Tykes hold nerve to win a ‘dog-fight’ with rivals
LEEDS Tykes captain Jake Brady praised his side’s determination following their narrow victory over Tonbridge Juddians in a game he described as “a dog-fight”.
The close-fought match, which had all the hallmarks of a National One classic, was nip and tuck throughout.
Neither side was able to establish their authority on proceedings for a sustained period, largely owing to the bad conditions.
The visitors, who were forced into a last-minute reshuffle when starting fly-half Tom White failed a fitness test, opened the scoring through utility back Ryan Taylor-Dennehy’s penalty.
Connor Lloyd kicked two penalties of his own, edging the Tykes in front after 17 minutes.
Just before the halfhour mark, Taylor-Dennehy tied the game with a penalty.
However, the Tykes did not allow their heads to drop and responded immediately through Harry Robinson, who finished off a neat short side move.
Lloyd converted to make it 13-6.
The hosts surrendered the lead before the break, as ill-discipline allowed Tonbridge territory and Perry Parker rumbled his way over at the base of a maul.
Taylor-Dennehy converted to level the seesaw encounter at 13 points apiece and both sides went into the sheds knowing that it would be all to play for in the second half.
In the first minute after the restart, a kicking battle ensued.
TJs won it emphatilead cally, giving Taylor-Dennehy the simplest of tasks to give his side the lead from the tee.
The wind and rain made the match one for the purists as ten error-strewn minutes followed.
Eventually, Lloyd stepped up once again to restore parity.
The nail-biting affair took yet another turn as the Kent side were reduced to 14 men when Matt Foulds saw yellow for a professional foul as Andrew Lawson broke the defensive line.
The Tykes made their numerical advantage count as Robinson scored out wide, rendering a tricky conversion unsuccessful.
The Yorkshiremen failed to extend their and were ultimately made to pay for a series of infringements.
Taylor-Dennehy narrowed the gap to 21-19 on 65 minutes, setting up a nervy end to this potential relegation battle.
Heroically, the Tykes’ defence stood firm, despite several phases of intense pressure from TJs.
There was palpable relief from the home
supporters when referee Owen Taylor eventually brought the match to a close.
Tykes head coach Jon Callard said he was happy with the win and was encouraged by the improvements he had seen over the course of his short involvement with the club.
He also praised the forwards who “dug in” against their bigger, more experienced opponents.
Meanwhile, losing captain Matt Walsh, whose side are six points behind Leeds at the bottom of the table, said: “We are naturally disappointed with the result.
“However, there are lots of positives to take, especially the way we dominated at the setpiece.”