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Nottingham v Leeds Carnegie: Edwards expects stern challenge
WARNING: Leeds Carnegie coach Diccon Edwards believes his troops will have to be at their best to come away from Nottingham with the spoils on Sunday. PIC: Steve Riding
Diccon Edwards has warned his Leeds Carnegie troops to be on their guard ahead of Sunday’s Championship clash against a gnarled, vastly-experienced Nottingham side at Meadow Lane (3pm).
The game was originally scheduled for last Sunday, but was called off due to the wintry conditions which beset most of the country ahead of being quickly rearranged.
Nottingham, currently occupying the final play-off spot, could move within a point of Carnegie with a five-point win tomorrow, with Edwards – whose side narrowly beat the East Midlanders 22-19 at home in early November – expecting nothing less than a stern test against savvy opponents able to play to their strengths, especially on home soil.
Edwards said: “Nottingham play at a football ground with good facilities, but quite a tight pitch. That suits them because they have got a very experienced side who have been together quite a while.
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“They have some real Championship campaigners and they have been in the top four of the Championship for a number of seasons. Looking through their team, it’s packed with experience and other than Bristol, they are probably the most experienced side in the competition.
“While the signings they have made – such as the likes of Filipo Levi – suggest they want to make it to the Premiership. They are very well-organised in the set-piece and we know it will be a good forwards encounter and we’ll need to get enough possession to play our style.
“That’s a good challenge in itself and I’m sure they will have the result at Headingley in mind when they managed to sneak it and will have an eye on turning us over.”
Edwards is not short of options for tomorrow’s clash in the East Midlands, and has some welcome selection dilemmas in the build-up to the game with the extra week without a match also enabling some other players to bolster their fitness and press their claims.
And choosing from strength is just what the doctor ordered, according to Edwards – ahead of a tough-looking encounter with the Green and Whites, who need one point to assure themselves of a play-off spot and are virtually at full strength.
Fifth-placed Carnegie are still in with a sniff of a second-placed finish in the Championship table – and with the top two clubs at the end of the regular season starting the play-offs on three points, the Yorkshiremen have plenty to play for.
Although Edwards insists he is more concerned about performance than position, with maintaining some winning momentum the priority for the remainder of the league season.
Edwards, whose side have won three out of four so far in 2012, said: “We just want to go into the play-offs with some real momentum, based on some form and fitness. But the key is winning momentum and keeping on this roll and we’ll see where we’ll finish up.
“Obviously, we want to finish as high as we can. But whatever happens, we’re confident we’ve got a strong foundation to go into the play-offs and be confident.
“We’ve had a good week and will be leaving out players this weekend who have played really well. It’s hard for them and tough in terms of decisions to make and conversations to have. But that’s what we need to have if we want to win the competition.”
There will be a pitch inspection at Meadow Lane this morning and tomorrow morning ahead of the match.
Meanwhile, full-back Michael Stephenson will return to action tomorrow at Nottingham.
Stephenson missed the recent win over Bedford after picking up an injury at Plymouth Albion. He replaces Tommy Bell at full-back who is with the England Under-20s squad who played Italy last night.
Jordan Davies returns to the centres and will take over kicking duties from Bell while Joe Barker starts at fly-half.
In the pack, Sam Lockwood comes in for Gareth Denman and Richard Beck starts in the back row for Chris Walker, who skippered England Under-20s.
On the bench, new signings Halani Aulika and Ed Williamson are set to make their debuts for the club as replacements.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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