Hyde try sinks Exiles

London Irish 12 Leeds 16

Flanker Dan Hyde’s opportunist score earned Leeds a superb Zurich Premiership win against the odds at London Irish.

The Exiles controlled long spells of the game with Barry Everitt converting it into points with two penalties in each half.

But they could not create any real try-scoring chances until the final moments when Leeds dug in on their line against a series of five-metre scrums.

Hyde’s try was backed up by a conversion, two penalties and a drop-goal from Gordon Ross.

And despite a lengthy injury list, Leeds are now in the top-half of the table for the first time this season.

Irish had made just one change to the side that snatched a 17-16 win to end Sale’s unbeaten start to the season, recalling Mike Catt in midfield to replace Nils Mordt, with Scott Staniforth’s groin injury allowing talented 20-year-old Delon Armitage to extend his run on the wing.

Leeds made only one change to the side that beat Worcester by bringing in Scotland Under-21 international Mark McMillan for Alan Dickens at scrum-half.

But Iain Balshaw’s fitness worries continued. The England winger started his comeback at Worcester was pulled out of the squad on the morning of this game.

Leeds could have done with some of his finishing prowess in a disjointed first half until Dan Hyde grabbed an opportunist score in injury time.

Chris Bell had gone close in a sweeping 25th minute move into the left-hand corner, but hung on instead of passing and was bundled into touch five metres short.

And with Geoff Appleford leading a thumping defensive line, Irish were good value for a 6-3 half-time lead until Hyde struck in the 40th minute.

Everitt couldn’t hold on to a low pass at a scrum 20 metres from the Irish line under pressure from the flanker, who followed up to hack over and touch down with Ross converting.

Everitt had drilled over penalties in the third and 17th minutes for Irish, either side of Ross’s opener for Leeds.

But despite controlling most of the opening 40 minutes, the nearest they came to a try was when a long-range Everitt penalty thumped the bar and Mike Catt couldn’t quite engineer an opening.

Hyde’s try raised the temperature for both teams in a heavy downpour, with Ross extending the lead with a 44th-minute penalty and Everitt responding three minutes later.

Although Ross’s drop-goal edged Leeds 16-9 up, Everitt set up what should have been a frantic finale when his 68th-minute penalty pulled Irish to within four points.

Everitt’s handling let him down to halt one promising attack and Irish were grateful to see David Rees lose control of the ball near the line after Michael Horak’s error at the back.

But the game reached a crescendo in the final moments with the Irish scrum camped on the Leeds line.

Hyde was sin-binned by referee Sean Davey for killing one attack, but the Tykes withstood a barrage of drives at the line from Phil Murphy until Irish lost the ball in their final effort.