Leeds Make It 8 In A Row Against a Defiant Billingham

Leeds made it eight games in a row unbeaten at Greenwood Road but were pushed hard by Billingham in a pulsating game. It was literally, a game of two halves.

It started ominously for the hosts, as Leeds pushed for the opening score and were unlucky not to score in the first minute, with the touch judge raising his flag for a foot in touch.

Leeds dominated play but Billingham showed resilience in defence despite Leeds crossing the whitewash twice but to be denied by the touch judge, keeping the score to nil each at half time. The buoyant crowd were hopeful of a surprise result.

But Leeds soon found themselves ahead after half time. A raft of changes saw instrumental number 10 Jerry Bai introduced. Bai made an instant impact gathering a miss kick which allowed Ed Brown to score in the 41st minute.

Leeds ramped up the pressure and Bai again made a break and found Will Hardwick on the inside line who scampered in from 26 metres to score under the posts on 43 minutes.

Leeds we’re beginning to showcase why they are top of the league. Billingham were on the back foot and soon found themselves down to 13 men after Anth Jackson and Nathan Myers received yellow cards, which allowed a Leeds pack to add additional pressure at scrum time.

Hardwick scored his second when he found a gap 2 metres out and dived to score. Ed Brown scored his brace from a push over scrum. Brown controlled the ball well from from the base of the scrum to score. Bai kicked the extras.

Billingham picked up their level of intensity and player head coach Peter Evans found Joe Ross out wide who carried through 3 defender to score in the corner. It was winger Ross that had the final word when he crossed the whitewash for his second. Peter Evans made a break after solid work from Mike Walton, Evans gathering the offload, finding the gap spinning the pads wode to Ross to finish in front of a large crowd. Peter Evans converted.

Tykes came out all guns blazing in the second period, putting in their best 20 minutes of the game in terms of attacking rugby with some breath-taking passages of play which epitomised why they are top of the league. Billingham can be proud of their defensive efforts but it became too much against a very good Leeds Tykes side.