News

Potter Praises Saints Spirit

4th Jul 2010, 12:01am

MICK Potter praised his side’s battling spirit after they went down 28-24 at Headingley.

 

Saints had taken the lead and then levelled the scores at half time before Leeds came from behind themselves in the second half to grab the two points.

 

But they were on the end of some harsh referring calls that gave the Rhinos their lead in the last ten minutes and lost three players through injury.

 

Andrew Dixon, Kyle Eastmond and Leon Pryce all went the way of the physios' room following groin, ankle and back injuries respectively, meaning Potter could only field 14 fit men.

 

“It was a battling effort in a really tough match,” he said, “and losing players didn’t help either.

 

“Although we will have to see on all three but Kyle could be out for a couple of weeks and we’ll have to check on the other two.

 

“When you lose key players you try to mix and match and we did the best we could.

 

“The guys tried as hard as they could but it was a little bit too tough.”

 

Mick said the final and winning try of the game – Ryan Hall’s effort following a knock on from Danny McGuire that wasn’t picked up by the video referee – was a massive call.

 

“Yes, I do have a couple of issues with that score and I will be taking them up with Stuart [Cummings – head of referees] in the week. There was a touch that went forward and an obstruction in there too.”

 

Mick also praised the contribution of the pack and James Roby.

 

“Robes is as good as that every week. He is a great athlete and I have never seen anyone as athletic as him. He can carry the ball, play 80 minutes and is very versatile. He is a phenomenal player for us.

 

“Bryn [Hargreaves] did a real good job too and mixed his game up. He played very well.

 

“I’m sure all the middle had record scores on their tackle counts.”

 

 

  Share this article:

« Battling Saints Undone At Headingley Ten Try Saints Silence the Rhinos »

Comments

You can leave a comment on this article by filling in the form at the bottom of this page.

• John reach says:
  Good performance from the lads in tough conditions, keep the chins up as with a weakened team b4 and during the game they struggled 2 break us down, well played lads
• ovalball13 says:
  No complaints, great game, both sides were under strength, the crunch came when Saints lost both playmakers and Dixon. You cant win a game with only one sub. Last try,the video ref calls it as he sees it,but why does the benefit of the doubt go to the attacking side?Did you see Danny's reaction when the try was given?
• barbara says:
  Well done lads a much better defensive performance than against Salford last week. The injuries are a worry, when are Wilkin and Fasavalu, back? All things considered 3rd place in the league is a wonderful achievement at this stage of the season as I dont think we have had a full side out after the first game. I am still confident that with a few of the injured players back we can pick up silverware this season and sicken the pie eaters. COME ON YOU SAINTS!!!!!!!
• Diane says:
  A spirited performance by the Saints last night but we missed a couple of easy try-scoring opportunities and gave away some easy tries which had we dealt with them would have left us at worst in a healthier position when we lost our halfbacks and at best won us the game under those same conditions. I hope that from now on in our players will be tuned in for the whole match, in attack and defence, because we have sorely lacked that consistency all season while being a team of enough talent to have been winning more points than we have so far, with or without the injuries we have had. Granted, we had little hope once we lost Pryce but had we taken our chances up to that point, we would have been holding on to a lead rather than trying to regain one.
• Jamie Riley says:
  Well played fellas. Can't be too dissapointed with that! In the end the loss of Leon and Kyle caught up with us - undoubtedly that is what changed the game. Without a questionable try being given towards the end, we mayhave come away with points! Anyway after a gruelling schedule/ run of games in recent weeks, get yourselves a good rest this week, and come out firing next week against the Dragons. Any news on the injury front!? Thanks, and well played boys!
• Nick Jones Dubai says:
  Great game lads, you give it your all. keep the chins up, not to long, till we meet them again, fingers crossed well have a full team back at full strength, to book our place at wembley, ill be flying home to watch cunningham lift the cup, miss cumming to the games to see the mighty saints
• T M Rennie says:
  I would like to thank the saints team for a great effort. As Mick Potter said there were a few calls that did not go saints way!The first Try Leeds were awarded the Ref was unsighted for the first bounce of the ball after Macdonald knocked the ball forward it then bounced back and the Leeds player collected and touched down , the Ref sould have gone to the video Ref whome I am sure he would diss allowed the try for a knock on! there again after the last tryt of Leeds leaves a question mark . Again Well done saints maybe we will get the fifty fifties in the semi final. COME ON YOU SAINTS
• cumbrian saint says:
  Well done lads you did the shirt proud and it was appreciated by the fans who stopped to clap you off the field...shame on those who didn't..you know who you are !! We would have won that if we hadn't lost Kyle and Leon and had a bit more luck with a few decisions...but again its heartbreaking to see our defending of the high ball by our "experienced" winger. We cant afford to give teams, never mind Leeds two tries like that. Hope Kyle and Leons fit again soon. Off to watch the wigan match again !!!!
• Danny says:
  Great performance Saints! If Leon had stayed on and not got injured we may very well of won the game! Again, inconsistant idiotic officating has spoilted a big game with 2 bad decisons... 1. The winning try and 2, a penalty should have been given when Danny Maguire failed to roll out the way when we was playing the ball in the last minuite! Personally, i think the RFL need to get shut of Thierry Alibert! Wast of spce who hardly knows the rules!
• Saintdav says:
  Great performance lads made me proud just keep going get a few players back I have every confidence in you let's forget Leeds we will get revenge in semi cmon you saints and well done again flanno what a performance
• joe ashcroft says:
  Well played Saints great performance, beaten by the so called officials not Leeds.
• JOHN CALLON says:
  almost outstanding in defeat, i say almost because yet again kicks are our undoing, also leeds last try was very lucky, bailey threw it anywhere and was fortunate that it found a leeds player, i thought senior obstructed lomax but looking at replay he just stood his ground which he is allowed to do. senior does that crafty obstruction routine on most of kicks aswell and is very good at it. wellans and lomax were unlucky with the bounce for one try but we must defend kicks near our line much better.as we always concede tries from kicks would we not be better to knock the ball dead and defend the dropout or knock it in touch and defend the scrum, at least that way we can set up to defend our line. i also have one more idea which may cause amusement but i think its worth a try. lets bring in a goalkeeping coach, goalkeepers are trained to catch ball at arms length and to tip a tricky shot or corner over the bar. something a bit different like that could work. if we can try the motivational speaker we could try this. bottom line is all oponents know that a high kick on our line is almost certain four points if not six.
• Lincoln Rob says:
  Bit tough on the lads. Last try a knock on and Bailey should have been sin-binned for the shot on Robes. Hope Kieron and TP back next week or could be very tough. Wish Mick would show a bit more passion on the sidelines though.
• welshsaint says:
  Proud to be a Saints supporter today. Credit all round. A tough game. They all stepped up to the plate , took the hits, put in the work and covered the spaces caused by injury. Very, very unfortunate not to win but they should all be pleased with their efforts.
• Ste says:
  Great performance from all lads we lost our drive forward when we lost our two playmakers hope both r only minor injurys and be back. Last try for Leeds should haver have been was a clear knock on from maguire. Chins up fellas and kick on from here.
• Phil Heaton says:
  Even though leeds beat saints yesterday i just want to say that it was an amazing achievement but unlucky in the end. One point i would like to add... Leeds are a team plans for the next season, Saints are a team that plans for the next 10 seasons... We can look forward to a fruitful future with our current young crop of lads.... Keep the good work up!
• ste.. says:
  we was the better Team 2try were forward for them Roby was Great as always..
• Jill says:
  Kyle wasn't fit from the start and shouldn't have been in the team, now he is out for another two weeks. why when both half backs went off didn't we move Lomax to 6 or 7?? good team work by all the lads. yeah the ref didn't help but our coach didn't either!!!
• SAINT PAUL says:
  Well done to the younger Saints we have a great future ahead of us with our accadamy stars keep coming through . Mick your wasting your time & breath with Cummings he will always support the Yorkshire contingent & with the RFL only round the corner from headingly you wont even get a hearing LOL . Lets turn up in numbers friday & cheer on our Super Saints !!!!!!!!
• Barry says:
  Well done lads but is it just me or do leeds have their own video referee? Old Trafford winning try 2 yards offside, saturday winning try a knock on, they always seem to get the decisions, even harder for me to take because i have to live in leeds!
• terry considine says:
  people are saying that Silverwood said to Sinfield 'you were lucky i let that go' when they ran back after Sinfield converted. Surely that comment needs to be investigatd, but Cummins will no doubt pass the buck as usual. Terry Considine
• alison says:
  well done saints,yet again the ref and video ref side with leeds, they seem to have something over them !its ironic that both leon and kyle were both injured by buderus ?deliberate tactics ? on this occasion just like old trafford the best team were robbed but chins up lads you did all us fans and yourselves proud !!!
• elaine says:
  the better team lost once again it was a .game strewn with high shots and forward passes the referee should have wore a leeds shirt because he gave them everything . come on you saints.
• Danny says:
  why are you all complaining about the referee? there were decisions against both teams that were wrong. we played well and so did leeds but to be brutally honest they won it in the forwards. we wernt big enough on the day.
• bethesme says:
  So Danny thinks Leeds won it in the forwards? I thought it was won by the boot. Didn't they kick more goals than us and won by four points? Maybe I've got it wrong but I don't think so.