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.

That was the year that was...not!

As the year draws to a close Leeds fans everywhere will be breathing a sigh of relief. 2011 - good riddance! This was the year that has seen the club relegated, lost most of the senior players again, had the "sugar daddy" factor removed and been reliant on young players to find our level in a tough competitive league.

Anyone who still thinks that we will bounce straight back into the AP is deluding themselves. As things stand we are shaping up to finish 6th which will enable us to progress to the promotion play-offs. Our current form suggests that we will struggle to get past the semi-finals. Our development this season has been erratic to say the least. At least our defence is improving. However it is the failings in attack that are causing concern to many fans. Will we get any better before the play-offs? Possibly. Can we rely on players coming back from injury? No. So what you see at the moment is pretty much what we will have going into the play-offs.

2011 has seen realism hit the club and it's fans big style. 2012 will not be any different!

Sale call the shots!

I was quite excited when I heard this week that we were signing a couple of new players - two more young 'uns from Sale Sharks. I was somewhat nonplussed by the news that Andy Titterrell was going to Edgeley Park until the end of January. This means that he will miss key Championship games against Doncaster and Bedford.

If Sale contacted Leeds and asked if they could borrow a hooker why did Diccon not offer them Phil Neilsen or Scott Freer, both of whom could do a job for them in the AP? Unless Steve Diamond rang up and said we want to borrow Andy Titterrell. If so Diccon should have said he is not available. Unless Andy had already told Diamond that he wanted to do it, leaving Diccon with no real choice. Andy has said that he still holds ambitions to play in the AP. Perhaps he did not mean "with Leeds"!

It seems to me that Sale hold all the aces in this arrangement. It may well turn out to be a great arrangement as far as we are concerned but I have a nagging doubt now about Andy's commitment to the cause - our cause.

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.

Green Shoots as Leeds go down on Day One

Who would have predicted that  Gordon Ross would have a 100% kicking day at HC? Well not me for starters. London Welsh are a workman-like side who will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. Today they just about deserved their win but were hanging on at the end as the Leeds youngsters attacked with vigour and showed that things will get better the more that they play together.

McColl and Wilson looked sharp whenever they got the ball. Denman was feisty in the scrums. Hampson & White will be vying for the 9 shirt all season & Ryan Burrows scored a decent try after a quiet first half. There was enough potential there today to leave the fans surprisingly upbeat when the final whistle went.

Cry Havoc and let slip the Dogs of War!

The weekend is upon us. The wait is over. Diccon Edwards has named his side for the opening fixture of the season. The team is peppered with young hopefuls, eager to make their mark and establish themselves in the 1st XV: Craig Hampson at 9, Ollie Richards at outside centre and Curtis Wilson on the wing. Add to them newcomers Ryan Burrows, Davie Young and Stevie McColl and the Tykes fans will not recognise half the team. Diccon Edwards stated that his teams will always have a winning mentality when they go onto the pitch. This starts tomorrow when he lets slip the puppies!

Now is the Time....

Well we are on the home straight this week. September beckons on Thursday and with it the start of the Championship, which for Leeds, is a jump into the unknown, despite the fact that we seem to be there every other season. This time we have to negotiate several familiar hurdles ( being the relegated team we are the scalp to take, we have lost most of our squad again & hence have no real idea how the new boys will get on)  plus the rugby equivalent of Beechers Brook which is the play-offs.

Already I am filled with trepidation, not just because Bristol got tonked in the play offs & Wuss nearly came a cropper last time round but because we have no experience of this phenomenon. Do we come out of the blocks like a whippet on speed or do we build slowly for the main event in the new year. Both strategies have their merits. I would settle for a first day win and then a nice steady progression climaxing in a play-off final win. Well you can dream!

Where's the Beef Martin?

So Martin Johnson has announced his squad for the coming World Cup. Am I filled with eager anticipation, waiting to see if England's finest can bring home the silverware? No I am puzzling over some of his selections, wondering at his omissions & thinking that his squad has a lot of similarities to the Leeds squad for the coming season.

Injuries at 9 or 10 will leave them exposed & the squad is still 2 or 3 players short to have any chance of success. It applies to both squads! England will have a lacklustre World Cup and Leeds will misfire throughout the autumn. You heard it hear first.

World Cup - a minor distraction?

The close season has really dragged. I have suffered withdrawal symptoms & even dreamt that I had started playing again after 17 years! Now we are a couple of weeks from the start of the season and I am getting quite excited. But wait. In 3 weeks time we have the World Cup starting in New Zealand. ( If there was any justice it would be starting in Japan.) I have been so preoccupied with the domestic game I haven't really given much thought to the WC.

Presumably the Chokers will start as favourites which should suit everyone else. Who will knock them out this time around? It would be nice if it was one of the unfancied sides. Can England win it? A big ask I think.

Which would I prefer: England to win the WC or Leeds to get promoted? That is a no-brainer for me as the cup is just a minor distraction.

Time to dust down the yellow hat!

Leeds Carnegie got their pre-season underway last night with a defeat up at Kingston Park. The scoreline reflected the fact that Leeds had 10 players making their debuts for the Tykes. Despite the heavy defeat the match gave Diccon Edwards a good marker to how effective  training has been. The season proper starts 2 weeks tomorrow. The lads have another run out at Rodney Parade on Tuesday and then the real event starts on 4th Sept. First up is London Welsh & you do not need a long memory to remember the opening day when the Exiles won at Headingley. Time to exact revenge methinks.

That was the week that was!

When Leeds Carnegie announced an open forum night I was sceptical, to say the least, about the amount/quality of information that would be made available to the supporters who turned up - if any. Well I was wrong on both counts. There was a full house. GH declared that nothing was off limits & proceeded to give a candid talk on the mistakes, finances and, more importantly, the club's plans, targets & ambitions.

There were some shocks when the list of playing staff was announced - mainly because the "released list " was now 21 players long & the squad list contained approx 8 "anos". Presumably the  released players could not agree terms & the club will fill up the squad with cheaper options.

A pleasing aspect of the night was that the club are focussing on youth - plenty of academy lads have been promoted to the senior squad & the new coach has assured us that they will feature.

The other shock was the new shirts, designed to mark the 20th anniversary of the club. Green black & white will take some getting used to! But it also helps to reinforce the "rebirth" of the club - new coach, new strip, new ethos. I came away from the session feeling very upbeat ( as did a lot of other people) and looking forward to next season. The rollercoaster is back on track & I want to be on it.