Corry Sees Red At Saracens


Profile Tiger

By Ian Birks
April 18 2005

Saracens ground out a hard fought win against a 14 man Leicester by 19-17. Castaignede got all of the home sides’ points, including a converted try while Goode’s boot and a try from Chuter kept Tigers in the running for most of the game.

Saracens hosted league leaders Leicester Tigers on a sunny April afternoon in Watford. Saracens needed to win their two remaining games in order to climb to third and a shot at the premiership title; Tigers were looking to win to retain their top spot!

We saw the good and the not-so-good from Saracens who provoked the Leicester pack into retaliating throughout: Corry was red-carded in the 25 minute and both Russell and Johnson were binned half way through the second half in this scrappy affair.

Mixed in with this was some excellent attacking play that we know the Saracens backs are capable of producing. Castaignede, in particular, showing prowess with the boot coupled with Gallic flair and imagination in his running game to produce a sensational try half way through the first period.

Much of the first half possession went to the home side as Saracens readily took the ball into contact as well as storming the mid-field and attacking out wide. It was from one of these attacks that Sarries got their first points of the day when Will Johnson was penalised for coming in at the side of a maul on Leicester's 22. Castaignede stepped up to convert his first kick of the day with 7 minutes played.

Moody was called in off the bench to replace Deacon who got a nasty injury to the face in a ruck: early indications are that this will keep him out for some time and that the injury to his eye and cheek is possibly as serious as the one suffered by Stimpson a few season ago.

Castaignede took a further 3 from another penalty on the 22 followed six minutes later by a superb try: Vaikona carried through the mid-field and popped the pass out of the tackle, soft hands from Harris moved the ball out wide to Castaignede who ran through the Tigers defence from 25m out. Castaignede added the extra 2 for the conversion and Saracens were 10-0 up with a quarter of the game gone.

As if galvanised into action, the visitors answered almost immediately. Tuilagi carried the ball out to the right flank and the ball was quickly moved out to Chuter, of all people, out on the left wing. Fair play to him, he ran in from 22m handing off a weak tackle from Bracken and a half-hearted tackle from Castaignede to dive over the line. Goode missed the conversion leaving the score-line at 10-5.

The biggest call of the day came in the 25th minute: the touch judge put a flag in after Hill pulled Corry off a maul. His recommendation to referee Chris White was to award a red card against white number 8, Corry, for an intentional act. On the replay, Corry had not only elbowed Hill in the face as they both hit the ground, but had done so intentionally.

It is difficult to argue against the decision: some may say it is harsh, worse things were seen on the day from both sets of players but on this occasion, referee White had no choice but follow the guidance of his fellow match official who was well sighted. The damage was minimal, hand-bagging, some might say - but the intent was there and Corry was to destined to sit out the rest of this, and undoubtedly the next few Tigers' games.

This seemed to spark the Tigers into action and a further indiscretion from Saracens gave Goode the opportunity to close the gap only 1 minute later, gifting Tigers 3 points.

The score now standing at 10 - 8, it was Leicester who drove through the middle, a promising attack by Johnson, White and Back ending in a knock-on and scrum to the home team.

Again, indiscipline from Saracens as they pulled down a line-out in the 35th minute handed Leicester the lead as Goode popped another penalty over for a 10-11 score-line.

Bartholomeusz' restart failed to make the 10m line and Goode kicked across field but missed his touch, instead finding Castaignede who cleared well to push Tigers back. Chuter missed his man in the line and Bartholomeusz cleared.

A chip ahead from Ellis saw him, rather stupidly, shouldered out of the way by Broster resulting in another penalty to Leicester just outside the 22. Goode took the last kick of the half and, incredibly, the 14-man Tigers ran in 10 - 14 up.

Castaignede brought the Men In Black back into the game after just 4 minutes of the restart, converting a penalty to bring the score to 13-14.

Another penalty against Leicester some 4minutes after was reversed by Chris White when Ibanez pushed Johnson after the whistle had gone. This opportunity was missed by Goode and the score remained at 13 - 14.

Possession went the way of Saracens as they played for territory with a succession of scrummages through the middle of the field that moved them towards the Tigers line. The final outcome, though, was a turn over to Leicester and Goode put boot to ball to return the visitors 70m up-field.

It is probably fair to say that Bartholomeusz did not have a good day at the office: his second clearing kick of the day went out on the full giving Leicester an attacking line-out. Ellis nearly broke through, and good work from White and Cornwell kept the pressure on the Sarries.

Goode dropped back in the pocket for the drop goal attempt, but Chris White, despite being perfectly positioned in front of the posts, decided to go to the fourth official, Roy Maybank, for the final say on the drop-goal. The ball was sent so high by Goode that neither White nor the SkyTV cameras could follow it: the decision from up-stairs - No drop goal.

A promising move from Sorrell and Castaignede was pulled up for crossing as the move fizzled out just over the halfway line. To Goode, this was just a short 50-odd metre chip and 3 more points were added from inside the Leicester half. With ¾ of the game gone, could Leicester win with 14 men?

This score was cancelled out by Castaignede only 2 minutes later when Moody was pinged for failing to release the ball 30m out and straight in front of the posts. Just on the hour mark the score was standing at 16 - 17.

More drama was to follow: Back gathered his chip ahead, but failed to find Murphy on the inside line. Saracens cleared but this time it was Castaignede who could not find his supporting runner.

Johnno was involved in a bit of hand-bagging, but was then dragged from a rolling maul and unceremoniously dumped by Ben Russell; the ensuing scrap off the ball resulted in both men being sent off for 10. That man, Castaignede, added three to his tally, and new man, Andy Farrell had the chance to watch some 13-man rugby, albeit for 10 minutes.

With Sarries now in the lead for the first time in this half by 19 - 17, captain Vyvyan saw a chance to drive the Tigers pack backwards. From a series of line-outs, Saracens drove their way up field, and his decision to keep the pressure on the Leicester forwards paid dividends as the home site took the mauls onwards towards the Tigers line. Each time, the mauls were eventually dropped by the defenders.

Again, Saracens went for the line put just as Johnson finished his 10 minutes and Tuilagi came on for Back. Result - Leicester won the ball to clear as far as Vaikona.

A further penalty for a deliberate knock on saw Saracens go for the line yet again. Tigers were penalised as Johnson jumped across the lineout early. Castaignede stepped up for the penalty, but his attempt was wide of the mark.

Goode then put in the biggest kick of the day from the Tigers 5m line to give Saracens a throw on their own 5m line!

With the seconds ticking away, Goode's poor drop goal attempt gave Saracens another 5m throw, but Sarries cleared their lines with the last kick of the game.

Final score 19 - 17.

On reflection, this was a nothing match for Leicester: not that it was not a difficult fixture or well contested game! Ultimately, with Wasps having secured 5 points against Worcester, whether Leicester had come away with nothing at all or had managed to get the 5 themselves, the overall outcome is the same: Leicester must defeat Wasps at Welford Road in order to finish the season top of the pile and a guaranteed place in the Zurich Final.

For Saracens, the much needed 4 points put them in joint 4th position with Bath, who have a game in hand following their appearance in the Powergen Final against Leeds, and a slim chance to play in the play-offs themselves. It must be said that it is a very slim chance: Bath must take 4 or less from their two remaining games: London Irish away and a return match against Leeds at the Rec!

Meanwhile, Saracens would have to get 4 or more at Kingsholm. Possible, but not a likely scenario.

A bigger concern for Leicester, with a semi-final game against French HEC contenders Toulouse, is their lack of cover in the second row. With Johnson now likely to face suspensions, Kay and Deacon injured, locks at Welford Road are looking a bit scarce.
Add Corry to the list, and the Tigers pack is looking decidedly weak.
Teams:

Saracens:
Bartholomeusz, Johnston, Sorrell, Harris, Vaikona, Castaignede, Bracken, Yates, Ibanez, Broster, Chesney, Raiwalui, Hill, Seymour, Vyvyan (c)
Bench: 16 Cairns 17 Lloyd 18 Fullarton 19 Russell 20 Raulini 21 Little 22 Bailey

Leicester:
Vesty, Murphy, Cornwell, Gibson, Tuilagi A, Goode, Ellis, Rowntree, Chuter, White, Johnson M (c), Deacon L , Johnson W, Back, Corry
Bench: 16 Buckland 17 Moody 18 Morris 19 Tuilagi H 20 Bemand 21 Broadfoot 22 Varndell

Referee: Chris White

Atendance: 16,812
Sequence of events
First half
Saracens - LeicesterTigers
Time Desc. Name Pts Name Pts Score
7 Pen Castaignede 3 - - 3 - 0
9 Repl. (Injury) - - 17-Moody on for 5-Deacon - -
12 Penalty Castaignede 0 - - 3 - 0
18 Try Castaignede 5 - - 8 - 0
19 Conv Castaignede 2 - - 10 - 0
21 Try - - Chuter 5 10 - 5
22 Conv. - - Goode 0 10 - 5
25 Red Card - - Corry - -
26 Penalty - - Goode 3 10 - 8
27 Blood bin 19-Russell on for 7-Hill(returned on 32 mins) - - - -
35 Penalty - - Goode 3 10 - 11
40 Penalty - - Goode 3 10 - 14
Second Half
40 Repl. 17-Lloyd on for 1-Yates - - - -
44 Penalty Castaignede 3 - - 13 - 14
44 Repl. 19-Russell on for 7-Seymour - - - --
48 Penalty - - Goode 0 13 - 14
54 Repl, 16-Cairns on for 2-Ibanez and 20-Raulini on for 9-Bracken - - - -
56 Repl. 21-Little on for 15-
Bartholomeusz		 - - - -
56 Drop goal - - Goode 0 13 - 14
58 Penalty - - Goode 3 13 - 17
60 Penalty Castaignede 3 - - 16 - 17
62 Yellow Card - - Johnson M - -
62 Yellow Card Russell B - - - -
63 Penalty Castaignede 3 - - 19 - 17
63 Repl. - - 22-Varndell on for 11-Tuilagi A and 20-Bemand on for 9-Ellis - -
66 Repl. 16-Fullarton on for 5-Raiwalui - - - -
67 Repl. - - 16-Buckland on for 2-Chuter - -
72 Repl. - - 19-Tuilgai H for 7-Back - -
74 Penalty Castaignede 0 - - 19 - 17

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