Leeds repeated their heroics of last season this afternoon by claiming another
big-name scalp at Headingley on the opening day of their league campaign.
Last year it was Bath who felt the full force of the Tykes' determination to
make an impression on English rugby's top-flight and today defending Zurich
Premiership champions Leicester became the latest victims.
The Tigers, who have now lost their season's opener in four of the last five
years, appeared out of sorts, but that should not detract from Leeds'
performance which fully warranted their victory.
England A full-back Dan Scarbrough touched down for a try in each half and did
his hopes of forcing himself into Clive Woodward's plans for next year's World
Cup no harm - especially as the England coach was watching from the stands.
Fly-half Gordon Ross, who took over the kicking duties from Braam van Straaten
at half time, booted 11 invaluable points - six of them at a stage when the game
was evenly poised. But to single out individuals would not do justice to a
mammoth Leeds effort.
And the win will be all the sweeter for Tykes director of rugby Phil Davies,
who seems to have recruited wisely over the summer, given that the Tigers
fielded a near full-strength side.
Leeds signalled their intent from the start by racing out of the blocks as
they pegged back the Tigers deep in their own half, using their big forwards to
blast open the Leicester midfield.
But the visiting defence held out manfully, eventually conceding a penalty
when a try had seemed within the Tykes' grasp. Leeds opted to kick for touch and
from the ensuing line-out came a scramble for the ball which Leicester won
before clearing to safety.
But the Tigers were not off the hook yet with Leeds continuing to surge
forward, scoring a 14th minute try which they richly deserved.
Van Straaten put in a neat grubber kick just outside the Tigers' 22 which
winger George Harder gathered up only to be halted inches short of the line by a
last-ditch tackle from Tim Stimpson.
But Harder, who arrived from Auckland in the summer, slipped the ball to
Scarbrough and he slipped over, with Van Straaten adding the extras.
The try sparked Leicester into life and the defending league champions
launched their own offensive which was brought to a conclusion by a 24th minute
Stimpson penalty.
Van Straaten missed a second penalty and there were some anxious moments at
the end of the first half, which the home side shaded 10-3, as the Tykes were
forced to defend deep in their own territory.
Leicester came out fired up after the break but poor handling let them down as
they looked to break the Tykes' stranglehold on the game. Instead it was Leeds
who added the next score, a penalty from outside half Gordon Ross.
Referee Chris White sent England second row Ben Kay to the sin bin shortly
after to further help the home side's cause, but they struggled to take
advantage of the extra man as Leicester's defence held firm.
And it was the Tigers, with Kay still off the pitch, who scored next with
Austin Healey popping up out wide on the right in the 56th minute, following
some good work from Neil Back, to touch down in the corner.
Stimpson booted the touchline conversion, but Leeds edged back into the lead
with another Ross three-pointer.
Stimpson slotted over a penalty but Ross wrestled back the initiative with a
drop goal and then a stunning long-range penalty from three metres inside
Leicester's half.
Scarbrough then rounded off a famous win for the Tykes with a try deep in
injury time, converted by Ross.
Teams
Leeds: Scarborough, Harder, Davies, van Straaten, Albanese,
Ross, Hegarty, Wring, Regan, Shelley, C. Murphy, Palmer,
Mather, Hyde, Fea'unati.
Not Used: Kerr, Holt, Campbell, Hogg, Dickens, Hall, Emmerson.
Sin Bin: Hyde (80).
Tries: Scarborough 2.
Cons: van Straaten, Ross.
Pens: Ross 4.
Leicester: Stimpson, Booth, Smith, Hipkiss, Tuilagi, Healey,
Hamilton, Rowntree, West, Tournaire, M. Johnson, Kay, Kronfeld,
Back, Corry.
Not Used: Chuter, Freshwater, W. Johnson, Short, Ellis,
Naufahu, Vesty.
Sin Bin: Kay (50).
Tries: Healey.
Cons: Stimpson.
Pens: Stimpson 2.
Att: 4,500
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
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