As the Tykes recorded their biggest ever win in the Zurich Premiership, Braam van Straaten re-wrote the record books at Headingley with a faultless 100% kicking display.
Van Straaten kicked nine penalties and two conversions for a personal points haul of 31 points in the 41-13 win over the Exiles. His nine penalties included a 56 metre effort from inside his own half which Van Straaten confirmed in the post match press conference as his second longest ever.
"I kicked one from about 59 metres at Ellis Park for the Stormers but that was at altitude!" said the Springbok ace. He also commented, "I scored ten once for the Stormers against the Bulls but I felt like a could not miss today. As a kicker you have days like that but this is my job and I enjoy it."
His 31 points is a club record for points in a league game, beating the 27 scored by Gerry Ainscough against Rosslyn Park on 14th September 1996. It also sets a new mark for penalties in a game for the club with 9 beating the previous best of 7 which was previously held by Sateki Tuipolutu and Richard Le Bas.
For the Premiership, Braam equalled the nine scored by Saracens' Thierry Lacroix against Wasps on 7th November 1999, who was the first to achieve such a feat. Since then, Simon Mannix of Gloucester, Alex King of Wasps, Luke Smith of Saracens and David Walder for Newcastle have all reached the nine mark. Indeed, Van Straaten could have set a new record as Leeds were awarded a penalty on full time on the half way line but they decided to kick to touch to end the game.
He also finished just one point short of Niall Woods' record of 32 points in a game which he got for London Irish against Harlequins on 25 April 1998 and now joins a list with John Liley, Dave Walder, Tim Stimpson and Felipe Contepomi on 31.
The 41 points is also the highest number of points the Tykes have recorded since joining the Premiership and is also the biggest winning margin in the elite division.
Leeds, who are now in third place in the Zurich Premiership after back to back home wins, play their first away game next Saturday at Harlequins, kick off 3pm.