Weve done ok actually. 16-6 HT.

32-10 FT.

Gatus and Aldridge the tryscorers. Sts too big and fast for a young Leeds team.

Interesting that Corey only had 2 short spells. Maybe being kept in case Leeming cops a ban.

Team hung in as best as it could be Saints far too good.

Any good individual performances marty?

Joe Hird played ok, Gatus took his try well and put Aldridge in for the other. Max Simpson went ok.

Team tried hard but well outgunned. Jason Bell dominated us tbh but he should against a team of youngsters.

We stuck at it and hung in well but well beaten.

Yep, and thats the learning curve these lads need, Bells a pretty good SL forward, wish more players like him played reserves.

Really like the look of Hird, be good to see him involved in the first team.

Think he is some way off that at moment Frosties but hes got potential. Needs to fill out and he will be a big lad then.

Weve got some good young talent in the team tho and Hird is right up there

Have Saints got another load of top quality coming through?

Yes they always have. Josh Simms whos played plenty of SL. Full Back Bennison played well. I really like what ive seen of a 2nd rower called Reece Sumner ive seen him play a couple of times and found him very good.

Dont worry tho weve got some real talent too. Saints had 10 full time players playing today we had a lot less 4 i think.

One area where I think Saints are better is the transition from very talented junior to established first teamer. We need to improve in this area to reduce our reliance on squad fillers like Thompson or Donno for example.

Personally i wouldnt say that was neccessarily true Batley. I think its probably been easier for Saints to bring kids in cos they have gone into a dominant winning team which always helps.

But i dont think theyve brought through anymore than we have really in terms of numbers. Both clubs have exceptional junior departments. Theyve brought thru players like Welsby, Lees, Dodd thru recently but weve brought thru quality like Newman, Mik and Gannon.

Saints had a more experienced team yesterday, we had 6 x 17 year olds and thats a lot for a reserve team. We are choosing to loan out players to Championship clubs rather than play in our reserves. Time will tell if thats the right move. Its understandable that you want players like Levi and O'Connor to play at the highest level possible to develop them further but the flip side of that is you have a young half that you are trying to develop but hes got a pack thats not physically up to the task. Its a difficult process.

I think our junior department is outstanding and we will continue to reap the rewards down the track though.

U18's beat Newcastle 58 - 8 tonight, Will Gatus with 4 trys, we scored 13 in total, poor goal kicking, we only got 3 from 13.

Call yourself a Sinfield…

Yeah bad night off the tee for him, he got pulled from them eventually, Blake Morgan too the last few.

Thought Newcastle tried hard tonight.

Its a decent Leeds team at 18s level. Weve got decent backs. Pack lets us down a bit. Bit interesting to see how we go against better opposition but on firmer tracks we will do well i think.

Yes that’s a pretty handy backline there and you could add Levi Edwards to that backline.
I’m not sure if it will eventuate but the Australian Schoolboys under 18’s are due to tour later this year and you would think that Leeds would have at least 4/5 players involved in that series.

Reserves absolutely hammered tonight aswel, state of this club at the minute...embarrassing.

Chev walker another job for another boy.

We, wrongly, dont take the reserves seriously enough. I wouldnt read much into their results tbh.

Corey Johnson out for 3 to 4 months. Grade 3 MCL tear.

Are there any players in the Reserves who look worth a try in the first team? I'm not suggesting wholesale as they seem to be just a pumped up academy team, but are any even close?

Not yet. Our reserves is very young. Its pretty much a young U18s team. Weve loaned Levi Edwards out who has potential.

Max Simpson is the best one i think but hes 17.

Joe Hird possibly but he’s still very young as you say

18s 10 all HT at Wire

Leeds 30 Wire 16. FT.

Enjoyable game. Good performance.