Leeds Carnegie A team secured a historic 39-25 victory over last year's A league runners up Leicester Tigers at Welford Road in the first game of the Guinness A League season.
Leicester included first-team players Alex Moreno, Gavin Hickie, Ben Youngs, Tom Youngs and Ben Herring and they scored three first-half tries through Nathaniel Lowers, Tom Youngs and Will Hurrell, but it was the boot of fly-half Adam Greendale that proved the difference as he kicked 24 points to seal victory.
The visitors were first on the scoreboard thanks to a fifth-minute try from Martin Schusterman on his return to the club. The Argentine international powered over from close-range after a period of sustained pressure from Leeds. Greendale added a superb conversion from two metres in from the left-touchline to put Leeds 7-0 ahead.
Leeds then doubled their early advantage just five minutes later as outside centre Jonny Hepworth danced through a gap in the Tigers defence to register an impressive individual score. Greendale again converted, this time from directly underneath the posts, as Leeds moved 14-0 in front.
The home side then got themselves back in the game with a brilliant, jinking run from left-wing Hurrell took play from inside the Tigers 22 deep into Leeds territory, putting the hosts on the front foot. Flanker Chris Mundy kept the move alive before supplying a deft pop pass to Ben Youngs. The young scrum-half almost made it across the try-line but was eventually dragged into touch just inches from the left-hand corner flag.
The 2005 and 2006 Guinness A League champions did narrow the gap shortly afterwards, however, courtesy of a try from former England U-16 winger Lowers. Ben Youngs capitalised on turnover ball on halfway, with Will Lawson and Lowers making the most of a two-on-one situation wide on the right-hand side. Rickie Aley's conversion brought Tigers back to 14-7 with 16 minutes played.
A first penalty of the evening from Greendale stretched their advantage to 10 points before the Youngs brothers combined to give Tigers their second try in 10 minutes. Ben showed his increasing confidence as he turned down a straightforward attempt at goal in favour of a quickly-taken tap penalty from 25 metres out. The younger son of former England scrum-half Nick Youngs took the Leeds defence by surprise and then showed great strength to stand up in the tackle and offload to England U-20 cap Tom. The inside centre did equally well to keep Tigers moving forward, staying upright long enough for his team-mates to drive him over the line just three metres to the left of the posts.
Aley's conversion closed the gap to three points but a second penalty from Greendale took the score to 20-14 in Leeds' favour with just over half-an-hour gone.
Although they lost hooker Hickie to the sin-bin after 29 minutes, Tigers again showed typical Leicester resolve to cross for the next score. This time, it was Hurrell who supplied an assured finish 10 metres in from the left-hand touchline after a flowing move from the Tigers backline. Ben Youngs again combined with his brother, before outside centre Lawson stayed calm under pressure to create the scoring opportunity for his outside man. Aley was off-target with the conversion to leave Tigers with a one-point deficit at 20-19 with 33 minutes on the clock.
Aley then narrowly missed with two long-range drop goal attempts, the first of which hit the crossbar, before Greendale took the half-time score to 23-19 with a drop goal of his own.
Aley brought Tigers back to within a point once again with five minutes of the second period played through his first penalty of the match, but it was Leeds who were first to cross the whitewash.
Left-wing Chris Hughes produced an electrifying 30-metre finish on the opposite flank after the Tigers midfield had been slow to close him down from a set play. Greendale continued his 100 percent record with the boot to take Leeds eight points clear at 30-22.
Another Aley penalty was then sandwiched between two more from Greendale, putting Leeds 36-25 ahead with 30 minutes remaining.
Ben Youngs appeared to have scored Tigers' fourth try of the night with 64 minutes played, but his solo effort was chalked out after captain Moreno was penalised just inside the Leeds half.
Greendale's first penalty miss with 73 minutes gone was followed by a yellow card for Ben Youngs, who was given his marching orders after Tigers had conceded a penalty three metres from their own line and straight in front of their posts. Greendale's simple penalty was the final score of the night, pushing Leeds out of sight and ensuring it was they who returned home with a precious four points and secured their first win over Leicester at this level in the club's history.
Match report courtesy of www.leicestertigers.com