And now for something completely different!

Carnegie won in London last weekend and, in my opinion, the result was never in doubt after Oli Goss crossed for the second try and Joe Ford popped over the extras from out wide. So what I hear you thinking?

Well the one thing that has eluded us over the last 15 months is consistency. We have, on occasions, played superb rugby. More often than not this has been followed by abject rubbish. Diccon Edwards has selected almost the same team for the game against Moseley and for this he is to be applauded. Now it is up to the players to put in another solid performance and deliver a second win away from Headingley. Winning on the road is a good habit to get into.

We are not the only team to be inconsistent, Bristol and Pirates are equally guilty. However we now have a chance to get into our stride and put down a marker for the teams below us in the league. Now that would make a refreshing change!

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.

The Corsairs are Coming!

This weekend the Leeds Carnegie players have to pick themselves up, dust off the remnants of last week's defeat at the Mem' and get ready to face the sons of Kernow in the  fixture where they can avenge the drubbing at The Mennaye back in September.

Getting 50 points put past you is bad enough but it must have been a real eye opener for Diccon Edwards and his coaching team. Since that black September day the 'Neegs have won 7 games without showing any real consistency. They are 7th in the league, 7 points behind Rotherham and are in danger of staying in that position.

A win against the Pirates is possible, unlikely but possible. Diccon has named a strong team - all they need to do is play to their capability and it could be very close. Leeds to win by 3!

Welcome back Danny!

One of the most pleasing sights for me at Headingley Carnegie Stadium last night was the return of Danny Paul. The former prop, converted to backrow showed his versatility when he came on at lock in the second half. He seemed to slip back into rugby without any noticeable reaction despite the fact that the second half was a very physical session against tough, streetwise opponents. I hope he gets an extended, injury-free run in the team. We need him!

Bananaskin avoided, just!

Leeds came back from Esher with a narrow win. Enough to get the lads up to sixth in the league. The skipper and Big Mac both came on in the game so will be in contention for selection against Rotherham. They will be needed! Rotherham beat neighbours Donny this weekend and will be looking forward to our encounter on Friday night. carnegie will have to up it's collective game to get anything out of that fixture.

Our Nemesis returns.

Today Leeds Carnegie plays a routine fixture down in Surrey. Despite the "bananaskin" potential of this match the Tykes are ( in my view) expected to win. In six days time we have a home fixture against Rotherham Titans. Roth are a few places above us in the league and beat the lads down at Clifton Lane earlier in the season.

The game next Friday will provide a good indicator as to how much we have improved ( because we have!) and tell us much about our likely final league position. If we win then a top four place is realistic otherwise top eight and playoffs. How many times in the past have Roth widdled on our bonfire? Time to stick it to them and move onwards and upwards methinks.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday!

It is on weekends like this one that I really miss being in the Premiership (apart from the odd occasion when we won a match). Whilst we are playing Currie in some nothing of a competition half the AP are playing in the Heineken Cup. I can just about remember our two excursions into the top club competition in Europe. There were some jolly fine trips to be had across the water! Even the second tier competition can lead to exotic destinations in far-flung spots across the continent - Exeter were in Perpignan this weekend.

So enjoy your Currie on Sunday afternoon. I am sure that the kids will give their all for the cause. Whilst my head will be at HC my heart will be further afield. Roll on our return to the top flight!

Time to Raise our Expectations.

The autumn has, so far , been quite horrid for Tykes fans, until last weekend when the pups were unleashed at Bedford . They came away from Goldington Road with all five points, bucket loads of kudos and a much needed boost to their collective self confidence.

This must now be taken forward into the Nottingham game! It is not unreasonable for us to expect a degree of consistency, game on game. Despite the fact that we have won four consecutive fixtures the home games have been flakey performances to put it mildly.

Our senior squad players seem to be bearing the brunt of the injuries at the moment so it is down to the youngsters to shoulder the burden of performance. To me it seems that they are up to the task. Tomorrow's team has enough about it to see off Nottingham. I expect to see an improved performance and a place in the top half of the table by Xmas.

The Season Started Yesterday.

Leeds managed an away win down at London Scottish yesterday just after England's world cup dreams were trampled into the New Zealand dirt by the rampant French. Do I feel sad? No, I feel relieved that our season has finally started, albeit with lowered expectations and we have the prospect of back-to-back wins to look forward to if we can overcome Moseley at HC next Sunday. We also had the big plus of Mike MacDonald returning with a forceful second half performance. Perhaps now our scrummaging will improve - always a good sign of better things to come.

Looking at the Championship table I can see us getting up to about 5th or 6th by Christmas. By that time many of the kids will have found their feet in this tough division and we will be in a better position for the play-offs. Bring it on!

Kids Clobbered by Cornish Corsairs

Not a good game to pick for your first outing on national television, away at Cornish Pirates, a team who have over the past few years become the powerhouse of the Championship. It certainly looked like men against boys from my armchair.

I hope that Diccon has identified the areas where we need to improve. If not then they are the scrum, lineout, rucking(too slow), defence & game management. Easy enough to sort out if you have the manpower which of course we do not.

After Saturday's beating I have adjusted my sights for the season but we will still have to start with a home win over Donny on Sunday.

Another Stiff Test for the Kids

Two defeats on the trot for the kids. Bristol are up this weekend enjoying the sort of form that their long-suffering fans could only dream about last year at this time. The Tykes were given a torrid time in the set piece last weekend. Will they fare any better this time around?

It is too soon to expect a win with tries flying in from all corners of the ground. What we do need to see, however, is improvement in those areas where we have been lacking. That plus some leadership from the older players otherwise we could be bottom of the heap on Monday morning.