Leeds shock Leicester in Anglo Welsh Cup

 A strong first-half performance saw Leeds Carnegie record a 28-17 win over Leicester in the LV=Anglo Welsh Cup on Sunday at Headingley.

Leeds included a record 13 academy players in their 23-man squad and there was somewhat of a family affair as Joe Ford was named in the Carnegie side to make his debut opposite his older brother George who wore the number ten jersey for the Tigers.

Leeds made a positive start with Scott Armstrong making a superb break in the middle of the park and won a penalty which Joe Ford easily slotted from 40-yards.

The Tigers were level less than five minutes later when the other Ford, George, replied with a penalty of his own. The match appeared all about the Fords’ boots as Joe again put Leeds ahead.

Carnegie put themselves into a very strong position going into the break as scrum half Mathie took a quick tap penalty and crossed the line for Leeds’ third try and Ford converted to make it 25-3.

The second period saw Leicester fight back as Leeds were reduced to 14 men when Alex Moreno was sin-binned. The Tigers capitalised on having the extra man as their forwards piled over the Leeds tryline with Tom Armes claiming the five-pointer.

Leeds however managed to take the score to 28-10 when Joe Ford coolly slotted another penalty.

With ten minutes to play Leicester got their second try when Will Hurrell broke through a number of tackled to cross the line, but it was too little and too late as Leeds hung on to take the 28-17 win.

Final score Leeds 28 Leicester 17

Scorers

Leeds
Tries: Joe Ford, Mathie, Armstrong
Con: Joe Ford 3
Pen: Joe Ford 2

Leicester
Tries: Armes, Hurrell
Con: George Ford
Pen: George Ford 2

Referee: Sean Davey (England)

Teams

Leeds Carnegie: 15 Jon Goodridge, 14 Henry Faafili, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Henry Paul, 11 Scott Armstrong, 10 Joe Ford, 9 Scott Mathie, 8 Rhys Oakley, 7 Calum Clark, 6 Tom Denton, 5 Jon Pendlebury (capt), 4 Phil Murphy, 3 Phil Swainston, 2 Phil Nilsen, 1 Alex Moreno.

Replacements: 16 George Warner, 17 Mike MacDonald, 18 Peter Bucknall, 19 Richard Beck, 20 Jacob Rowan, 21 Dan White, 22 Jason Strange, 23 Peter Wackett.

Leicester: 15 Lucas Amorosino, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Greig Tonks, 12 Joe Cobden, 11 Will Hurrell, 10 George Ford, 9 James Grindal (capt), 8 Tom Armes, 7 Matt Everard, 6 Craig Hammond, 5 Dan Hemingway, 4 Sam Raven, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Robbie Harris.

Replacements: 16 Jimmy Stevens, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Johnny Harris, 19 Rob Conquest, 20 Huw Marsden, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Andy Forsyth, 23 Connor Smith.