Old failings return as Leeds blow big survival opportunity

Error-prone and profligate, the side that tentatively began the Premiership campaign only to gradually adapt to the physical and mental rigours of the top flight, are in danger of taking a massive step backwards.

Dominant for the first 40 minutes against a team who face Munster in the Heineken Cup quarter-final at the weekend, Leeds could only forge a four-point lead and were subsequently beaten by a more streetwise Northampton in the second half.

Stephen Myler's failure to convert Ben Foden's decisive late try at least salvaged a merited losing bonus point for Leeds that moves them three points clear of bottom-club Worcester Warriors with four to play.

That they are in this position owes much to their recent form, highlighted by three straight wins that underlined they had shook off the hesitancy in attack of the earlier rounds and had discovered the art of winning in the Premiership.

But with so much at stake – not least the 1m windfall promised to them at the start of the season by Premier Rugby if they can survive in the top flight – the time for actions rather than sentiment is urgent.

There are times when you have to hold up your hands and acknowledge the outstanding contribution of England full-back Foden.

Yet by the time he crossed in the 78th minute, Leeds should have had the points in the bag.

"We did enough to win and our performance in the first half demonstrated that," said director of rugby Andy Key.

"But we made too many unnecessary errors which haven't been in our game of late.

"We continued that in the second half and we were punished. In that sense, we beat ourselves.

"Those mistakes will come back to haunt us and the players come Monday."

The hope is there is no haunting come the end of the season.

If Leeds leave themselves with a multitude of 'what if?' questions following the season's finale at Bath on May 8, they will only have themselves to blame.

"Against any side, particularly a form side like Northampton, we have got to make sure all our chances are taken," said Key, whose side should also have had home victories earlier in the season against Sale, Harlequins, Gloucester and Bath.

"We made too many errors.

"We probably deserved to win – that's where our confidence is at the moment.

"But that was three points that got away – not one point gained."

Leeds failed to maximise their opportunities in the first half, something they had done to good effect in the recent three-match winning run which came to an end the previous week at Gloucester.

After Alfie To'oala had set the tone for a mean forwards display by collecting a first-minute clearance and wiping Juandre Kruger straight off his feet, Juan Gomez should have created a try down the right flank.

The big Argentinian prop was in the uncharted territory of leading a four-on-one situation, but he chose wrongly with his distribution by ignoring the two backs to his right and, instead, passed inside to hooker Andy Titterrell.

Foden gobbled up the pass and scampered clear, his interception setting up a penalty for Myler after Kearnan Myall was sin-binned for sparking a brawl.

Myler missed two kicks in Myall's absence, as Leeds themselves continued to be porous when presented with chances.

Henry Fa'afili showed his agility by catching Ceiron Thomas's kick and bursting into space but his pass left the returning Myall with too much to do and the chance went begging.

Scott Mathie retained his place at scrum-half despite the return to fitness of Andy Gomarsall and provided plenty of quick ball

in the first half, one such attack floundering when Thomas

gave Titterrell no chance with a pass.

The handling errors continued on 24 minutes when a good kick from Leigh Hinton and a stolen lineout by Myall set up a chance on the right flank, where it was Fa'afili's turn to surrender possession as the line beckoned.

However, Leeds kept Northampton penned in and after turning the ball over, Hendre Fourie spearheaded a siege to the visiting line, which Gomez eventually finished off when he forced his way over.

That they led at the break was encouraging and owed much to a tackle by Fourie that denied Saints scrum-half Lee Dickson a certain try in the corner.

But the advantage should have been greater, a fact illustrated three minutes into the second half when Myler showed how narrow the margin was when he cut it to a point with a penalty.

Myler edged Northampton in front on 65 minutes when Leeds were penalised for being offside at a ruck.

Leeds by now had run out of attacking ideas and the game was up when Bruce Reihana kicked through for Foden to touch down.

[email protected]

Leeds Carnegie: Hinton, Fa'afili, Rabeni, Barrow, Blackett, Thomas (Ford 66), Mathie (Bedford 66); MacDonald, Titterrell (Ma'asi 61), Gomez (Swainston 61), Lund, Wentzel, Myall (Clark 61), Fourie, To'oala (Oakley 78). Unused replacements: Hardy, Welding.

Northampton Saints: Foden, Ashton, Ansbro (Clarke 62), Downey, Reihana, Myler, Dickson; Mujati (Tonga'uhia 61), Sharman (Long 67), Murray, Lawes (Cannon 78), Kruger, Easter (Best 58), Dowson, Wilson. Unused replacements: Dreyer, Dickens, Geraghty.

Referee: C White.

Scorers

Leeds: try, Gomez; cons Thomas.

Northampton: try, Foden; pens Myler 3.