We’re flying thanks to Kevin Sinfield says Dave Doherty

Carnegie centurion Dave Doherty credits the British & Irish Cup – and the growing impact of Kevin Sinfield – for the Championship club's recent revival.
Confidence-boosting home and away wins over London Scottish in the B&I, followed by back-to-back bonus-point Championship victories over Rotherham and Ealing, have put the Leeds-based side's season firmly back on track after a run of just two wins in seven between October and the start of December.
With a 12-point buffer between themselves and fifth-placed Jersey they look well set for a play-off spot.
“A lot of teams used the last two rounds of the B&I Cup as a rest period but we put our full strength team out to get some cohesion in our game. Fair play to the coaches because it has worked,” said Doherty, who marked his 100th appearance for the club with two tries in last weekend's 45-29 win at Ealing.
“The home game against Scottish, at Scarborough, was the first time we really got going and put it all together as backs and forwards, that bred a bit of confidence and we've continued from there.
“Kevin was outstanding that day, he was man of the match for me, and I think that really gave him confidence because he could see what he was doing was working. He is just getting better and better and it's no coincidence that the backs are starting to score more tries.
“His short passing game to the forwards is fantastic and that helps to create space out wide when we do go around the back because defenders have to defend the middle of the field.”
Sinfield could have been a team-mate of Doherty's 12 years ago had the Morley-born full-back/wing chosen to go down the Rugby League route instead of Union.
He was on a dual code contract at Leeds when Tony Smith promoted him into the Rhinos first team squad, captained by Sinfield, as a 16-year-old.
But Doherty opted for the 15-man game instead and soon became the youngest player to appear in the Premiership, when he played against Northampton aged 17 years and 95 days in May 2004. The record stands to this day.
Spells at Wasps, Sale, Jersey and Cornish Pirates followed before he returned North.
“It was a tough decision to make, to play League or Union, especially as I grew up in a predominantly League area.
“But I enjoyed the space you get playing full-back in Rugby Union and made my decision based on rugby and what was right for my family and I've never looked back.
“I have some amazing memories. I won the Premiership and Heineken Cup with Wasps and then at Sale we won away at Clermont, and there's not many sides that have done that. I would have loved to have played for the Rhinos – and I still would, because I go and support them at most home games.
“But I am very lucky to have done what I have done and I'm very happy to be where I am now.”
JON NEWCOMBE