Leeds' season of promise ended in dismal defeat as Gloucester warmed up for
the play-offs with a seven-try romp at Headingley.
The Tykes campaign was encapsulated neatly by an 80 minutes in which they
started brightly, took a 10-point lead, then found themselves over-run by
opponents who were fitter, stronger and faster.
And no-one enjoyed themselves more than Yorkshire-born winger James
Simpson-Daniel who has burst into the England reckoning with some impressive
recent performances and enhanced his reputation with a late double as Gloucester
ran riot.
With the threat of relegation lifted by the Twickenham mandarins in midweek,
Leeds could afford to enter the contest in a more relaxed manner than they might
have imagined.
It showed in their play, former All Black fly-half Stephen Bachop in
particular enjoying the chance to display his skills on what is almost certain
to be the final appearance of an illustrious career.
Winger Chris Hall was the main beneficiary of Bachop's flamboyance, finding
plenty of open spaces to charge into as the Tykes looked to end their six-match
losing streak.
And Hall it was who grabbed the first try on 14 minutes, taking Dan
Scarbrough's popped pass before stepping inside Henry Paul's weak tackle.
Paul has enjoyed many productive visits to Headingley in his former guise as a
rugby league legend, but his return to pastures old highlighted the problems he
has had adjusting to the 15-man game.
Initially, the England international seemed ill at ease in his full-back role,
offering the Tykes too much space behind the first line of defence and charging
down blind alleys when his team were looking for greater creativity.
Paul even suffered the embarrassment of being struck on the head by a Ludovic
Mercier pass as Gloucester looked to counter after Braam van Straaten had
increased Leeds' advantage with a close-range penalty after converting Hall's
earlier effort.
On that evidence, it would be easy to write the Kiwi off - not just from
possible selection on England's summer tour to Argentina, but from the union
game altogether.
Yet, he remains capable of producing moments of inspirational brilliance.
Fielding Bachop's high kick on the bounce just inside his own half, Paul
sidestepped his way into open space, then back-flipped a pass to another England
candidate, James Forrester, who strolled over unopposed.
Mercier equalled Van Straaten's contribution after Scarbrough had been
penalised for holding on and, as so many times this season, Leeds had seen a
promising start evaporate.
Worse was to come in first-half stoppage time when another former rugby league
man Junior Paramore barged his way over from 10 metres after taking Mercier's
short pass.
Even though his team were now on the back foot, Hall remained one of the
game's most impressive performers, superbly tackling Diego Albanese after
another searing Paul break had set up the Argentinean winger.
Paul was again involved as Gloucester quickly shifted the ball right after
Simpson-Daniel had been collared close to the line without immediate support,
and with the Leeds defence again exposed, prop Trevor Woodman blasted over.
Simpson-Daniel's did not have to wait long to open his account, collecting the
11th touchdown of his brief campaign by outpacing the Leeds defence to romp in
from 70 metres.
His 12th came just five minutes later, Terry Fanolua the provider this time,
with Daren O'Leary splitting the scores with his first touch before fellow
replacement Koli Sewabu made it four tries in 10 minutes, Simpson-Daniel this
time turning provider.
By now Leeds were a shadow of the side which had emerged at kick-off, both in
personnel and attitude, but there was still enough spirit remaining for
Scarbrough to charge past Paul four minutes from time.
At least it sent the home fans into the summer break with a smile on their
faces, but drastic improvements are required if favours from afar are not to be
called on again in 12 months time.
Teams
Leeds: Scarborough, Bartolucci, Mulder, van Straaten, Hall,
Bachop, Benton, Wring, Holt, Shelley, C. Murphy, P. Murphy,
Hyde, Ponton, Ponton, Hogg, Mather, Mather.
Replacements: Benson for van Straaten (49),
Davies for Bachop (68), O'Reilly for Benton (49),
Luffman for Holt (48), Mather for P. Murphy (60),
Fullman for Hyde (60), Mather for Ponton (40),
Jones for Ponton (60), Mather for Hogg (43),
Ponton for Mather (40), Hogg for Mather (50).
Tries: Hall, Scarborough.
Cons: van Straaten, Benson.
Pens: van Straaten.
Gloucester: Paul, Albanese, Fanolua, Todd, Simpson-Daniel,
Mercier, Gomarsall, Woodman, Fortey, Pucciarello, Pearce,
Fidler, Forrester, Boer, Paramore, Vickery.
Replacements: O'Leary for Albanese (65),
Yachvili for Gomarsall (68), Collazo for Woodman (62),
Vickery for Pucciarello (62), Caillet for Fidler (40),
Sewabu for Forrester (79), Azam for Vickery (76).
Tries: Forrester, Paramore, Woodman,
Simpson-Daniel 2, O'Leary, Sewabu.
Cons: Mercier 6.
Pens: Mercier.
Att: 4,144
Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).
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