Leeds Tykes need smart rugby to outplay National One leaders Rosslyn Park
HEAD COACH Pete Lucock says Leeds Tykes need to concentrate on their own performance if they are to cause a shock at National One leaders Rosslyn Park today.
After a rough start to life in the third tier with the National Two North champions losing their first five games at the level, the men from the Sycamores in Bramhope have picked up performances, taking two wins and a losing bonus point from games against teams around them at the bottom of the table.
The next tranche of three fixtures in November brings more games against teams at the top, starting with the trip to the capital to face ambitious Rosslyn.
“It’s been tough,” admitted Lucock. “It took us a while to adapt to the league, especially playing a lot of the top teams. That was probably a good thing, we had to learn quickly, learn on the job.
“We did that and we’re definitely showing signs of improvement, we’re getting some good results and better performances.
“The challenge for us is to get that 80-minute performance. We’re doing it well for 60 minutes, but in this league 60 minutes isn’t good enough when you’re trying to get the wins.”
The added ingredient this week is the 4G pitch Rosslyn play on, although it is not an alien concept for Tykes who train on the surface once a week at West Park Leeds.
“They’re top of the league, they’re suited to the artificial pitch,” said Lucock.
“We’ve put a massive focus on ourselves, if we concentrate on backing up the positive outcomes that we’ve spoken about, it limits their opportunities.
“They are dangerous, but if we give them field position, or our poor errors gift them possession, it will make it easy for them.
"So we need to make it hard for them and be really efficient with our exit from our own half.”
Second-placed Rotherham are at Birmingham Moseley.