The spirit of the Cup was alive and kicking at Tynedale as the men from the North East, cheered on by a near capacity crowd, gave the Tykes a tough afternoon before Leeds secured their place in the next round with a 36-3 win.
Leeds had given up home advantage in this fixture and the passionate home support lifted their team from National Three North.
Clearly Tynedale revelled in the underdog role and came flying out of the traps in the early minutes, looking to unsettle the visitors and it worked as they got a penalty after two minutes which Phil Belgian converted to give them a 3-0 lead unfortunately for them that was to be their only points of the game.
Tynedale continued their good start and put pressure on Leeds in every aspect of the game. Leeds were playing with a stiff breeze at their back and were guilty of poor handling that enabled Tynedale to keep possession.
However, the Tykes were putting in some bruising tackles in defence and it was clear that the home side were feeling the impact. Having conceded possession after a good chase by Biggs, the Tykes finally put in a number of phases of attack. Eventually the ball was moved right and Jonny Hepworth held off the challenge of two would be tacklers to score. Hinton added the conversion to make it 7-3 after 16 minutes.
Leeds were now on top and could have had another try when they moved the ball out wide but Andre Snyman was held up over the line.
However, he was not going to be denied after 33 minutes as he touched down for a scrappy try. Leeds had easily given away possession 20 metres from the Tynedale line but as the home side tried to attack outwide the ball fell loose and Snyman hacked ahead and beat the cover to score. Hinton struck the conversion from the touchline to make it 14-3.
Two minutes before half time the Tykes extended their lead. Richard Vasey made the initial break as he cut through the home defence before the forwards recycled the ball well. Rauluni decided to break down the blind side before passing to Richard Bryan, who quickly shifted the ball on to Snyman who was never going to be stopped from short range. Hinton was unlucky with the touchline conversion as the ball struck the post.
The Tykes got off to the best possible start to the second half when they crossed for fourth try of the game. Hepworth again showed great strength to force his way over after cutting through the line and reaching out to touch down. The conversion attempt was bizaare as Vasey, who had taken over duties from Hinton who was replaced at half time, failed to ask permission to re-place the ball when it fell off the tee. The defender ran up and kicked the ball away to deny the attempt to leave the score 24-3 after 43 minutes.
Five minutes later the Tykes were in again and this time it was the forwards who earned the score. Rawlinson eventually emerged from a driving maul to claim the try. Vasey was not taking any chances this time with the conversion allowing Biggs to hold the ball and the fly half duly added the extras to make it 31-3.
Tom Biggs marked his return to the starting line with a try after 60 minutes. The move seemed to be fizzling out before the winger sliced through the defence to score. Vasey’s conversion attempt dropped short to leave the score 36-3.
Stuart Lancaster made a raft of changes after that and the Tykes lost some of their shape which allowed Tynedale to get a foothold in the game. The home side battled hard and continued to press but never looked likely to score. For the Tykes it was a case of job done, they had booked their place in the next round of the Cup, given valuable game time to a number of squad players and come through the exercise without further injuries.
Tynedale: Massey, J Smales, Duncan, Laycock, H Smales, Belgian (c), Samson, Southern, Charlton, Jupp, Smith, Marshall, Scott, Murray, Rastall.
Replacements: Woodhouse, Johnston, Milburn, Vickers, Fieldhouse for Scott (33), MacGilchrist, Harden
Leeds: Hinton, Snyman, Hepworth, Tuilagi, Biggs, Vasey, Rauluni, McGee, Parkes, Noon, Hooper (c), Taele, Oakley, Lock, Bryan.
Replacements: Paul for Noon (55), Rawlinson for Parkes (25), Bouza for Hooper (55), Worrall for Oakley (55), Whittaker for Rauluni (60), T Rock for Snyman (55), Welding for Hinton (HT)
Referee: Adrian Hartwell
(Stuart Lancaster is Director of Rugby at Leeds Tykes)
Stuart Lancaster has said he was pleased to be in the next round of the EDF Energy National Trophy but says his side must improve if they are to reach their goals.
The Tykes scored six tries, three in each half, and only allowed the minnows from Tynedale to score a penalty in the opening three minutes however it was a frustrating afternoon for Leeds as they failed to kick on and put the home side to the sword.
Speaking after the game Lancaster said, “I am pleased to have come away with the win and there were elements of our play that I was pleased with however we need to be more consistent in all areas in order for us to be satisfied with our performance.
“Credit must go to Tynedale. They made us work very hard in the contact area and that in turn effected our continuity.
“Our set piece was good in the first half particularly our line out and with better execution we should have created more opportunities that we did. This game was good preparation for us ahead of next weeks game at Sedgley Park which promises to be another tough battle against a side who are coming into form.
“It was pleasing to give one or two players an opportunity to get some game time under their belt especially Tom Biggs and Richard Welding, who are both coming back from injury. Our young Academy players like Tom Whittaker, Danny Paul and Simon Worrall also got some valuable action and hopefully we will see the benefit of that in the future,” added Lancaster.