Terrific Tigers Triumph as Weak Worcester Wobble


Long range try

By Razcal
November 14 2004

For the second week running I sagely confided to Junior that we hadn't got a strong enough side to win and happily for the second week running I was proved totally wrong. The sun shone fiercely over Sixways whose magnificent pitch looked as if it had been peeled off a snooker table.


During the warm up my forebodings deepened as first I failed to find the younger Tuilagi anywhere and then the sight of the skilful shoulder of Seru Rabeni being worked on feverishly convinced me that we were all doomed. Martin Johnson, resplendent in a bright blue scrum cap protecting his new scar looked quite meek and not at all fierce with his eyebrows covered up. Couldn't they have found him one with a skull and crossbones on?

A fine turnout from the Tiger army gave me hope that we might somehow sneak a narrow win. Worcester kicked off and it was déjà vu all over again as for the second week running Tigers decided not to move from their 22 until they had conceded a kickable penalty and after 3 minutes it is Worcester 3 and Tigers 0. At least the kick off helps Tigers move into the Worcester half.

A reasonable move sees a Worcester line out near their own line. However, Worcester have no difficulty moving play to Leicester's 22. Seru has a nervous kicked charged down but Worcester knock on with the line beckoning. The referee develops a penchant for awarding free kicks instead of penalties and Tigers concede free kicks at a scrum and line out. Then the referee moves up the scale of sanctions and awards a second very kickable penalty to Worcester. 11 minutes gone and a score of Worcester 6 Tigers 0 confirms all my gloomy pre match predictions.

Tigers win the kick off but Seru looking apprehensive kicks when keeping the ball in hand seemed the better option. Again his kick is charged down. 'It's going to be one of those days,' I thought.

But then the fickle bounce of the rugby ball intervenes. A speculative kick by Hayes aimed over Austin on the right wing is missed by our hirsute hero. 'Oh Oz', we all groan. Austin chases back and fumbles to his left then right as the ball bobbles.

Eventually he retrieves the ball, turns and finds two opponents bearing down on him in his own 22. There is still time to kick. 'Get rid' is shouted from the whole block. Austin prepares to kick, then steps one way, then the other and breaks free. He moves the ball to Sam Vesty who finds Seru near the touchline.


Rabeni, using all his class glides one metre further infield and draws the gathering defenders to him. Before the ball goes into contact Rabeni with soft hands puts the ball in front of Bemand who has taken a line cutting the other way. Bemand finds the yard of space created by Rabeni and is gone. He makes the try-line 40 yards further on near the corner. Andy Goode misses the conversion by a lot and before the restart Cornwell comes on for the stricken Rabeni. After 14 minutes it is Worcester 6 and Tigers 5.

Seru

From the kick off Tigers move through several phases but it ends with a penalty to Worcester. Buckland's throwing beyond the first jumper is becoming problematic though Louis Deacon tries to compensate by pinching some of Worcester's throws.

Tigers have gone up several gears by now and all my forebodings fly out of the window. The ball is continually moved wide, kept alive and supported. You can tell a side playing like this can't lose.

A last ditch tackle from behind on Henry stops a try, then a maul is cynically collapsed two yards out and Andy Goode misses the routine kick. But the Tigers keep playing. Andy Goode misses another penalty. More Tigers pressure with the ball kept alive super 12 style ends in a penalty for Tigers six metres and 24 centimetres from the Worcester line. 'Wait Oz' I shout as out of the corner of my eye I see him flying towards the ball. 'Oh no', I groan as he impetuously taps the penalty and moves the ref out of his way.


Goode kick
He is stopped short but finds Johnson with a pop pass and then Johnson lays the ball back , Back scores. Andy Goode manages this conversion and after 34 minutes the scoreboard looks very nice reading, as it does, Worcester 6 Tigers 12.

Worcester manage some pressure but the Tigers defence looks unfazed by the absence of most of the people who usually man it. A speculative drop goal attempt from far and wide out by Hayes tells us that Worcester are getting desperate. 'One more score and they will fold', I say to junior.

Right on cue a fantastic movement, pure Pat Howard Tigers, from left to right and back again with the ball transferred swiftly and accurately, short and long, spin pass or soft hands ends with Austin latching on to a pop pass and taking the line needed to get over in the corner. The conversion is missed but by now we don't care. Half time is seconds away and the tries have been well worth the effort of getting to the ground


The second half starts with a lot of Tigers pressure. The referee deems a push over effort was not seen to be grounded. There is then a long delay while a stretcher is fetched for the unfortunate Worcester defender Greef.

When play resumes Tigers try to push over again but mysteriously the scrum is reset with a Worcester put in. While competitive the game is not ferocious but the injuries mount up. Sampson has already come on for Worcester, Gabey comes on for Greef, Brett Deacon goes off and Will Johnson come on.

Austin finds a good kick which rolls and rolls on into the Worcester 22. Worcester fail to throw in straight and a good move from the resultant scrum sees Tom Varndell score his first first-team try in the corner. Andy Goode, obviously having changed his kicking boots at half time slots the tricky kick. So after 51 minutes the bonus point is in the bag and the score board is looking radiantly beautiful at Worcester 6 Tigers 24.

After the restart Hayes chips over the Tigers defence then throws himself to the ground and the ref falls for this chip and flop. Worcester visit the Tigers 22 for the first time in a very long time from the resultant penalty. They do not stay long. They return again and gain a penalty in front of the posts and kick for the corner. Louis Deacon steals the throw in and Tigers move up-field. Andy Goode makes a searing break but gets carried away and kicks and chases instead of keeping the ball alive.

Henry leaves the field with what is by last week's standards a mere scratch. Will Skinner comes on..

From the 22 drop out which followed Andy Goode's rush of blood the ball is run back and finds Buckland lurking near the touchline. He does what he used to do for the development and U21 teams, draws his man then puts a soft but perfectly timed pass to Tom Varndell who scores. Easy, this first team lark isn't it? The conversions can't miss now and it is Worcester 6 Tigers 31 after 59 minutes.

Gollings has now seen enough and leaves the field. Some one shouts: 'Come On Tigers'. 'What more can they give?', I ask myself. A Worcester fan shouts out 'Come on Worcester, lets get a bonus point.' That's right only 20 points to go then!

The game meanders a little then a long kick into the Tiger's 22 is elegantly fielded by Austin. He feints to kick then fires out a long pass to Sam who passes to Tom Varndell on the 22 metre line.


Sampson shows the young whipper-snapper the outside. 'Thank you' says Tom 'The outside line suits my preferred running style.' Sampson moves in for the kill and is left grasping at the vapour trail from Varndell's after burners. Tom runs the remaining 80 metres in half a second.


Vtry

It took me back to a young Austin Healey in 1996 being shown the outside by Iuean Evans. 38-6 on 72 minutes really is too good to be true and not a scrappy try among the six.

The ref now suddenly seems to take pity on Worcester and it rains penalties against Tigers. Will Skinner gets a team sin bin and Worcester manage a consolation on 79 minutes as Varndell shows his inexperience and commits too early against Sampson: final score Warriors 11 Tigers 38. The most important action though in this latter period is the appearance of Richard le grenouille Cockerill so we can warm up the Lumbers site.

As I walk out of the ground joining in with 'Under the moon of love' by a good old Leicester band, the players wave at the fans and all is right with the world.

So you want a man of the match. I will give you one. It is not Louis Deacon, Tom Varndell, Austin Healey, Daryl Gibson, Scott Bemand nor any of the other players who all played well.

No, I give you as my man of the match the true architect of this victory. The man who has got the players playing heads-up, creative rugby, the man who has redeemed us, the man who can get Cornwell to slot in seamlessly for Rabeni; I give you Pat Howard and bless whoever persuaded him to return.

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