By Mike Hill
February 10 2003

Tigers showed their best form of the season as they outscored Bristol Shoguns by six tries to none. The final phase of the game saw Tigers score 21 unanswered points as Bristol caved in under enormous pressure. The final scoreline of 40 points to 6 implies an easy win but Bristol were only 13 points behind with 10 minutes left to play.The result at Headingley on Friday night where the Falcons upset Leeds, meant that Tigers could go third if they secured a bonus point.

The team seemed well 'up for it' and they got off to a fine start when Geordan scored after seven minutes. A spell of pressure saw Bristol pinned into their 22 when the ball went wide to Ollie Smith who stepped on the gas and took the cover outside to create space for Murphy inside. Geordan converted to give Leicester the lead 7-0.

The tempo then dropped as the game got bogged down in scrum technicalities. Robin Goodliffe tried in vain to get both sides to bind properly pleading with both front rows to remember what he had told them before the game. Fat chance! It's like asking a team to not kill the ball when the opposition has a six man overlap out wide. Tigers had obviously targeted the inexperienced Sheridan at prop and Franck gave him a thorough working over.

Tigers lineout functioned fairly well with Louis Deacon more than capable of filling Ben Kay's size 15's he even stole a couple of opposition throws. Murphy missed a penalty after 23 minutes and then Contepomi did the same as both teams struggled to get any continuity to their game. The game suddenly burst into life when Martin Johnson was sin binned for pulling a Bristol player back at the lineout.

The players and crowd shared Martin's sense of injustice and the intensity was wound up a couple of notches. Freddie pulled up of a couple of bone crunching tackled and then 14 man Leicester replied in the best possible way with another seven pointer. Tigers surged up field and after Vesty had side stepped almost to the line on the right the ball was flung left for Leon to put Geordan in for his second.

Bristol then made a reply of sorts as Contepomi slotted two successful penalty goals to make the half time score 14 - 6. The second period started as the first had ended with Bristol competing well but never looking like scoring a try. This team was unrecognisable to the confident side that had beaten us in the last three encounters. The absence of Archer and White meant the pack lacked a cutting edge and certainly a bit of fighting spirit.

In the first thirty minutes of the second half only one try was scored as Josh launched himself off of the side of a driving maul. Pichot tried to tackle him but failed to hold on as the 'All Black legend' got to his feet and drove over the line. That try pretty much sealed the win but one more was still required for the all important bonus point.

Kronfeld, Louis Deacon and Franck Tournaire, were replaced by Back, Balding and Garforth but little changed. Tigers kept pounding the Shogun ranks to no avail and a couple of chances went astray. A rare Bristol attack was snuffed out by a strong tackle from the excellent Ollie Smith, and Leon intercepted a pass to sprint 40 metres before he was caught by a desperate last ditch tackle.

Stimpson and Booth came on for Freddie and Leon and it was Booth that featured in the build up to the vital fourth try. After an initial burst by Kafer, Booth eluded a number of tackles before the ball was thrown long to an unmarked Ollie Smith who threw a dummy and cruised over to send Welford Road delirious. Kafer then threw off the 'tugboat' tag to show Bristol a clean pair of heels for the fifth try of the day.

The best try was saved for last as Booth stepped into fly half headed for a gaping hole into the defence and darted left and right as he zoomed to the line leaving the cover in his wake. He somersaulted over in spectacular fashion and put the finishing touch to a powerful final assault that blew Bristol away.

The Shoguns must now be worriedly eyeing their remaining fixtures wondering where they can take some points to keep them above the automatic relegation spot. They can take solace in Bath's refusal to believe that losing games is bad and Quins diabolical display against Sale.

Although Geordan was fantastic again he's not my choice of man of the match. The award goes to Ollie Smith for his powerful running and some awesome tackling at key moments when Bristol could have got back into the game. England's 13 shirt is going to have his name on it sooner rather than later.