Back from the brink

Leeds Carnegie went into yesterday's game at the Old Deer Park facing a third consecutive defeat within a week. This appeared to be the culmination of a season fraught with inconsistency and a portent for beatings to come in the play-offs.

As has been the case all season the squad confounded all predictions of its imminent demise with a resounding win against a side which has been in the top four all season. What can we put this down to? A dry pitch? Players returning from injury? New forwards giving the pack a bit of steel? The answer is probably a bit of all three. McColl is a quality player who attacks at pace. Williamson & Aulika have been around and know the forwards game...and yes the pitch was dry!

Looking at players who were missing yesterday I am starting to feel a bit more optimistic atbout the play-offs. We have won ugly on many occasions this season so know what is needed. The first game is at home to the Pirates - whom we have already beaten at Headingley. If we win that then anything is possible.

Good business or desperation?

Deadline day for Championship signings saw Leeds Carnegie dip into the market twice. The result? Two seasoned forwards signing for the rest of the season.

Halani Aulika is a Tongan international prop who can play 1 or 3. Our recent experience of Tongan forwards leads me to have high hopes - another Vili, another legend.

Ed Williamson is a more unexpected signing. A powerful hard running backrow forward in his Falcons days who thought his career was over when he sustained a bad hand injury last season. A recent operation has given him a second chance. In his own words he is "back from the dead" and certainly has a lot to offer, adding some much needed grunt to our young backrow.

We would have liked a seasoned centre as well but signing these two looks to  be  good business and will make the trip to Nottingham an even better day out.