Tykes turn on the style to brush Billingham aside
Leeds Tykes remained unbeaten after a convincing 57–13 victory over struggling Billingham.
The visitors enjoyed the opening minutes, denying the table toppers the opportunity to get their hands on the ball. The Teesside team opened the scoring with a Peter Evans penalty but then offered little resistance to Pete Seabourne’s expansive league leaders.
Pete Lucock scored the host’s first try from the first phase off a solid lineout. The experienced fly-half added a second try to seal the bonus point before half-time.
In between Lucock’s efforts, Peter Evans’ second penalty made the game close, before Lucas Walsh and Junior Nu’u found themselves on the end of training ground manoeuvres to assert Leeds’ ascendency.
Starman Ben Turpin continued his development with a brace of tries either side of half-time. Both showed the youngster’s good hands and lightning speed. Meanwhile, Kieran Davies, who’d been instrumental in many previous scores, crashed over himself as the floodgates started to open. Not to be left out, Ewan Evans touched down on 52 minutes before substitute Henry MacNab rounded off the Tykes’ scoring with a converted try two minutes from time.
Billingham only repost came in the second half when, after a quickly taken tap and go, Connor Foley was quick to catch Leeds napping at the ruck area.
After the match, Director of Rugby, Pete Seabourne said: “Overall I thought it was another good performance. We have 99 points out of a possible 100 in the league which is a remarkable achievement for the players and coaching staff. We have a week off to rest before a big effort in the last block of six games. We are still taking one game at a time.”
Assistant Coach, Pete Lucock added: “We had to break Billingham down as they were a very passive defence. They were happy to contain us but as soon as we started to adapt, we started getting more success on the gain line.
“We are working hard on our defence to develop it in the same way we did with our attack earlier in the season and I think we are working hard as a unit ahead of the next block of fixtures.
“The spread of try scorers is also pleasing. In the structure we are currently playing, the tries are coming from everywhere which is exciting for everyone involved.”
We caught up with Ben Turpin who has scored 5 tries in the last 4 matches to ask him how he feels about breaking into the team. Ben said: “The boys have welcomed me and we get along well. There’s a really good atmosphere around the team so it’s been easy to slot in. I do all I can to drop the ball over the line when they pass to me.”
Final score 57-13
(HT 33-6)
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Thanks to Ben Cropper for our match report.
