Sponsored by
Leeds Carnegie: Beware the Bees' sting - Hinton
Leeds Carnegie will be aiming to avoid a giant-slaying in the second city this weekend – and it won't be a place for the faint-hearted, according to Brummie Leigh Hinton.
All-conquering Carnegie visit the parochial surroundings of Sharmans Cross Road to face National Two title chasers Birmingham and Solihull in the last eight of the EDF Energy National Trophy on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).
And while the Yorkshiremen will be at the shortest of odds to claim their 26th straight win in all competitions this term, what is also clear is that they will face a home side bang in form and intent on repeating history.
The Midlanders are well placed to reel in Redruth – they have three matches in hand on the Cornishmen – and claim the National Two title, while they are also salivating at the prospect of Carnegie's arrival on Saturday.
The portents are certainly set fair for the Bees, with Saturday the fifth anniversary of arguably the biggest cup upset of the professional era when they stunned then European champions Wasps 28-24 in the quarter-finals of what is now the EDF Energy Cup at Adams Park.
And Carnegie full-back Hinton, a former Bees player, is hoping lightning doesn't strike twice at the weekend – while fully expecting a similarly intense battle to the one they faced at nearby Coventry a fortnight ago.
Hinton said: "It will be like proper grass roots rugby. The pitch is in the middle of some houses and it's not the nicest place – sometimes it's a bit wet as well down there!
"We'll see how it pans out. We've played on some pretty rough tracks already this season, including Coventry a few weeks ago.
"Whatever they throw at us, we'll be ready.
"The conditions at Coventry were probably the worst we've encountered all season and it was a difficult challenge. But we coped, as we have all season and stuck at it and the coaches were pretty pleased with our attitude.
"We came on the wrong side of some decisions, but reacted well and I think Saturday will be similar type of conditions."
On a reunion with the Bees – thumped 81-17 at Headingley Carnegie in the sixth round of the old Energy Cup in December 2004 – Hinton added: "I played for them while I was at university at Birmingham, but it's pretty much been all change since I was there six or seven years ago.
"So it's been a little while since I was there, but they've obviously done well to get to the quarter-finals.
"When I was there, they had a big horrible pack, but we've got to respect them as they're fully professional and are doing well this season.
"But we'll be prepared. The coaches will do a review on them and we'll look at some videos to make sure we are ready."
With a possible visit to Twickenham just two games away, Hinton admits a visit to headquarters is on Carnegie's horizons.
But he insists no one will be getting carried away with Carnegie facing big tests over the coming weeks against the Bees, followed by matches with Doncaster, Bedford and Cornish Pirates in a pivotal March.
Hinton said: "Now we've reached the quarter-finals, we've one eye on Twickenham. All the boys are looking for a big finish in the league and cup and going unbeaten.
"But first things first, it's Birmingham. And we've also got some big league games after that so we can't look too far ahead."
Ends
Email to a friend
Print this page- Politics: Mark Hookham's Westminster blog - 5.33pm
- Castleford RSPB Fairburn Ings: High wire act Swallows’ summer parade
- Worker dies on North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- Video: Restaurant reopens on Leeds Harry Ramsden’s site after £500,000 refit
- Chocolat author will tempt guests at Leeds Big Bookend Festival
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
