Gordon Ross, snubbed by Scotland in midweek, missed three penalties as Leeds
allowed London Irish off the hook at Headingley on Friday.
The Tykes enjoyed most of the possession and pressure but, with Ross missing
half of his six kicks, a Geoff Appleford try was enough to win the game for the
Exiles who moved into fourth place in the Zurich Premiership.
The injury worries which halted Irish's early-season momentum over the
holidays had eased slightly.
Kieron Dawson and Chris Sheasby returned to the back row while Barry Everitt
was included in the squad after seven weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Leeds coach Phil Davies made two changes to the side that lost at
Neath-Swansea Ospreys.
Mike Shelley replaced Michael Cusack at prop and Argentinian winger Diego
Albanese came in for Rhinos-bound Liam Botham.
A lively first half saw little in the way of scoring with Leeds missing an
early chance when Gordon Ross, omitted from Matt Williams' first Scotland squad
this week, missed a kickable second-minute penalty.
Leeds looked the more creative side in the opening exchanges with Andre Snyman
and Ross contriving clever breaks which were soaked up by Irish.
Visiting prop Bob Casey rumbled through the Leeds defence to allow the Exiles
to exert a period of pressure but Leeds survived.
And the Tykes passed up another scoring chance 27 minutes in when, after
panicky Exiles defending conceded a penalty, Ross again missed his kick.
The momentum was with Leeds however and, although poor handling was letting
them down at crucial moments, Ross got third time lucky with a 37th-minute
penalty to put the home side 3-0 in front.
The Tykes' lead hardly lasted two minutes, however, as Mark Mapletoft
converted his first penalty of the evening to level the scores in time for the
break.
The start of the second half saw Leeds again play more rugby than their
opponents and they were rewarded when Ross kicked a 46th-minute penalty to give
his side a 6-3 lead.
But Irish grabbed the advantage 52 minutes in when centre Geoff Appleford
crashed through three tackles for the game's first try and Mapletoft, who had
set up the score, converted.
The visitors' spirits were lifted and Leeds were forced into some frantic
defending which resulted in a Mapletoft penalty attempt after 57 minutes which
came back off the post.
Paul Sackey almost collected the loose ball for the Exiles but a darting run
from Ross had the Headingley crowd roaring as Leeds took the game to their
opponents.
Snyman penetrated the Irish defences with superb break before feeding Phil
Christophers but he was smothered by Sackey.
Leeds were rewarded with a penalty however and Ross kicked to close the scores
to 10-9 after 63 minutes.
The Tykes thought they had scored the try which would have taken them into the
lead when Matt Cardey touched down a loose ball but World Cup referee Tony
Spreadbury gave a scrum.
Leeds kept the pressure on and won a penalty but Ross missed his third kick of
the night.
The Tykes found space harder to come by as Irish sought to close the game
down.
And the visitors secured victory when Everitt, on as a second-half substitute,
dropped for goal after 77 minutes to put the Exiles 13-9 ahead.
Everitt celebrated his return to action with a second drop goal deep into
stoppage time to rub salt in Leeds' wounds.
Teams:
Leeds: Cardey, Scarbrough, Christophers, Snyman, Albanese,
Ross, Dickens, Shelley, Regan, Kerr, Hooper, Palmer, Morgan,
Ponton, Rigney.
Not Used: Holt, Rawlinson, Murphy, Salter, Stuart-Smith, Hodge,
Davies.
Pens: Ross 2, Snyman.
London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Appleford, Hoadley, Bishop,
Mapletoft, Edwards, Hatley, Drotske, Wheatley, Strudwick,
Casey, Danaher, Dawson, Sheasby.
Replacements: Everitt for Mapletoft (64),
Halsey for Wheatley (6).
Not Used: Flavin, Roche, Gustard, Armitage, Barrett.
Tries: Appleford.
Cons: Mapletoft.
Pens: Mapletoft.
Drop Goals: Everitt 2.
Att: 3,230
Ref: Tony Spreadbury (England).
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