half before putting winger David Doherty through a gap to widen the lead to 21-6. The 14 men of Plymouth pulled back a try, to the shock of the crowd, but were still trailing 21-11 at half-time.

Leeds started the second half slowly and fell victim to their own weapon of choice, the driving maul, Plymouth hooker Jon Vickers finishing it off for 21-16. After further Plymouth pressure inside the Leeds 22, Carnegie hooker Phil Nilsen was binned for repeated breakdown offences. Leeds defended valiantly with 14 men, conceding only 3 points by the time the hooker had returned. The home side then broke the shackles, David Doherty escaping down the blindside for his second try of the game. Joe Ford slotted the conversion from the touchline for what was to be a match-winning kick.

Plymouth gave one last push for the comeback, finishing an overlap with a clever overhead pass to put Sean-Michael Stephen under the posts. With the score now at 28-26 the last few minutes were an uncomfortable affair but Plymouth players crossing in attack meant full-time and a well deserved victory for Carnegie.