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Albanese's injury-time try signals deflating defeat for Harlequins

Leeds 23 Harlequins

Paul Stephens
Saturday 05 April 2003 00:00 BST
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Having spent two years without a win away from home, Harlequins were within 20 seconds of making it two on the trot to ease their relegation worries. Leeds, indebted to Braam van Straaten as they piled up an impressive sequence of victories earlier in the season, were within moments of losing three times in succession – two of them here at Headingley – but they were rewarded with a prolonged spell of late pressure for Diego Albanese to score a try in the fifth minute of stoppage time. That brought the score to 21-22 with Van Straaten's conversion to come. He never looked like missing.

The news that Van Straaten is leaving to join Sale next season was greeted with mixed feelings by the Leeds supporters. His value to the Tykes is measured almost exclusively by the contribution from the big South African's right boot.

He has kicked more penalties than any one else in the division, but the Leeds approach has been far too one dimensional for much of the season. While their defence, for the most part, has been admirable, they are the only team not to have scored a try bonus point, which says much about a lack of midfield creativity. Even so, Leeds will miss Van Straaten and will need to find a reliable goalkicker if they are to build on a campaign in which they have been the surprise of the Premiership.

It was no surprise when Van Straaten booted Leeds ahead within seconds of the start or when he was given the easiest of chances seven minutes later when Quins were offside in front of the posts. Those two penalties sandwiched a penalty by Paul Burke, though the best of Leeds had not yet been revealed.

The Tykes had the better of the early exchanges. There was more bite about their work at the breakdown and they looked as if they were preparing for life after Van Straaten by moving the ball wide whenever they could. From one unlikely position Dan Hyde and Alan Dickens put Chris Hall away on a gallop for a smashing try, Van Straaten converted and Leeds were 13-3 to the good. Burke pegged them back with a long penalty as the last act of the half.

Harlequins had not looked as if they would score any other way. There was the occasional spark from Will Greenwood and Mel Deane in the centre, but with Leeds dominating territory and getting the better of the forward exchanges, Quins needed to find something special to prise open Leeds' defence.

They did. Dan Luger sliced them open for a smart try, Burke converted and slotted a penalty and Leeds were behind for the first time in the match. A penalty and a drop goal by Burke looked decisive until Albanese struck with a vengeance.

Leeds: Tries Hall, Albanese; Conversions Van Straaten 2; Penalties Van Straaten 3 Harlequins: Try Luger; Conversion Burke; Penalties Burke 4; Drop goal Burke.

Leeds: D Albanese; W Stanley, D Scarbrough (T Davies, 58), B van Straaten, C Hall; G Ross, A Dickens (D Hegarty, 57); M Shelley (capt), M Regan (R Rawlinson, 71), G Kerr, C Murphy, T Palmer, C Mather, D Hyde, A Popham (I Feaunati, 57)

Harlequins: N Williams; D Luger, W Greenwood, M Deane, B Gollings; P Burke, B Fulton; C Jones (J Dawson, 62), A Tiatia (T Fuga, 62), J Leonard, K Rudzki, S Miall, R Winters, A Vos (capt), T Diprose.

Referee: C White (Cheltenham).

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