Lancaster and Leeds looking to survive
Leeds Director of Rugby Stuart Lancaster watched his side claim a momentous 16-15 victory over Newcastle at a windswept Headingley and insisted they can still beat relegation from the Guinness Premiership.
Leeds Director of Rugby Stuart Lancaster watched his side claim a momentous 16-15 victory over Newcastle at a windswept Headingley and insisted they can still beat relegation from the Guinness Premiership.
The Yorkshiremen have struggled badly since returning to the top flight but they ground out a famous success against a Falcons side consisting of England quartet Jonny Wilkinson, Jamie Noon, Toby Flood and Mathew Tait.
It was only Leeds' second win in 17 Premiership outings this term and survival remains a long shot with only five games remaining.
But, if they do go down, they will go down fighting and their spirit once again came to the fore in an outstanding team performance which saw them set a new record for the fastest try in Premiership history.
Little-known centre Lee Blackett, 25, crossed the line after just 8.28 seconds to beat the record previously held by Tom Voyce, who touched down for Wasps against Harlequins after 9.63 seconds in 2004.
“We've picked up early tries in most games but we've not managed to hold on,” Lancaster said.
“Our second-half performance was probably the best this season and that ultimately gave us the win that we deserved.
“We need two or three more wins but it's one game at a time and that has always been the mentality.
“We knew we needed to win – it was a must-win game – and I'm proud of the players to be honest.
“I'm just pleased that they can go and have a beer tonight and have a weekend off before we travel to Saracens next Sunday.”
Try-scorer Blackett – who touched down straight from fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo's kick-off – was a little shocked to have scored so quickly.
“I said to Albie to give me the ball inside the opening minute but I didn't actually mean within the first eight seconds!” he said.
“Obviously, it was a great start and, like Stuart said, it was an impressive performance as a whole.
“Amongst the squad, we have never, ever thought we are down.
“Obviously, if we had lost tonight the gap would have got even bigger but I genuinely, 100% believe that we've got a chance of staying up this year.
“I think Stuart and everyone in the squad genuinely believes that.
“People in the media and other people outside will write us off but we want you to write us off – we're happy for you to write us off.”
For all Leeds deserved credit, Newcastle were largely bereft of ideas and inspiration, despite the return of Wilkinson, Noon, Flood and Tait.
Wilkinson registered the 24th Premiership try of his career and also claimed five points with the boot but there was little else to cheer on an otherwise miserable evening for the Falcons.
An abject surrender saw them lose 28-8 at home to Bristol last weekend in what ranked as their worst performance of the season.
This latest effort was only a marginal improvement and will bring owner Dave Thompson's decision to sack Director of Rugby John Fletcher and forwards coach Peter Walton under further scrutiny.
Steve Bates was placed in charge until the end of the season but has now presided over two straight defeats.
He claimed he had seen an improvement on last weekend's performance but was forced to fend off questions about his players bickering among themselves after the final whistle.
Bates – whose side claimed a bonus point through Carl Hayman's second-half try – was quick to quell any suggestion of unrest amongst his players.
“I didn't see that (players infighting) but I think the spirit is reasonably good considering where we have come from in the last two weeks,” he said.
“In terms of performance, I thought it was a big step forward from last week and we just have to be patient with this group of players.
“I thought the commitment, spirit and effort was pretty good and the boys are really disappointed.
“They feel this is a game they probably should have won but you've got to give credit to Leeds.
“On the balance of the second half, they just deserved to sneak it.”