Winger Paul Sackey scored the decisive try as London Irish clinched their
second victory of the Zurich Premiership season at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday
afternoon.
Leeds fought back from a 16-point deficit through the boot of Duncan Hodge and
when the Scotland international fly-half crossed in the 54th minute they looked
capable of completing their revival.
But Sackey - who finished the afternoon with the man-of-the-match award -
popped up with six minutes to go following some dynamic work from his pack to
effectively put the result beyond doubt.
Mark Mapletoft then put the gloss on a well-earned win by crossing deep into
injury time, rounding off a superb performance which saw him finish with a
16-point haul and provide the scoring pass for Kieron Dawson's first-half
touchdown.
The Tykes, who are embroiled in a cash row with Premier Rugby, took an age to
get going and when they did they were lateral in attack, lacking a forward who
could make yards around the fringes.
They have been hit by a raft of injuries and World Cup call-ups but on today's
evidence director of rugby Phil Davies will be eyeing the fixture list nervously
in an attempt to find the source of his side's next win - this was their third
defeat so far this season.
Leeds were woeful for much of the first half and Hodge did not get a shot at
goal until first-half injury-time, in contrast to Irish who settled their nerves
with a Mapletoft penalty after just two minutes.
They nearly went further ahead when winger Sackey charged down Matt Cardey's
clearance and fly-hacked on but Liam Botham reached the ball first.
The home side continued to probe expertly at Leeds' defence and were rewarded
with a try in the 11th minute, a slippery Mapletoft feeding openside Dawson who
dashed home from 20 yards.
Mapletoft converted and the early signs looked ominous for the Tykes who
immediately found themselves on the back foot once again, conceding a simple
penalty which former Gloucester outside-half Mapletoft stroked over.
Leeds threatened in the 24th minute after Dan Scarbrough had made the initial
inroads into the Exiles' half only to concede a penalty at the crucial
breakdown, allowing the home side to launch a fresh assault which concluded with
Mapletoft's third penalty.
Cardey was not looking comfortable at full-back, allowing a Geoff Appleford
chip to bounce in front of him with the Irish centre scooping up the ball and
almost bursting clear before being hauled down.
Mapletoft lined up another shot at goal but his long-range effort was just
short of the uprights as the Exiles continued to dominate with their pack
bossing Leeds' eight in the forward battle.
They finished the half with a flourish however, Hodge landing two injury-time
penalties in quick succession as the home side finally infringed within the
Scotsman's kicking range.
But Irish came out firing after the interval, nearly adding their second try
through Nils Mordt after the centre was in support of a searing Mapletoft break
only to be halted five metres short and unable to release his pass.
Cardey made a mess of another bomb and was substituted by Davies with Tim
Walsh coming on, the replacement doing a much better job of dealing with the
Exiles' next kick.
Leeds then moved to within three points of their opponents with a try straight
out of the top drawer, centre Botham feeding David Rees who cut inside before
tripping and finding Hodge with a neat pop-pass and the fly-half touched down
under the posts.
Hodge converted but Mapletoft replied with his fourth penalty and Irish went
on to restore their 13-point cushion when flanker Phil Murphy powered forward
from a free-kick and recycled to Darren Edwards who sent in Sackey for a fine
try improved by Mapletoft.
Hodge slotted another penalty but the Exiles claimed the final score, Edwards
setting up a try for Mapletoft in the corner four minutes into injury time,
completing a fine afternoon for the home side.
TeamsLondon Irish: Horak, Sackey, Appleford, Mordt, Bishop,
Mapletoft, Edwards, Wheatley, Drotske, Hardwick, Strudwick,
Casey, Murphy, Dawson, Sheasby.
Replacements: Durant, Flavin, Roche, Danaher, Cannon, Barrett,
Everitt.
Tries: Dawson, Sackey, Mapletoft.
Cons: Mapletoft 2.
Pens: Mapletoft 4.
Leeds: Cardey, Rees, Scarbrough, Botham, Christophers, Hodge,
Walker, Powell, Rawlinson, Holt, Morgan, Hooper, Salter,
Ponton, Hyde.
Replacements: Cusack, Halford, Hogg, Stockdale, M. Chester,
Buchanan, Walsh.
Tries: Hodge.
Cons: Hodge.
Pens: Hodge 3.
Att: 5,725
Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).
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