Tom Biggs scored in vain for Leeds

Leeds (6) 24
Tries: Hinton, Biggs
Cons: Di Bernardo
Pens: Di Bernardo 4

London Irish (16) 26
Tries: Armitage, De Vedia, Tagicakibau, Paice
Pens: Hewat 2

London Irish survived a fightback from Premiership strugglers Leeds to secure their first away win for 10 months.

Tries from Delon Armitage and Tomas De Vedia midway through the first half helped Irish into 16-6 lead.

Leeds hit back through Leigh Hinton and although the Exiles stretched the lead through Sailosi Tagicakibau, the Tykes levelled at 21-21 through Tom Biggs.

But David Paice went over for a fourth Exiles' try and Di Bernardo's late penalty was not enough for the hosts.

"The biggest positive for us today was that we didn't have that 20-25 minute spell when we looked rudderless and a little bit uncertain in what we needed to do.

"Credit to Leeds - they were very determined, desperate and brought an intensity which I expected.

"When we wanted to, we managed to control the game but the issues for us as coaches is why we got ourselves into those positions in the first place."

"We need to start winning games and today was an opportunity missed.

"I take attitude and spirit as a given for a Leeds side, but what we've got to do is match that with technical execution and composure.

"I thought we were probably as good as we've been all season in that regard, but obviously we could have taken it 5% more."

Leeds Carnegie: Hinton, Holtby, Hepworth, Blackett, Biggs, Di Bernardo, Bedford, MacDonald, Ma'asi, McGee, Bouza, Lund, Dunbar, Clark, Oakley.
Replacements: Pala'amo, Parkes, Paul, Balding, Brooks, Tuilagi, Vickerman.

London Irish: Hewat, De Vedia, D. Armitage, Geraghty, Tagicakibau, Hickey, Hodgson, Lea'aetoa, Coetzee, Rautembach, Kennedy, Casey, Roche, Danaher, Thorpe.
Replacements: D Murphy, Paice, Hudson, P Murphy, S Armitage, Fury, Tiesi.