Effervescent Tykes subdued by boot of Everitt

London Irish 42 Leeds 14

Barry Everitt, the London Irish fly-half has come a long way from his native Tipperary, but if he continues in his present form he is likely to go much further in the game, possibly all the way into the Ireland side.

It was not just what he managed with his right foot – 27 points, taking his tally to 49 after two matches – which caught the eye. The 25-year-old Ireland A cap uses head and hands, makes incisive decisions and breaks and can tackle.

So too can Leeds, but as good as their defence was – and it was very good – what upset Phil Davies, their director of coaching, was how much defending they had to do, particularly in the second half. Under pressure, the new boys on the block committed errors, were penalised and duly punished by Everitt.

But Irish, who slipped into second place in the table after this win, failed, despite 73 per cent of the possession in the second half, to score a fourth try, thereby missing out on a bonus point.

Still, Chris Sheasby's opener after he had nicked the ball off a Leeds throw to be driven over by his pack, followed by player-coach Brendan Venter's close-range effort and Richard Bates's try off a five metre scrum (all, naturally, converted by Everitt) were reward enough.

Leeds began well, harrying, chasing and challenging for every scrap, but by the end their tails were well and truly between their legs, beaten by a cannier, more confident side.

The Tykes, unlike Irish, appeared to lack a focal point for their energies. There were some fine breaks by the likes of Jon Benson, Dan Scarbrough and Craig Emmerson, but little or no support when they ran, inevitably, up blind alleys.

They still gave Irish a wicked fright, countering Everitt's opening three penalties with two smart tries. Their second was clearly a well-rehearsed move, Steven Bachop hung on a little longer after receiving the ball from a five-metre line-out. The Exiles' defence, though, drifted sideways, which left a gap through which Shaun Woof darted like a greyhound after Bachop's perfect spin pass.

Benson banged over the conversion, just as he had after Cammie Mather's try, which also arose from a five-metre line-out. But although Leeds finished the half in front there was always the impression that Irish had plenty of gas. And so it proved.

London Irish: Tries Sheasby, Venter, Bates; Conversions Everitt 3; Penalties Everitt 7.

Leeds: Tries Mather, Woof; Conversions Benson 2.

London Irish: M Horak; J Cunningham, J Bishop, B Venter, P Sackey; B Everitt, D Edwards; N Hatley (M Worsley, 36), R Kirke (N Drotske, 46), R Hardwick (S Halford, 46), R Strudwick (capt), J Fahrensohn (G Delaney, 61), J Cockle (R Bates, 52), C Sheasby, K Dawson.

Leeds: J Benson; D Scarbrough, T Davies (J Mayer, 49), S Woof, C Emmerson; S Bachop (D Rogers, 78), S Benton; M Shelley (capt), M Holt (R Rawlinson, 61), J Wring (G Kerr ,61), C Murphy, T Palmer, C Mather, I Feau'nati (I Clarke, 61), J Ponton (C Hogg, 61).

Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).