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Leeds Carnegie suffer late agony in Esher shock loss
POWERHOUSE: Recent signing Halani Aulika in action against Esher.
Leeds Carnegie were left to rue a string of missed chances as they slumped to a last-gasp home defeat to basement boys Esher.
The surprise loss ended an eight-match winning streak at home with the run stretching back to early October.
Diccon Edwards’ troops have an immediate chance to bounce back when they travel to Nottingham for a rearranged fixture this Wednesday.
Edwards handed a debut to recent signing Halani Aulaki and he soon led a big charge to push Esher off the ball.
Jacob Rowan was quickest to react to the loose ball, picking it up and haring 65 metres up field to score, with Joe Ford missing the conversion.
The opening 10 minutes saw near total domination by Leeds as they poured wave after wave of attack on the Esher line, but the visitors held out.
Leeds soon became frustrated with Esher getting a foothold with a string of penalties for offside and scrum offences.
Nicky Little got his side off the mark with a penalty after 20 minutes and Esher then took the lead four minutes later.
They spread the ball wide and were initially repelled, but good vision saw the play switched across the full width of the pitch and second row Tom Alexander bumped off Lee Blackett to score in the corner. Little missed the conversion and soon after fluffed a penalty.
Leeds rallied and quick hands saw the hosts move down field quickly before Scott Barrow’s well-timed pass released Michael Stephenson to cross. Ford added the conversion to give his side a 12-8 lead.
Esher continued to press and they were awarded a penalty on their own try line, opting for a scrum 15 yards out. Soon after, they were awarded another penalty at the scrum and this time opted to kick for goal. Little was successful this time to put his side just a point behind the lead at 12-11 at half-time.
Leeds soon increased their advantage when Ford kicked a penalty after 43 minutes, but Little cancelled that out near the hour mark. Replacement Richard Beck then gave Carnegie breathing space with a rampaging try, Ford converting, but with the hosts seemingly in command, the hosts rallied superbly.
Replacement fly-half Martin Atkinson cut the visitors deficit six minutes later after Leeds were penalised for offside and Jon Pendlebury was dispatched to the sin-bin for the technical offence.
Crucially, the home side then got a penalty in kicking range for Ford to put themselves two scores in front, but Robbie Shaw decided to take a quick tap and Esher were soon able to turn over possession.
Esher stormed forward and winger Phil Mackenzie soon bumped off a tackle and went over for the equalising late score. Atkinson converting.
Leeds still had one more chance but Ford pulled his drop goal attempt wide.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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