Championship Play Offs thread

[aitchw]

The first round of the play offs started this weekend. Bristol and Welsh head into them as favourites with Rotherham and Leeds Carnegie aiming to cause them trouble. For a change, all four clubs meet the Prem. criteria so there will be no reprieve for Wuss.

In today's game Bristol entertained Rotherham and emerged very narrow winners and must be feeling very uneasy about the return leg carrying only a 3 point advantage after winning 17 to 14. It's going to be a very nervy affair when they meet next week and the wheels could come off big style for Brizzle.

Leeds host Welsh tomorrow, Sunday 11th, and whilst Carnegie have not beaten Welsh this season they have been improving steadily and have beaten Bristol 3 times out of 5 meetings including their most recent clash and are nobody's pushover. Obviously, I will be praying for a big performance from the lads to give Welsh something to think about next week.

The standard of play at the top of the Championship is steadily improving and Wuss will have a battle next year to achieve promotion irrespective of who is left.

So, here we go. May the best team win and go on to success in the Prem.

[aitchw]

Game just over at Headingley. Leeds come away with 38 to 31 victory. Well done lads, brilliant result which could have been even better. They were absolutely knackered at the end. That should put some doubts in Welsh minds.

So, tough to call next weekend. The 2 front runners are going to have to dig deep and both Leeds and Rotherham will fancy their chances.

[Ozzy3213]

Would love for it to be a Leeds vs. Rotherham final.  I've no love for Welsh and not keen on how Bristol appear to be just chucking money around rather than building properly, as the Chiefs have done.

[George Carlin]

Great couple of games by the sounds of it. Lots of these clubs have big plans and if Bristol don't go up, I am not sure where that is going to leave a lot of their big name signings like Rennie and Jones.

Leeds will be expanded next year and lots of dosh pumped in according to a piece I read earlier it the year. Geech is passionate about it being one of the great UK regional teams.

[yappysnap]

I really like this whole two leg play off approach. There's already a congested fixture list for the top teams as it is but i'd be curious to see how this went in the Prem.

As for the winners of the Championship, i'd be happy with Leeds or Rotherham, although realistically I think only Bristol could cope with the AP at the moment, the others would all probably go straight back down.

[Ozzy3213]

I'm not so sure Yappy. leeds have played some really good stuff second half of the season and have a good young side. A couple of experienced additions and I think they could survive with a bit of luck. Welsh, not really sure about as I haven't seen much of them. Rotherham will play 22 lose 22 if they come up.

[Notch]

Watched some of the game today, was pretty good standard really. It's a shame those teams who tore into each other in a very ambitious fashion would have to feel like they might revert to a much more conservative game plan in the top flight. Well, maybe not Welsh.

[HammerofThunor]

Watched some of the game today, was pretty good standard really. It's a shame those teams who tore into each other in a very ambitious fashion would have to feel like they might revert to a much more conservative game plan in the top flight. Well, maybe not Welsh.

???

[Notch]

What?

[HammerofThunor]

I don't understand your point. Hence the question marks (I was feeling lazy)

[beshocked]

Well 7 AP sides have scored more tries than Ulster have in the PRO12.

Top 3 in the AP have scored the most in the AP.

For the top sides t's been - as long as we score more points than you....

[Notch]

Yeah I know that the top sides do score tries and play quite a balanced game. But traditionally the sides at the bottom scrap and fight for survival.

I remember London Welsh did go down with some style.

[HammerofThunor]

Teams generally play conservative when they have a coach that lacks imagination ('weak' teams often have 'weak' coaches) or they have a lot of new players and it's easier to sort out the defence first by focusing on it rather than attacking.

[aitchw]

I'm really happy with the results this weekend especially Carnegie. Every season we have to start again to recover from the loss of key players and this season to adapt to a new coach for whom this is a new experience too. (I doubt anybody much outside Leeds will have heard of James Lowes, I hadn't either before his appointment but he's done a great job.) It generally means we get off to a dodgy start but always manage to build to get into the play offs. We've a young squad with a few older hands and they play very open and attractive rugby and we're here without throwing loads of cash at it. There are bigger mountains yet to climb but this is agreat start.

SL was at Headingley today and I'm sure he'll have enjoyed both the game and the sight of the young guns giving their all.

[aitchw]

Bristol go through to the finals after a 22 - 11 victory away to Rotherham. Haven't seen any reports of the game but sounds like Titans made a contest of it leading Brizzle 11 - 3 at half time. Good effort but congrats to Bristol.

Just need Carnegie to beat Welsh tomorrow to give Bristol some sleepness nights.

[HammerofThunor]

Come on Leeds. Disappointed for Hull today (for mates rather than myself). Do it for Yorkshire.

[Rugby Fan]

Leeds missing kicks, and behind in today's match, but they've still got a points advantage in aggregate.

[Rugby Fan]

Kicker has his eye back in to give Leeds a bit more breathing space. It's 14-13 on the day.

[Rugby Fan]

Good try by Leeds makes it 14-20 on the day and a 13 point aggregate lead.

[George Carlin]

That should be enough to do it. I would be happy with either Brizzle or Leeds going up.

[Rugby Fan]

Suddenly all the momentum with Welsh! Two quick tries and a conversion to come to take them ahead on aggregate.

[Rugby Fan]

Conversion missed, so Leeds are down by 26-20 on the day which means they have a point advantage in aggregate.

[Rugby Fan]

Seven minutes to go. A real nailbiter.

[Rugby Fan]

Penalty to Welsh with 3 1/2 minutes left.

[Rugby Fan]

Penalty is good! 29-20 to Welsh.

Leeds are going out of the play-offs if the score stays this way.

[Rugby Fan]

Leeds set up a drop goal but the kicker fluffs taking it and knocks on.

Scrum to Welsh. They survive the last ditch shove, kick the ball out and they go through at the expense of Leeds.

[chewed_mintie]

That last scrum kinda highlights everything wrong with the game; the ref from what I saw, had a good game but the penalty given to LW came after a blatant knock on. Big call the penalty was too, so with 2 mins to go was never going to make another big decision.

And what happens? At the scrum following the kick off, LW front row folds, they reset and it happens again. There's one or two seconds waiting for the ball and it suddenly pops out the back and LW clear to touch. The big call that should have been made was a penalty to Leeds, but like I say, they ref made his big call earlier...

[aitchw]

Too angry to post right now. Maybe later when I've done sticking pins into the effigy of the ref.

[HammerofThunor]

Gutted

[glamorganalun]

The two best teams are through to final and deserved but both games were close unlike the table. The final could be decided by Bristol's fast one in bringing in R Jones he made a big difference in the second leg controlling the younger players i.e., putting his foot on t ball at the right times.

[Hound of Harrow]

I missed the last 8 or so minutes as we left the pub to go to the Wasps game.

I saw up to when Ross missed the conversion* to leave Leeds a point ahead. Gutted for Leeds really as they are a well drilled side and good to watch - the best team to play at Ealing this season.

* Both Hughes and Ross struggled kicking at the posts at the 'open' end of the ground, despite there being no breeze.

[doctor_grey]

Well, with Leeds out, I suppose I am rooting for bristol. Better for the Premiership to have a team in Bristol than in Oxford.

[aitchw]

Well, I've calmed down now and am left with deep disappointment for the lads. They have given their all this season and can be proud of their achievements. Every season we have to live with massive changes to squad and or coaching set up which usually means we take time to get into our stride but get into play off position by the end and do it playing attractive entertaining rugby. Well done lads, you've won a lot of respect.

We have one more big game, next Friday in Dublin, in B&I Cup final. Hope they can lift themselves for one more immense effort.

Well done Welsh for making the final but Brstol will get my support having won the league.

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