Leeds Carnegie 13 Stade Francais 22: Kicking failures are costly as Leeds let it slip

LEEDS Carnegie were left kicking themselves after squandering 13 points with the boot on a night when the opportunity to take a considerable European scalp slipped from their grasp.

Explosive in the first half, Leeds built a two-try lead on the back of some exciting offensive rugby and a solid set-piece platform.

But Luther Burrell, Warren Fury and Ceiron Thomas between them missed two conversions and three penalties as the pink-shirted Stade Francais left Headingley with a victory that was hardly pretty, but vital in their battle for supremacy in the Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 4.

Thomas's second miss with the last kick of the game prevented the Yorkshire side taking a losing bonus point that was the least their first-half endeavour deserved.

Even in the second half they continued to penetrate, but the introduction of Italian flanker Sergio Parisse swung the momentum as Stade took charge of the set-piece that had previously been bossed by the likes of Steve Thompson, Juan Gomez, Marco Wentzel and Jonathan Pendlebury.

French resistance is notoriously weak on British battlegrounds but Stade – led by Parisse and the returning England lock Tom Palmer – dug deep and in Martin Rodriguez had a full-back who highlighted the importance of a consistent goal-kicker by scoring 17 points.

It had all started so promisingly for Leeds, who at least return to the battle for a first victory in the Premiership against Sale on Friday buoyed by two encouraging performances in Europe.

A surging break up the middle from Burrell put the young centre in position to kick the opening points after Stade were penalised, but the No 12 booted the penalty so far wide passing cars on St Michael's Lane were in more danger than the posts.

It did not, though, detract from an exciting first-half performance from Leeds who punctured the gain line at will. Burrell atoned when he and Lachlan Mackay combined to set James Tincknell dashing through before the was cut down by the last man, Julien Arias.

But four phases later Gomez tunnelled over for a try that was eventually rubber-stamped by the video referee.

Warren Fury took over kicking duties but fared no better. The frustration, though, was with Stade who were not allowed any possession and even lost their scrum-half, Benjamin Tardy, to the sin-bin for coming in at the side.

Leeds took advantage with a kick to touch and a Steve Thompson lineout that led to a try from Hendre Fourie, who required all the elasticity afforded such a big man when he touched the ball down over his head despite his body contorting the other way.

Again the video referee was required to confirm but again Fury missed the conversion.

The place-kick inaccuracy was spreading as Rodriguez pushed a penalty wide – but it was his only error.

Leeds would have had a third try had Fury not fumbled as he beared down on the tryline while in midfield, England hooker Thompson was repeatedly punching deep into the heart of opposition territory.

A sign of Leeds's dominance came in the half-time tackle count. So pressed and stretched had the Heineken Cup regulars been they had been required to make 72 tackles; Leeds had executed only nine.

Yet the French giants trailed only 10-3 at the break, and had cut the deficit to a single point by the time their club captain Parisse was introduced on 49 minutes. There was no interpretor needed to deduce that the French were signalling their intent.

The game swung in the 55th minute. From a lineout that Leeds won, Mackay's attempted pass hit Mauro Bergamasco's head and when the ball was booted forward Guillaume Bousses beat Michael Stephenson to the touch down under the posts.

Thomas was introduced in a raft of replacements and immediately cut the deficit with an overdue successful kick for Leeds.

When they wanted, Stade could be explosive. Their kicking game was particularly inventive and cut Leeds open every time. Arias executed a deft chip inside but Bergamasco was beaten by the bounce of the ball.

Semi Tadulala was gifted the chance of a third try after another Burrell break but infuriatingly the former Bradford Bulls league winger cut inside when open field beckoned to the left.

Thomas missed a right-wing penalty and then after darting 50-metre dash from Henry Fa'afili that was only held up on the line by Ollie Phillips, Leeds failed to break through.

Rodriguez left Leeds needing a try with a long-range drop goal and then another penalty before Thomas was frustratingly off-target with a last-minute penalty.

Leeds Carnegie: Stephenson, Tadulala, Tincknell (Fa'afili 67), Burrell, Blackett, Mackay (Thomas 59), Fury (Mathie 53); Hardy (Denman 74), Thompson (Titterrell 56), Gomez (Alonso 67), Denton, Wentzel, Pendlebury (Myall 56), Fourie, Oakley (Browne 56).

Stade Francais: Rodriquez, Arias, Boousses, Plisson, Phillips, Oeschig, Tardy (Beauxis 66); Weber (Joly 72), Sempere (Bonfice 49), Joly (Slimani 32), Marchois (Pape 50), Palmer, Burban (Parisse 49), Rabadan, Briatte (Bergamasco 29). Unused replacements: Boughanmi, Dupuy.

Referee: P Allan (Scotland).

Scorers: Leeds – tries Gomez, Fourie; pens Thomas.

Stade: tries Bousses; cons Rodriguez; pens Rodriguez 4; d goals Rodriguez.

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Luther Burrell

Despite a shocking early penalty miss the young centre produced a wrecking-ball performance with some devastating bursts. Constantly broke the gain line along with his outside centre James Tincknell.

Villain: Sergio Parisse

One of the best flankers in European rugby stepped off the bench with 30 minutes to go to turn the match on its head. The Stade captain was dominant in the scrum and the lineout.

Key moment

55th minute – Lachlan Mackay's pass in midfield strikes the head of Mauro Bergamasco and is booted forward by the pink shirts, allowing Guillaume Bousses to beat Michael Stephenson in a foot race.

Ref watch

Peter Allan: The Scot allowed an enjoyable game to flow but needed the video ref to confirm all three tries.

Verdict

An exciting performance from Leeds who are closing in on the combination of strong defence and effective offence. Needs to be backed up against Sale with a first Premiership win.

Quote of the day

It's a bit like deja vu.

– Leeds director of rugby Andy Key on a start to the season that mirrors almost to the result how they began the 2009-10 campaign, although that umtlimately ended successfully for the Yorkshire club.

Next game

Leeds v Sale Sharks, Premiership, Friday October 22, 7.45pm.