2013/14 University Rugby - Leeds too Strong for Mistake-Ridden UCLan

On a cold, damp and windy university Rugby Wednesday afternoon in Preston, Leeds Metropolitan University journeyed over the Pennines and across the border for a war of the rose’s fixture with the University of Central Lancashire.

Unfortunately for the home side it was the white rose of Yorkshire that reigned supreme, as a number of costly mistakes from UCLan handed the game to Leeds.

In the Northern 1A league table, before the game, Leeds were undefeated and top of the table with three wins from three; whereas UCLan were the extreme opposites, with no wins to their name from attempts – rooting them to the bottom of the league without a point.

As the game got underway, the larger and better drilled Yorkshire side hit the ground running and powered their way deep into the UCLan half. The pressure soon told as Leeds were awarded a penalty in front of the posts that they duly converted to take the lead.

Much to the dismay of the home side the bombardment did not cease, as UCLan were immediately pinned back inside their own final third. A number of disappointing clearance kicks did not help the home side, as their scrambled defence just about managed to keep Leeds out.

However, once again the pressure told, as the Leeds pack managed to offload their way over the line, with second row Phil Doherty touching the ball down. The tackling was disappointing from UCLan as Leeds crossed the whitewash seemingly unopposed, taking a 10-0 lead.

Just minutes later the second breakthrough came as the UCLan lost their own lineout ball, and Leeds flanker David Leek managed to break through the line and touch the ball down in the corner.

A brilliant touchline kick from Leeds added the extras as the visitors took a commanding 17-0 lead.
The UCLan pack were not strong enough at the breakdown as their ball was regularly turned over in midfield; with Leeds dominating possession and territory in the final third.

However, good scramble defence from UCLan managed to contain a number of Leeds scrums just five metres shy of the line.

The containment seemed to spark life into UCLan, though, as they broke up the field and enjoyed a passage of possession inside the Leeds half. A breakthrough game, as UCLan were awarded an easy penalty in front of the posts to take the sides into the half at 17-3.

As the game got underway again UCLan came out fighting and pushed hard into the visitors half with an impressive driving maul. However, disaster struck, as mistakes crept into their game.

The UCLan backs tried to simply move the ball out wide, but a poor display of hands saw the ball thrown behind the line, to then be hacked through and reclaimed by the Leeds winger, who sprinted in for another try.

The conversion was missed but the damage was already done. Mistakes were costing UCLan as they slumped to a 22-3 deficit.

Leeds began to continue their dominance in all areas of the field, until, completely against the grain, with a remarkable solo effort, Lancs winger Cameron McClean read the Leeds back line and perfectly intercepted in midfield. The winger showed great pace as he galloped at least half of the pitch for the home side’s first try.

The easy conversion was added, and UCLan had managed to claw their way back into the game with the score 22-10.

After the try both sides looked to be evenly matched, with good spells of play in midfield from both teams. However, it was mistakes and poor handling again that left a number of UCLan chances go begging.

A Leeds penalty was kicked deep into the UCLan 22”, and as the visiting pack stepped up to the lineout, just five metres out, a try looked ominous.

On the second attempt the forwards amanged to find their feet and trundle their way over the whitewash for a pack try. The score was eventually converted and the game was left at 29-10.

A final nail in the Lancashire coffin was added in the final few minutes, as good support and offloading play from the Leeds forwards led to Max McCay touching the ball down for the visitors.

The game ended with a final score of UCLan 10 – Leeds Met Seconds 36.

The victory cemented Leeds’s place at the top of the table with four wins from four. Meanwhile, UCLan stay rooted to the bottom of the league with no points, and four losses from as many games.

UCLan Head Coach, Sean Taylor, told Talking Rugby Union that “It was all our own mistakes that let us down today.

“Leeds were a well drilled side, but a bit robotic I thought: if we could have been more creative in both the forwards and backs I think the game would have been a lot closer.

“We just played root one all day, really. Our forwards were taking the first contact every time – we didn’t create enough.

“We came up to this league for the first time this year, and I have to say it has been difficult, but there’s still plenty to work on in training and a long time left in the season.”

Next week UCLan are on the road to Sheffield first team, whilst Leeds Met entertain Yorkshire rivals Hull at their Headingley Campus.