What a weekend it’s been. There were some very close matches and some results which went completely against the form book. The end result is that the top and bottom places are now confirmed with one weekend’s fixtures still to be played.
It all started on Friday with the clash between Newcastle and Sale. Sale lost by two points which confirmed Newcastle’s survival but left Sale in a precarious situation.
Leicester saw off Harlequins and were then handed the League title when Northampton lost to Saracens. Bath are also in fine form and disposed of Wasps to probably secure the vital fourth place for the end of season play-offs.
The wheels seem to have come off London Irish’s season. Their loss at Gloucester seems to have ended their once seemingly certain play-off place.
Bath are home to Leeds on Saturday and I can’t help feeling that it will be a tired Leeds outfit who make the journey. The reason for this is that they gave their absolute all on Sunday to retain their Premiership status by edging Worcester out. Worcester will now be relegated so Leeds, Sale and Newcastle can breathe again.
As a player, I’ve experienced all the emotions that all these teams must now be feeling. I’ve gained promotion at various League levels and this is a great feeling. However, to survive a relegation threat brings on a more intense emotion and an even bigger smile.
There were certainly plenty of smiles at Headingley on Sunday where Leeds had attracted over ten thousand spectators for the nail biting final game. Perhaps, at last, Yorkshire is getting behind its biggest Club.
Leeds started well and eased their nerves with six points from Ceiron Thomas’s trusty boot. Despite consistent pressure, they couldn’t break the strong Worcester defence to get over the whitewash. A Luther Burrell break led to an attacking scrum in the corner but Worcester popped up the Leeds tight head, won a penalty and the chance was gone. I wondered how costly this would prove.
Worcester had several penalty goal opportunities but the normally reliable Willie Walker missed all but one of them and these, ultimately, were the defining moments.
Leeds were 12-3 ahead and grimly hanging on when a Worcester kick to the corner beat the defence with a bizarre bounce and Grove scored. The Leeds back line looked at each other and for a moment appeared to be weighing up who was to blame and came to the conclusion no one, The conversion made it 12-10 with ten nerve jangling minutes remaining.
Worcester tried to repeat the tactical kick to the corner with two runners ready to pounce on any mistake. The Leeds supporters’ hearts were in their mouths but there was no lucky bounce this time and the threat was cleared.
Worcester missed another long range penalty attempt and then tried to set up a drop goal opportunity in the dying seconds. The kick was charged down, the ball was hoofed into touch and Leeds kept their Premiership status for another year.
Neil Back admitted that it hadn’t been the standard of rugby that we’ve become used to from Leeds. However, he acutely observed that both teams had been frightened to lose and this had dictated the style of play. Not the best of games but an excellent result.
This weekend Leicester entertain Saracens, another form team. Sarries need a win to secure a possible second place in the play-offs but, even if they do, Northampton are away to the out of form London Irish and will probably win there to retain the position.
London Irish’s loss of form gives them little chance of beatng Northampton and securing a top four place. Bath are really on a roll and should beat Leeds though I just hope that Leeds aren’t too drained after Sunday’s efforts. Neil Back maintains that, with the pressure off them, they’ll play relaxed attacking rugby. I’ll be happy if they’ve enough left in the tank to avoid an end of season mauling.
Wasps are away at Newcastle and, on current form, should win there.
My top four play-off forecast is for Bath to secure the fourth place behind Leicester, Northampton & Saracens. Of the other contenders, Wasps will win and London Irish will make it three losses out of three.
Rhys Morgan
