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The GP Match Report Thread
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<blockquote data-quote="Bullitt" data-source="post: 63436"><p>07/04/06</p><p></p><p><strong>Tykes hanging by a thread</strong></p><p></p><p><img src="http://home.skysports.com/images/sports/leeds/balshaw_holdup.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Saracens effectively knocked the final nail into the coffin of Leeds Tykes' survival plight, triumphing 17-13 at Headingley.</p><p></p><p>The Tykes went into the match 11 points adrift of nearest club Bath, knowing anything less than a victory would realistically not be good enough in their fight to beat the drop.</p><p></p><p>A raucous Headingley crowd roared their troops on - more out of desperation than true belief, but tries from Tom Biggs and Iain Balshaw ultimately proved to be in vain as Sarries came out on top.</p><p></p><p>Mark Bartholomeusz and Glen Jackson grabbed the crucial touchdowns, ensuring that the visitors can put a woeful campaign behind them - safe in the knowledge they will be playing Premiership rugby next season.</p><p></p><p>Jackson was the key man throughout the contest, controlling the tempo of the game whilst chipping in with 12 vital points for his side.</p><p></p><p>In response, Balshaw and Justin Marshall tried to produce the big performances that they are both capable of, and it was the England man that saved the Tykes early on as he made a try-saving tackle on Dan Scarbrough.</p><p></p><p>Marshall was his usual lively self, probing and prompting from the middle of the park, but he did not have the necessary runners to manufacture a devastating move.</p><p></p><p>It was always going to take an individual piece of brilliance to open the deadlock for the hosts, and after Jackson had edged Sarries three points ahead, Biggs provided that special moment.</p><p></p><p>The young wideman was first to pounce on a poor restart, and he simply slipped through the gears to race fully 70 metres to the Saracens whitewash.</p><p></p><p>Leeds fans cheered, the noise level exploded, but Gordon Ross missed the conversion.</p><p></p><p>Cue an instant Sarries fightback, and predictably it came from the talents of Jackson.</p><p></p><p>The clever fly half produced a sumptuous inside pass for centre Bartholomeusz, whose run took him onto the ball without breaking stride to score under the posts.</p><p></p><p>A five-point gap had developed, and anxiety spread like a rash throughout the home support.</p><p></p><p>Ross' penalty narrowed the gap to two at the interval, but it was the visitors who leapt onto the front foot in the second period - going close once more through Batholomeusz.</p><p></p><p>A try seemed inevitable as the powerful running of Scarbrough constantly threatened, and it was Jackson who bundled over after irrepressible pressure on the Leeds line.</p><p></p><p>The Tykes looked down and out, but suddenly Balshaw hauled them back into contention with little under 10 minutes remaining.</p><p></p><p>Ross' clever chip found Andre Snyman out wide, and the in-form winger slipped the ball inside to Balshaw to set up the grand finale.</p><p></p><p>Leeds fought in vain to muster one more searing attack, but Sarries held out to claim their third consecutive victory under Eddie Jones' guidance.</p><p></p><p>As for the Tykes, they must watch and pray that Bath, Bristol and Newcastle lose this weekend.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bullitt, post: 63436"] 07/04/06 [b]Tykes hanging by a thread[/b] [img]http://home.skysports.com/images/sports/leeds/balshaw_holdup.jpg[/img] Saracens effectively knocked the final nail into the coffin of Leeds Tykes' survival plight, triumphing 17-13 at Headingley. The Tykes went into the match 11 points adrift of nearest club Bath, knowing anything less than a victory would realistically not be good enough in their fight to beat the drop. A raucous Headingley crowd roared their troops on - more out of desperation than true belief, but tries from Tom Biggs and Iain Balshaw ultimately proved to be in vain as Sarries came out on top. Mark Bartholomeusz and Glen Jackson grabbed the crucial touchdowns, ensuring that the visitors can put a woeful campaign behind them - safe in the knowledge they will be playing Premiership rugby next season. Jackson was the key man throughout the contest, controlling the tempo of the game whilst chipping in with 12 vital points for his side. In response, Balshaw and Justin Marshall tried to produce the big performances that they are both capable of, and it was the England man that saved the Tykes early on as he made a try-saving tackle on Dan Scarbrough. Marshall was his usual lively self, probing and prompting from the middle of the park, but he did not have the necessary runners to manufacture a devastating move. It was always going to take an individual piece of brilliance to open the deadlock for the hosts, and after Jackson had edged Sarries three points ahead, Biggs provided that special moment. The young wideman was first to pounce on a poor restart, and he simply slipped through the gears to race fully 70 metres to the Saracens whitewash. Leeds fans cheered, the noise level exploded, but Gordon Ross missed the conversion. Cue an instant Sarries fightback, and predictably it came from the talents of Jackson. The clever fly half produced a sumptuous inside pass for centre Bartholomeusz, whose run took him onto the ball without breaking stride to score under the posts. A five-point gap had developed, and anxiety spread like a rash throughout the home support. Ross' penalty narrowed the gap to two at the interval, but it was the visitors who leapt onto the front foot in the second period - going close once more through Batholomeusz. A try seemed inevitable as the powerful running of Scarbrough constantly threatened, and it was Jackson who bundled over after irrepressible pressure on the Leeds line. The Tykes looked down and out, but suddenly Balshaw hauled them back into contention with little under 10 minutes remaining. Ross' clever chip found Andre Snyman out wide, and the in-form winger slipped the ball inside to Balshaw to set up the grand finale. Leeds fought in vain to muster one more searing attack, but Sarries held out to claim their third consecutive victory under Eddie Jones' guidance. As for the Tykes, they must watch and pray that Bath, Bristol and Newcastle lose this weekend. [/QUOTE]
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