Match Preview

Tynedale v Leeds Tykes
Saturday 2nd December 2023 (KO 2pm)

This Satutrday we welcome the players, officials and supporters of Leeds Tykes.
We also, of course, extend a warm welcome to the match officials, Gavin Jones, Paul Fincken and Fraser (Jock) Gill.

THE TYKES HISTORY
Leeds’ rugby union history stretches back to 1878 with the formation of Headingley FC, who were later to merge with Roundhay RUFC to form Leeds RUFC.

The evolution of Leeds Tykes can be split into several eras:-
1878-1992 – Headingley FC
1924-1992 – Roundhay RFC
1992–1998 – Leeds RUFC
1998–2007 – Leeds Tykes
2007-2014 – Leeds Carnegie
2014-2020 – Yorkshire Carnegie
2020- Leeds Tykes

In their prime years Leeds bounced between the Premiership and the second-level National Division One, now known as the RFU Championship;
They were either promoted or relegated in four consecutive seasons starting in 2006.
Leeds were relegated from the Premiership as bottom finishers in 2006, promoted as National Division One champions in 2007, relegated again from the Premiership in 2008, and promoted a second time as National Division One champions in 2009. They managed to stay in the Premiership in the 2009–10 season

Leeds won the Powergen cup in 2005, beating Bath 20-12 in the final at Twickenham.

In September 2020, the RFU agreed to the request to change their playing title back to Leeds Tykes - the name they played under during 12 years under the leadership of Phil Davies and Stuart Lancaster.
A long-standing arrangement with rugby league side LeedsRhinos officially ended. For 25 years they had shared the Leeds Rugby Academy facilities at Kirkstall with the Super League club and had played home matches at Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium but that ceased.
The new home is now at the Sycamores,West Park, Leeds, in Bramhope where Tykes share the impressive facilities of the Yorkshire Two club for training and hosting home matches.

TYNEDALE AND THE TYKES

Tynedale did have fixtures against both Headingley and Roundhay in the pre-leagues era but the Leeds sides dominated the results.
The results of Tynedale’s three matches against Headingley were:-
1978/79 - Headingley away lost 0-11
1979/80 - Headingly Home lost 6-7
1980/81 - Headingly away lost 9-30

Leeds Tykes and Tynedale have met once, in an EDF Energy National Trophy match on the 21st January 2007.

Tynedale v Leeds Tykes -EDF Energy National Trophy Round 4
Sunday 21st January 2007

Tynedale had won through to the 4th Round in the following way:-
Tynedale 41 Morley 14
Rugby Lions 12 Tynedale 25
Tynedale 37 West Park St. Helens 6

In 2006-2007 Leeds Tykes were a full-time squad playing in National One (now called the Championship) having been relegated from the Premiership at the end of the previous season. In 2006-2007 they went on to win their league and gain promotion back to the Premiership.

Because off gale damage at Headingley the previous week this 4th round tie was rearranged, and played at Corbridge.
Leeds Tykes won 3 -36, with Tynedale, very surprisingly leading 3-0 after two minutes. That lead only lasted for 13 minutes. The local Hexham Courant’s headline read “Tynedale heads held high in cup tie defeat.”

The Tykes and their supporters were excellent visitors, and the Leeds club joined in the spirit of the occasion by waiving their entitlement to a 40% cut of the gate money.

The teams were:-

TYNEDALE.
William Massey; Jack Smales, Ben Duncan, Mark Laycock, Hamish Smales; Phil Belgian (Capt.), Ross Samson; Peter Southern, Aaron Charlton, Douglas Jupp; Graeme Smith, Ben Marshall; Paul Scott, Andrew Murray, Grant Rastall.
Rep: Mike Woodhouse, Cameron Johnston, Bart Milburn, Rob Vickers, Matthew Fieldhouse, Graeme MacGilchrist, Rupert Harden.
LEEDS TYKES
Leigh Hinton; Andre Snyman, Hepworth, Andy Tuilagi, Tom Biggs, Richard Vasey, Jacob Rauluni, Tommy McGee, James Parkes, Colin Noon, Stuart Hooper (Capt.) Pelu Taele; Rhys Oakley, Mark Lock, Richard Bryan.
Rep: Danny Paul, Rob Rawlinson, Pablo Bouza, Simon Worrall, Tom Whittaker, Tom Rock, Richard Welding
Referee: Adrian Hartwell

Interesting points on squads that day:-
TYNEDALE
Hamish Smales is now a Premiership referee.
Peter Southern is now Tynedale’s Director of Rugby.
Rob Vickers later made 250 appearances for the Newcastle Falcons.
Rupert Harden played tighthead prop for Newcastle Falcons, then Gloucester for 5 years, and toured South Africa with England in 2014. He is now Director of Rugby at Denstone College.
LEEDS TYKES
Stuart Lancaster, Director of Rugby, went on to be the England Head Coach.
Andre Snyman won 38 caps for South Africa,
Pelu Taele won 8 caps for Samoa.
Andy Tuilagi one of the famous Tuilagi brothers, 17 caps for Samoa.
Pablo Bouza won 37 caps for Argentina.

THIS SEASON
Leeds Tykes were relegated from National One along with Hull RUFC at the end of last season but they are certainly making their mark in our league this season. They currently sit comfortably top of the league, having won all eleven of their matches, adding ten 4-try bonus points in the process!

Leeds Tykes league results to date:-
Sheffield 35 Leeds Tykes 40
Leeds Tykes 31 Otley 18
Hull Ionians 34 Leeds Tykes 49
Leeds Tykes 41 Hull 11
Huddersfield 10 Leeds Tykes 52
Sheffield Tigers 29 Leeds Tykes 50
Leeds Tykes 53 Preston Grasshoppers 21
Leeds Tykes 30 Fylde 17
Billingham12 Leeds Tykes 29
Leeds Tykes 20 Wharfedale 8
Lymm 21 Leeds Tykes 43
Leeds Tykes 26 Rotherham Titans 20

LEEDS TYKES WEBSITE
https://www.leeds-tykes.com/

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Gavin Jones
AR1: Paul Fincken
AR2: Fraser Gill

BALL BOYS
Tynedale Under 15’s

WEATHER FORECAST
Sunny, light westerly wind, 1 degree

SELECTED SQUAD
To be announced