BATTLING Leeds held Worcester Warriors to a 10-10 Guinness Premiership draw in a match bereft of any moments of real quality, maintaining the 14-point cushion between the Sixways side and the relegation zone.

The home side enjoyed the lion's share of possession but struggled to break down Leeds' resolute rearguard apart from on the two occasions when they managed to cross the try-line.

Scores by hooker Aleki Lutui and wing Miles Benjamin were cancelled out by an early try from former Worcester prop Mike MacDonald as well as a penalty and a conversion from the boot of fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo.

Admittedly the blustery conditions made it difficult to play attractive rugby, but Worcester were a shadow of the side that beat Leicester and Sale in their last two outings.

Good rucking from Lutui forced an early turn-over, but a wayward Pat Sanderson pass gave the ball straight back to Leeds.

Then, as the ball went loose, wing Marcel Garvey knocked on for Tom Wood to pick up in an off-side position. However, in a swirling wind, Di Bernardo pulled his penalty wide.

Second row Craig Gillies rose highest to steal a Leeds line-out throw in but the away side wrestled back possession and ran it wide to the dangerous Tom Biggs on the left flank.

He was wrapped up but, at the resulting ruck, veteran prop Tony Windo came in at the side which allowed Leeds to kick for the corner. They claimed the line-out and former Worcester prop MacDonald crashed over for the opening score. Di Bernardo expertly slotted the tough touch-line kick to give Leeds a 7-0 advantage.

Worcester fired straight back at Leeds though with some punishing forward play which put the visitors' rearguard under severe pressure, before it eventually buckled allowing Lutui to crash over the whitewash.

Fly-half Shane Drahm was off target with the extras, though.

Mike Ruddock's men started to pile on the pressure and a dart from Matt Powell took the home side into the Leeds 22.

Scrum-half Powell then fed the recycled ball to wing Miles Benjamin who was driven towards the line, but referee Wayne Barnes decided he was held up and gave the five-metre scrum. However, Leeds managed to defend their line and clear the ball.

As Worcester attacked again, Drahm tried a drop-goal with the penalty already awarded. The Aussie was off target, but play was called back and Drahm kicked for the corner.

From the line-out, Gillies secured possession before Warriors staged a number of drives and looked set for their second try until losing the ball forward in contact.

The hosts regrouped, though, and continued to be camped on the Leeds line. However, the basement side's brave defence could hold out no longer as the ball was spun down the line for Benjamin to dive over in the corner.

Drahm was beaten by the wind again, but the home side led 10-7 with seven minutes to go until the interval.

Despite Worcester's ascendancy, the sides went into half-time on level terms after Warriors were hit for not rolling away and Di Bernardo slotted the penalty to make it 10-10.

Just before the whistle, Warriors went on the attack through Dale Rasmussen and Sam Tuitupou, but Powell's poor pass was missed by Greg Rawlinson and Leeds pounced on the ball and cleared the danger.

Leeds began the second-half by surging deep into Warriors' territory, setting up a drop-goal attempt for Di Bernardo, but his effort was blown off target.

The blustery conditions were making life difficult for both sides with John Holtby and then Drahm seeing kicks from outside their respective 22s go directly into touch.

A shanked clearance from Thinus Delport, while under no pressure, gave Leeds the ball 30 metres from the home side's try-line and the men from Headingley opted to run at the Worcester defence. The visitors earned the put-in after a Warriors knock-on, but the chance fizzled out to nothing.

A jinking break by Drahm took the ball to the Leeds line and, following several phases, Tevita Taumoepeau appeared to have crossed but referee Barnes, after conversing with the TMO, awarded a five-metre scrum. Leeds then managed to turn the ball over and escape without conceding more points.

The excellent Wood's last act before being replaced by Drew Hickey was to steal a line-out and set up a Worcester attack. The ball was worked to Benjamin who sent Garvey scampering after a grubber kick, but he couldn't quite catch up with the ball.

An otherwise drab game then burst into life as the home side looked to claim the points.

Firstly, a great midfield break involving Rasmussen and Tuitupou saw a long pass just evade the unmarked Benjamin before Gillies went over from a line-out but the score was chalked off by Barnes for the throw not going five metres.

Drahm kicked for the corner after Worcester were awarded a penalty and Rawlinson soared into the air to claim the throw-in, however, the possession was scrappy and replacement Ryan Powell knocked-on.

The Warriors pack put in a huge scrum, though, and forced Leeds to infringe, giving the hosts the put-in.

In keeping with the scrappy nature of the game, Warriors could not capitalise and gave possession back to Leeds.

The final whistle, when it arrived, was a blessed relief and, in a game of such low quality, it was only right that neither team won.

7:03pm Sunday 16th March 2008

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