Match report 11 October

Tykes turn the tide in thriller

Leeds Tykes ground out a narrow but vital victory to kickstart their season and lift themselves off the bottom of National One with a hard-fought win over a spirited Clifton RFC.

Barely a minute had been played when Lucas Walsh sprinted down the wing to touch down in the left-centre channel. The early try, met with a confident conversion from Eddie Crossland, set the tone for a high-energy opening. Leeds then kept the pressure on – forcing Clifton into errors in their own half and earning loud applause from the home crowd when they kicked deep to the visitors’ 5m line.

Midway through the first half, Clifton capitalised on a stolen line-out to level the score through Tom Hargan. Possession ebbed and flowed as both sides traded territory. Leeds’ defence was tested with Clifton enjoying phases of play but making little ground, while the hosts came up with crucial turnovers and solid exits when needed.

Leeds restarted the second half with purpose. On 42 minutes, Will Yates found space out wide to score, and Crossland calmly slotted the extras. Clifton hit back almost immediately after Leeds failed to exit cleanly, allowing Ollie Harris to pounce for a converted try to level again.

Two Crossland penalties pushed Leeds in front before George Perry’s maul try saw Clifton briefly regain the lead. Leeds, however, continued to edge the territorial battle – securing scrums, reclaiming loose ball and threatening through Eddie Brown’s charges and a near 50:22 effort. Crossland’s boot nudged them back ahead, and a stunning long-range try from Sebastian Krippner looked to have sealed the win.

Clifton crossed late through Ricardo Cano to take two bonus points home, but it was Leeds who held their nerve to secure the four points in a 27-24 victory – a gritty, determined performance that reflected the contest’s physical edge and key moments in the set piece and kicking game.

After the match, Director of Rugby Pete Seabourne said: “We showed a lot of toughness out there. We started both both halves really well, scoring pretty much from from both kick-offs. Then we just didn’t turn the field territory that we had in to points, but I thought the the boy showed it a real mental toughness and resilience because we come on back end of a couple of wrong results in the past few weeks. So to get that one over the line, it’s fantastic.

“The new players that have come in this week; Harry didn’t get off the bench but he’s fitted in well. Ruben Parsons played outstandingly well in the back row for 50 minutes. And then Seb Krippner, wow, his first touch of the ball is 5m from our line and he runs the length the field and scores the match-winning try.

“It’s been coming and I’m glad that it was this one because the players have worked so hard. It’s good to get that first win and then we can build. We have a tough game at Bishop’s Stortford next week that we need to be ready for that, then Leicester Lions at home before we all get a well earned break.”