By Tigerstart
November 25 2002

Most people deserted our young cubs in favour of early Christmas shopping or the prospect of seeing England go top of the world rankings.But not TT who loyally shouted her head off at theU21 game. Leicester Tigers U21s maintained their exemplify record by winning their tenth match on the trot as current League leaders. They demolished their Irish counterparts 54-8, including two tries a piece from current in-form players hooker James Buckland and prop Michael Holford.

The Irish took first blood in the opening few minutes of the game, as Tigers were penalised. Winger Ejikeme hit the three points. Tigers hit back with a well rounded off try from winger Hersey who scored in the right hand corner, after the pack recycled possession through the mid-field.

In the 9th minute, Myring added a difficult conversion from the touchline, as it hit the cross bar to go over to cheers from the passionate fanatical support. The Irish narrowed the score, after a poor kick out from Tigers was caught by wing Ejikeme, who replied by kicking over Tigers defensive line. A fumble on the line from the pack gave Ejikeme the space to score. A missed conversion, meant that the Irish lead 7-8 in the 11th minute.

Having re-grouped, Tigers lead on onslaught to the Irish line. Myring missed a 14th minute penalty that went wide. The forwards drove the ball up field, it went through the centres, and Holford was at the end to receive a scoring pass, as he took a good running line.

Myring added a sweetly struck conversion, making the score 14-8. In the 20th minute, the Irish lost possession on their own line and Billig fly-hacked kicked the ball down field, in the direction of the bus shelters. In front of the replacements bench, he kicked possession back in field, but momentum was greater, and he crashed into the shelter. To a rousing reception, Billig left the field for stitches to an ear wound.

Leicester's pack took control of the game. Resulting from a lineout and pack drive, Buckland was over in the left hand corner, with Myring adding the conversion. The Irish tried a low grubber kick to confuse the U21s, but Leicester countered with a deep kick. After chasing down an Irish kick, Myring popped over to score and convert his own try in the 25th minute. In injury time, Raven peeled off a pack manoeuvre to take a diagonal line to score under posts, with Myring working his wonder.

Tigers hit the Irish hard within 3 minutes of the second half, as Hipkiss set up a 20-yard rolling maul with Holford scoring with his second try of the game. The pack was on hand, yet again, as Holford touched down in the 12th minute for his second try, with Myring converting. Having built up a 47-8 lead, Tigers spent a lot of time defending as the Irish pinned them back and made them graft for possession. It wasn't until the 83rd minute–injury time–that replacement hooker Friswell rounded off the afternoon with a try and Myring added to an impressive scoreline.

When Buckland was substituted in 74th minute, he warmly gestured to the crowd his acknowledgement, as he received a rousing reception for his substantial contribution to play.

Despite taking their feet of the accelerator, losing possession and coasting through some of the match, Tigers built up a substantial half-time cushion and went on to reach over 50 points, including having two tries disallowed by the referee, despite being over the line. The Irish could not respond to a well-controlled pack and some devastating kicks from fly-half Myring. Leicester must keep concentration throughout the whole 80 minutes and keep the ball tighter, but the pack and team ability means that Tigers are sitting pretty as League leaders.

In an exclusive post-match interview with the match reporting team, Tigers ace Dusty Hare commented on their sides' glorious win: "It was another great victory for Tigers."Commenting on the skill of the players that was shown, Hare pointed out: "Every man was man-of-the-match, but I would particularly pick out Buckland and Holford."

Academy Manger for London Irish, Corin Palar, spoke in detail about the defeat, highlighting: "It was a difficult day against a well organised, professional unit"(obviously some lessons to be learnt there, then). In the newly structured league for the U21s Palar looked ahead: "We hope to make honours even when the return fixture is played at Sunbury (Academy Centre)". Having been an encouraging coach from the sidelines, along the lines of "smash them", Palar added: "It is always a pleasure to come to Leicester where the hospitality and people are refreshing,"(definitely a reference to Raz Junior and TT).

At least the opposition had some amusement, as nothing escapes TT's attention. Corin certainly found the weather to be very cold at Fortress Welford Road, as he kept his hands down his pants throughout most of the game, but produced them to be able to get a pint in the bar afterwards!

In front of the message board gathering of Raz, Raz Junior, TJ, Inkworm, Tiger-ess, Mindy and TT's best friend Pinky, TT shamelessly flirted with the mascots; for which she has been ordered to confess her sins to a vicar. However, on a more serious issue, with three children aged 5, 7, and 9 to entertain (baby-sitting duties of Tiger-ess and Pinky), the mascots appealed to the kids, who didn't want them to leave. So, in TT's consumer test, young children do like the mascots. JT has a bit of a roving eye that Welford better keep an eye on!

Scoring sequence:
4 mins Irish pen by Ejikeme 0-3
9 mins Tigers try by Hersey and con Myring 7-3
11 mins Irish try by Ejikeme
16 mins Tigers try by Holford and con Myring 14-8
23 mins Tigers try by Buckland and con Myring 21-8
25 mins Tigers try by Myring and con Myring 28-8
42 mins Tigers try by Raven and con Myring 35-8 [injury time]

43 mins Tigers try by Holford 40-8
52 mins Tigers try by Buckland and con Myring 47-8
83 mins Tigers try by Friswell and con Myring 54-8 [injury time]

Date: Saturday 23rd November 2002
Time: 2.30pm k/o
Weather: thank god it stopped raining just in time to play the game (and yes folks, our pitch holds up unlike the mess that it the best stadium, bar ours, of the Millenium Stadium)
Crowd: 400 (some couldn't be bothered to watch the future stars, and were in the warm watching England but the dedicated fanatics were braving it!)

Referee: Greg Gardner (needed an eye test as missed two tries that were over the line for the current League leaders)
Man-of-the-match: Michael Holford and James Buckland (as voted for by Tigers ace Dusty Hare who blessed the match reporting team with a post-match insight) followed by TT's preference of Rob Cooke, who put in a stunning all-round performance
Sinbin: none, but then again a few players got a bit of verbal from the referee
Match reporting team: TT, Raz Junior, Raz and Inkworm.

Tigers Team:
15 Tim Taylor
14 James Hersey
13 Adam Billig
12 Danny "posh kid"Hipkiss
11 John Holtby
10 Luke Myring
9 Will Rolt
1 Peter Cook
2 James Buckland
3 Michael Holford
4 Rob Cooke
5 James Hamilton
6 Sam Raven
7 Peter Clarke
8 Luke Abraham
Replacements: Stuart Friswell (74 mins for Buckland), Chris Barlow, Jon Golding, Ben Chamberlin (63 mins on for Abraham), Tom Coles (63 mins on for Hersey), Luke Sayer, Steve Glitherow (blood replacement 20-36 mins first half and 70 mins onwards).

London Irish Team:
15 Nick McCleland
14 Kene Ejikeme
13 Dave Budge
12 Nils Mordt
11 Delon Armitage
10 Tony Paul
9 Steven Drake
1 Adam Halsey
2 James Sullivan
3 Ian Critchley
4 Will Helmsey
5 David Park
6 Ben Acton
7 James Blurton
8 Ollie Hoad
Replacements: Matt Allen, Ciaran Galvin, Colin Phillips, Mike Marsh, Achi Ekikeme, Sam Morris, Tom O'Brian.