Leeds Carnegie 55 Crociati Rugby 6: Leeds boost confidence as tries flow at Headingley

AS the distinctly poor relation to European rugby's premier event, the Amlin Challenge Cup has its critics, often seen as nothing but a nuisance and mere after-thought.

However, Leeds Carnegie – with just one win all season – had no arguments yesterday as they utilised their fixture against brave but limited Italian opponents to gain plenty of worth from the much-maligned competition.

While England's elite did battle in the Heineken Cup, the Yorkshire club, having not won at home all season, were finally able to secure a morale-boosting victory at Headingley Carnegie which could serve them so well for the battles that lie ahead.

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Running in eight tries, Leeds gained both confidence and cohesion with Lachlan MacKay benefiting particularly well with a polished performance at fly-half and ex-Warrington Wolves centre Henry Fa'afili delivering his best performance yet for the club.

They face Crociati again in Parma on Sunday seeking to fine tune further before the crucial game at Newcastle on Boxing Day when they hope to finally break their Aviva Premiership duck.

However, the finesse and flashes of brilliance yesterday did not come immediately, their dogged opponents frustrating them in a first period which ended only 15-6 in Leeds's favour.

"We were disappointed at half-time," admitted head coach Neil Back, who revealed his side had been set a target of 40-plus points and not to concede.

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"Our execution wasn't great and we didn't take our opportunities; it reflected where we are in the Premiership.

"We needed to stick to the plan and not chase the game, but we did that and you could see the confidence and belief raise in the players during the second half when we showed how good we can be. They all wanted the ball in their hands, we fixed up the contact area against a committed side and we took great strides executing like we do for fun on the training field.

"It was a critical moment for us and we have to carry that into Monday's A-team game against Leicester and the return fixture in Italy next week.

"It is a job well done and no more."

Crociati – the result of a merger between Overmach Parma and Noceta Rugby FC – had a great early chance after Leeds failed to deal with the kick-off and conceded a penalty after just 36 seconds but fly-half Tommaso Iannone somehow nudged the kick wide.

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Ceiron Thomas did not make the same mistake when gifted an opportunity in the 10th minute to get the hosts off the mark but his side again struggled with the re-start and this time Iannone did find his range.

However, Marco Wentzel settled nerves by powering onto Scott Barrow's pass back for the captain to score only his second ever try in Leeds colours.

The Italians briefly threatened, Troy Woodman just tackled into touch after finding space down Leeds's left, then James Ireland dummied his way through while Leeds needed returning England international Hendre Fourie to come to their rescue after a slick backline move saw Lome Fa'atau chip ahead down the other flank.

But Leeds did discover some fluency of their own to produce their second try, a slick and well-worked effort finished off by former Rotherham winger Lee Blackett in the 31st minute.

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Mackay found Barrow who dummied inside before Thomas came into the line to deftly produce the final assist, the sort of crispness that has eluded them so long in the Premiership.

Iannone added his second penalty in injury-time to make it 15-6 but Leeds were a different beast after the break and quickly

made sure there would be no shock.

A searing MacKay break got them off to a flying start, the elegant Australian eventually being brought down but his endeavours were rewarded when some excellent handling ensured Blackett went in for his second.

Thomas then cut a perfect line to storm onto MacKay's flat pass, hitting the gap and effortlessly rounding full-back Ruggero Trevisan before Wentzel barged over for his second after some solid work from the impressive Dan Browne.

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Fa'afili surged through from 40 metres off another delicate MacKay delivery with Pete Wackett racing up in support to score.

Replacement winger Leigh Hinton then crossed after the dominant MacKay pierced the Italians once more with another classy break before the robust Fa'afili weaved his way over for a deserved try in the closing stages.

Miguel Alonso was sin-binned in the final minute for throwing a punch but the burly prop – along with fellow replacement Jesus Moreno Rodriquez – will get the chance to make up for his early finish tonight when a strong Leeds A team line-up against Leicester at West Park Bramhope looking to continue yesterday's obvious improvements.

Leeds: Thomas (Hinton 62) ; Blackett (Wackett 56), Fa'afili, Barrow, Stephenson; MacKay, Fury (Mathie 56); Hardy (Alonso 62), Thompson (Nilsen 62), Gomez (Rodriquez 59), Denton, Wentzel (Paul 62), Oakley, Fourie (To'oala 62), Browne.

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Parma: Trevisan; Fa'atau, Tobia (Guidetti 79), Damiani, Woodman; Iannone (Anversa 59), Ireland (Frati 62); Coletti (Balboni 60), Saccomani, Scarparo (Balboni 69), Kolo'ofai, Sigg, Delnevo, Orlandi (Minari 50), Mandelli.

Referee: Tim Hayes (RFU).

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