Records Tumble


Tigers Rotherham

By Rex Thorpe
May 9 2004

It already looked like a day for records by the time the Guiness Book of Records certificate for drinking by university students was paraded at half time (as an advert for the 'other' varsity match: Leicester vs De Montfort.

Comp loine
The Tigers had run in 4 tries and the much desired bonus point was in the bag as early as the 20th minute. What a pity it's not a bonus point for every four tries scored. Pat Howard may still be in Montferrand, but Leicester's performance in the first half had the former Tiger's flair written all over it. From the off, kicks at goal or to touch were refused and the ball was run through the backs at every opportunity. Rotherham were two tries down before they knew what had hit them and thereafter the excellence of Geordan Murphy and Jaco Van der Westhuyzen made the Rotherham backs dizzy. It was one of the best performances by the Tigers’ backs for a long time and the forwards joined in by picking up the pieces left over from the back moves so well that George Chuter scored a hatrick.
Gibbo Tacking
It was fortunate, therefore, that the drizzle that had fallen for an hour before kick off had not turned to the heavy rain that was falling further south; to score four tries in the wet against what seemed to be a beefy Rotherham pack might have been difficult. Indeed Rotherham's recent record in the Premiership has been for fairly even matches with Northampton 18 Rotherham 8 catching the eye. However, yesterday, notwithstanding the Bishop's mitre that is Rotherham's symbol, their rugby team didn't have a prayer.
Roth scrum
You have to feel desperately sorry for Rotherham, relegated ages ago and one match away from a Premiership whitewash. Sadly they failed to live up to their sponsor’s name, Titan, in a weak first half (the Titan is a huge water tank). Exempt from criticism was Guy Easterby, the scrum-half, who tackled himself to a standstill but had to leave the field injured just after half-time. Rotherham also had to cope with two yellow cards, whereas Austin Healey was fortunate not to have had a spell in the bin himself late in the second half. Nonetheless Rotherham showed spirit in the second period, especially with ball in hand, and were justly rewarded with a try in the dying seconds. The Tigers team, shorn most significantly of Jacco Van der Westhuyzen, Martin Johnson and Harry Ellis, was a touch disappointing in the second half; even Geordan Murphy started to take wrong options when in the clear. Against Wasps next week, Tigers will need to play for their best rugby for 80 minutes to win. To finish in the top three next year, the Tigers need to replace Jacco with someone of similar quality; not even Geordan Murphy can create space on his own against the top sides.
Titan lo
Full-back Andy Goode filled his boots with two tries among his 30-points but his long miss passes in the second half were too predictable for my liking. Leon Lloyd was at his best until he left the field with a head injury. Austin Healy had the kind of match many of us will recognise from our own experience, when passes were at a premium and he ended on his backside from five feet in the air whilst trying to be in the right place to take a scoring pass. Darren Morris continues to improve and George Chuter had a dream game that may persuade the Tigers to renew his contract. Has any hooker ever scored a hatrick in a competitive match for the Tigers? Whilst we are back to the subject of records, 75-13 is the record score for Leicester in the English Premiership.
Goode run

Roth kicker

Tigs Roth Score

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