Relegation dogfights are not the place to go for an afternoon of aesthetic entertainment and this was reflected in a crowd of 4,097, the lowest in the Aviva Premiership this season. Yet the value of a gritty victory for Leeds Carnegie was immense.
The bottom side will go into their vital game against Newcastle Falcons on Saturday just two points behind them. As Newcastle still have a game in hand, Neil Back, the Leeds head coach, believes that his side will have to win two of their final four games, but his faith in his players was reinforced yesterday as they ground out victory.
“A less mentally tough side may have capitulated today,” he said. “We have learnt some hard lessons this season with a young squad and we took those into today’s game.”
The decisive score for Leeds came in the 64th minute from a driving maul that propelled Alfie To’oala over the line. Kearnan Myall leapt to secure clean ball and the Leeds pack drove fully 20 metres before To’oala was able to touch down.
Another catch-and-drive had built the platform for Hendre Fourie, the England flanker, to burrow over in the 33rd minute, helping Leeds to a 16-6 lead at half-time.
Advertisement
Exeter responded immediately after the break when Nemani Nadolo picked up loose ball on the left and gave a scoring pass to Bryan Rennie.
Gareth Steenson converted and drew the sides level at 19-19 in the 62nd minute with his fourth penalty goal. But To’oala’s try put Leeds back in front and a dropped goal by Adrian Jarvis gave them an eight-point cushion. Newcastle must now be looking nervously over their shoulders.
Scorers: Leeds Carnegie: Tries: Fourie (33min), To’oala (64). Conversion: Jarvis. Penalty goals: Jarvis 4 (17, 22, 40+5, 56). Dropped goal: Jarvis (73). Exeter Chiefs: Try: Rennie (45). Conversion: Steenson. Penalty goals: Steenson 4 (15, 39, 51, 62). Dropped goal: Steenson (77).
Scoring sequence (Leeds Carnegie first): 0-3, 3-3, 6-3, 13-3, 13-6, 16-6 (half-time), 16-13, 16-16, 19-16, 19-19, 24-19, 27-19, 27-22.
Leeds Carnegie: M Stephenson; L Blackett, H Fa’afili, L Burrell, P Wackett; A Jarvis, S Mathie; G Hardy, S Thompson, P Swainston (rep: J Gomez, 60), D Browne (rep: D Paul, 63), M Wentzel (rep: R Oakley, 45), K Myall, H Fourie, A To’oala.
Advertisement
Exeter Chiefs: L Arscott; N Nadolo, J Shoemark, B Rennie (rep: P Dollman, 64), N Sestaret; G Steenson, J Poluleuligaga (rep: H Thomas, 62); B Sturgess (rep: B Moon, 74), N Clark (rep: C Whitehead, 41), C Budgen (rep: H Tui, 65), T Hayes, C Slade (rep: D Gannon, 65), J Phillips (rep: T Johnson, 45), J Scaysbrook, R Baxter.
Referee: T Wigglesworth. Attendance: 4,097.