Stalwart Pendlebury first to commit to Carnegie

Posted on Jun 8, 2011 in Championship, Leeds Carnegie

Leeds Carnegie have announced that second row Jon Pendlebury has become the first player to commit to a new contract with the club after agreeing a new two year deal.

The former Rotherham and Gloucester lock, who had been out of contract at the end of the season, admits he is looking forward to a fresh start next season. He commented, “It was a frustrating season for me last year because of the injury and it was obviously frustrating for the rest of the guys because of the results on the field. However, the start of pre-season and the arrival of a new Head Coach makes it a fresh start for me and I can not wait to get back out there.”

Pendlebury had been linked with his former club at Rotherham however he says that remaining at Leeds Carnegie was his first priority. “I had agreed to join Rotherham on loan last season as a way of getting some gametime when I was fit and ready to play again. Unfortunately by the time I was fit, Rotherham had no more games and it never worked out however there was some misperception that I had signed for them for this season, which was not the case. My intention was always to try and prove my worth to Leeds Carnegie. I was fit for the last four games of the season but unfortunately did not have the opportunity to show what I can do.

“The club are in a tough position at the moment but we will all be pulling together to get us back in to the Aviva Premiership next season. We return for pre-season training on 13th June and the new Head Coach will be in place by then and we can start to look forward and put the past behind us,” added Pendlebury.

Pendlebury, who was nominated for the Aviva Premiership Community Player of the Year award for his efforts off the field last season, feels that he is coming into his prime as a professional rugby player and is excited about the year ahead. He added, “I am still only 28, I think people think I am an older because I have been around for so long but this will be my tenth pre-season and I am ready to produce my best next season. We know it is going to be a tough competition with big derby games against Doncaster and Rotherham plus the likes of Cornish Pirates, Nottingham, Bedford and London Welsh will be pushing hard again.

“However we have plenty to be positive about. We have got some fantastic youngsters here and we are looking to create a team ethos that will make us a strong unit. It is a fresh start for everyone and we need to make the most of it,” added Pendlebury.

Leeds’ Stephenson looking forward to facing Bath

Posted on Jan 6, 2011 in Rugby News

Leeds Carnegie’s Michael Stephenson says he is looking forward to the challenge of facing his old team, Bath, in the Aviva Premiership this Saturday but knows it will be no easy task claiming a win at The Rec.

Stephenson spent five seasons with Bath, before joining Leeds Carnegie in the summer and was a try scorer for them when they secured a vital win over Leeds last season at Headingley Carnegie, which helped dramatically to turn their season around.

This season though Bath’s only win at the Recreation Ground in all competitions since the start of October was against Cardiff Blues in the LV= Cup, but Stephenson believes this does not indicate his side will be in for an easy time and thinks these results will only make the Bath team more determined to turn things around, “The Rec is a very tough place to win and I think that especially with them having had some bad results down there this season they will really want to be coming out in the New Year and putting things right.

“I think last season this was where they turned their corner and started putting wins together. It’s a huge game for us and it will be really tough down there, away teams never get an easy run out there but we will look forward to it and take the confidence from our win against Gloucester into the match.”

That win against Gloucester on New Year’s Day was Leeds Carnegie’s first in the Aviva Premiership Rugby competition this season and Stephenson, who was a try scorer in the game, admits getting that win was a big relief for the team, “With our games against Northampton and Newcastle being cancelled everyone has been itching to get out there and put things right as we’ve been sat at the bottom of the table and as we’ve had no games we didn’t have the opportunity to change that so we were anxious to get a game under our belt and get a win, which is the most important thing. So after the win against Gloucester there was a good sense of relief and because of all the hard work we have done in the last four weeks it was very rewarding.”

Leeds Carnegie are now 3 points off their nearest rival, eleventh placed Newcastle, and Stephenson says he and his teammates are aware that there is a lot of hard work to be done before the end of the season, “We are still bottom of the league and we know that and it’s going to take repeat performances like the one against Gloucester to get us off the bottom. We will target the game against Newcastle but we know we need wins wherever we can get them so we will go down to Bath and hopefully get in the game and keep it tight and we hope to come away with another win.”

Falcons confirm signing of Jason Spice

Posted on Dec 15, 2010 in Rugby News

Newcastle Falcons would like to confirm the signing of New Zealand born scrum half, Jason Spice. The 35-year-old joins the Falcons on a short term deal to provide cover at half back.

Head coach, Alan Tait said: “Spice provides much needed cover for Micky Young at scrum half. He also brings with him a wealth of experience which is invaluable for the club.”

Spice will not play in Sunday’s Amlin Challenge Cup showdown with Exeter Chiefs but is expected to feature against Leeds Carnegie on Boxing Day.

Titterrell blow for Carnegie

Posted on Nov 12, 2010 in LV=

Leeds Carnegie have suffered a blow ahead of this Sunday’s LV Cup clash with Sale Sharks with the news that hooker Andy Titterrell will be out of action for at least five months after scans revealed he will need surgery on a knee injury sustained in training last week.

Titterrell requires surgery on his ACL which leaves the Yorkshire side with only one senior hooker available for this weekend’s clash with Sale with Steve Thompson away on international duty with England.

Commenting on the news Director of Rugby Andy Key said, “We are bitterly disappointed for Andy however he will have the operation very soon and I am sure, given his nature and athletic strength that he will be battling to be back as soon as possible. Whilst we have suffered a number of injuries this season, this is only the second time that a serious injury has occurred in training, with Dan White breaking his leg earlier this year which makes it even more frustrating for Andy.

“Unfortunately in the short term, with Steve Thompson away with England, that only leaves us with Phil Nilsen to cover at hooker. We have two very talented young hookers in Harry Hannan and Scott Freer but both are coming back from long term injuries. In the case of Scott, hopefully he will get some rugby under his belt in the next week and I am sure he will be pushing for inclusion in the first team squad in due course. We have to make sure that we do not rush into a decision in case there are other options out there.”

Amlin – Saturday and Sunday teams

Posted on Oct 8, 2010 in Rugby News

ALL KICK-OFFS LOCAL TIME

SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER

POOL 3 – Exeter Chiefs V Montpellier (15.00)

Exeter Chiefs: P Dollman, A Higgins, P McKenzie, J Matavesi, M Jess, R Davis, J Poluleuligaga, B Moon, S Alcott, C Budgen, C Bentley, D Gannon [capt], C Slade, H Stupple, D Ewers.
Replacements: J Vickers, R Murphy, I Elosu, J Hanks, R Baxter, G Cowley, B Rennie, M Foster
Montpellier: J Alcalde, D Pelo, S Tuilevuka, F Nicot, Q Doumayrou, R Lagarde, B Paillaugue, G Shvelidze, J Caudullo, K Kervarec, G Uva, M Macurdy, V Bost, J Wasserman, G Chkhaidze.
Replacements: F Rofes, N Leleimalefaga, M Giudicelli, M Giraud, A Pratmarty, A Tomas, S Fernandez, J Vallée
Referee: Andrew Macpherson (Scotland)

POOL 1 – I Cavalieri Estra V Connacht Rugby (15.00)
I Cavalieri Estra: R Wakarua, N Tempestini, D Majstorovic, W Mafi, F Vezzosi, A Chiesa, P Patelli, L Poloni, L Giovanchelli, G Bocca, L Beccaris, W Moore, L Petillo, F Cristiano, N Soqueta.
Replacements: A Neri, D Stefani, G Marino, N Belardo, A Lunardi, S Rodwell, E Lewis Pratt, F Giusti

Connacht Rugby: T Nathan, D Fanning, N Ta’auso, M Nikora, F Carr, I Keatley, C Willis, B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Sweeney, M Swift, B Upton, A Browne, J O’Connor, J Muldoon [capt].
Replacements: D Murphy, B Fa’amausili, R Loughney, M McComish, M McCarthy, F Murphy, A Wynne, S Monahan

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

POOL 4 – Bucharest Oaks V Leeds Carnegie (15.00)
Bucharest Oaks: F Vlaicu, M Lemnaru, I Cazan, C Gal Minya, C Fercu, M Sarbu, V Calafeteanu, M Dico, A Radoi, N Nere, V Popirlan, D Lazar, S Burcea, D Ianus, D Carpo [capt].
Replacements: C Beca, P Tamba, V Badalicescu, A Valcu, V Rosu, F Surugiu, C Gheara, C Nicolae

Leeds Carnegie: L Hinton, M Stephenson, J Tincknell, L Burrell, H Fa’afili, C Lewis – Pratt, W Fury, G Hardy, P Nilsen, M Alonso, T Denton, S Hohneck, K Myall, J Rowan, R Oakley.
Replacements: A Titterrell, M MacDonald, J Moreno Rodriquez, J Craig, D Browne, A Black, C Thomas, O Denton

Referee: Laurent Cardona (France)

POOL 5 – Femi-CZ Rovigo V La Rochelle (15.00)
Femi-CZ Rovigo: S Basson, M Stanojevic, A Lunardon, M De Gasperi, A Zorzi, G Bustos, M Zanirato, R Dolcetto, L Mahoney [capt], M Ravalle, T Reato, J Montauriol, A Persico, Y Anouer, A Guzman.
Replacements: F Damiano, G Boccalon, N Quaglio, D Tumiati, N Badocchi, D Duca, F Zarattini, A Bacchetti

La Rochelle: S Boboul, M Le Bourhis, T Combezou, G Devade, F Ninard, B Dambielle, D Neveu, A Bordoy, K Leguen, J Garcia, R Mohr [capt], G Souvent, Q D’Aram de Valada, P Som, T Soucaze.
Replacements: F Pani, L Simutoga, J Grobler, N Djebaili, B Ferrou, R Lacoste, V Roux, S Clement

Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)

SUNDAY 10 OCTOBER

POOL 1 Bayonne V Harlequins (18.45)
Bayonne: P Elhorga [capt], J Pietersen, L Mazars, S Gerber, J Peyras Loustalet, B Boyet, C Garcia, A Iguiniz, D Roumieu, T Lea’aetoa, C Treloar, T Flavell, J Marmouyet, D Haare, M Baget.
Replacements: F Da Ros, W Desmaison, R Linde, F Carillo, J Audy, S Fauque, G Ziegler, D Avril

Harlequins: M Brown, G Camacho, O Smith, T Casson, G Lowe, N Evans, D Care, J Marler, C Brooker, J Andress, L Stevenson, P Browne, T Guest, C Robshaw [capt], N Easter.
Replacements: M Cairns, C Jones, J Johnston, G Robson, L Wallace, K Dickson, R Clegg, T Williams

Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)