By GoFasterStripes
January 3 2006

On the last day of the seasonal break, another full house saw 16815 spectators pack into Welford Road as we welcomed our fez-bedecked visitors from Watford for this Bank Holiday fixture. Our guests, founded four years before Tigers, in 1876, have a long and proud tradition, supplying a number of distinguished internationals to England’s cause, notable names of late being Richard Hill, Danny Grewcock, now with Bath and our own Julian White. In the 1997-98 close season, Saracens moved to their present home, Vicarage Road, which they share with Watford Town Football Club. Many of us will remember that ground as the venue for Tigers’ 2001 Heineken Cup semi-final victory over Gloucester.

With recent matches between Tigers and Saracens being somewhat fractious, it was difficult to predict what the afternoon would bring. Fortunately, for the main part, the widely anticipated off-ball shenanigans failed to materialise and the match was a close, hard-fought affair.

Having slipped to fifth in the table and with the chasing pack too close for comfort, one thing Tigers must have been keen to do, was to get last week’s game at Bristol out of their system and restore some confidence to the team.

Tigers began the first half kicking towards the Welford Road end of the pitch. From the first kick off, Saracens gathered the ball but were turned over by the Tigers forwards in their 22. Unfortunately for Leicester, their promising early position came to nothing as Saracens were awarded a penalty for Tigers coming round the side of a maul. However, after 7 minutes, Andy Goode slotted 3 points when Louis Deacon was pulled down at a line out.

Four minutes later, Tigers failed to roll away in the tackle area on halfway. The resultant penalty caught the Tigers defence unawares. Quick thinking from scrum half Alan Dickens saw a shock try for the visitors as he ran through a gap, the ball then being shipped to winger Ben Johnston, who finished well in the corner. The conversion was missed, making the score 3-5 in Saracens’ favour.

Further Andy Goode penalties on 13 and 17 minutes restored the lead but Saracens’ fly half, Glen Jackson replied on the 20 minute mark, to close the gap to a point at 9-8.

Tigers’ backs were beginning to gel with their handling looking sharp and on 22 minutes after a fine Leicester move, Geordan Murphy appeared to have scored in the corner on the Members Stand side. The try was not given, as Murphy was adjudged to have been held up by the defending cover. Tigers maintained the pressure on the visitors’ line and from the resulting field position, were awarded a penalty try as Saracens were pushed backwards in the scrum. How much, one wondered, was this due to Julian White’s return, the Plymouth powerhouse making his first appearance at home since October. Goode duly converted, taking the score to 16-8 in Leicester’s favour.

To underline the strength in depth at Welford Road, Darren Morris took the field whilst running repairs were administered to Graham Rowntree on 26 minutes. Morris had been on the pitch for all of a minute when good work by the Leicester pack, driving from the Saracens 22 and a storming run by George Chuter, playing his 100th game for the club against his former team, saw him crash over for a well deserved try. The conversion was missed but the score was now a healthy 21-8 to Tigers.

Glen Jackson reduced the arrears for Saracens with a penalty on 31 minutes when Tigers were “pinged” again for not rolling away in the tackle, the score now 21-11.

The first yellow card was brandished by the referee, Mr Maybank, two minutes later, when Tevita Vaikona was sent for a ten minute rest after blocking Geordan Murphy off the ball when Tigers were looking threatening. From the ensuing pressure, Tigers were unable to capitalise, Sam Vesty being hauled down just short of the line on the Crumbie side. In the ensuing melee, Saracens were awarded a penalty and a chance to clear their lines.

On 40 minutes, Glen Jackson struck another 3 points for Saracens with a drop goal. Tigers had a chance to respond in the last seconds of stoppage time when the visitors pulled down a maul but Andy Goode pushed a penalty wide in the final act of the half. The scoreboard now read 21-14.

During the half time interval, Peter Wheeler presented a cheque to the family of Matt Hampson and again pledged the support of the club in Matt’s recovery. It was extremely heart-warming and one of the highlights of the festive season for all rugby fans to see Matt well enough to attend today’s game. With a spontaneous round of applause from the capacity crowd, even the most gnarled of prop forwards would have found it difficult not to be moved. I’m sure we all wish Matt well and hope for continued improvement in his condition.

The second half began well for Tigers, with Louis Deacon claiming the restart and driving to the 10 metre line. Andy Goode kicked a further penalty soon after, to restore a 10 point advantage.

On 42 minutes, Saracens replaced their captain, the combative Hugh Vyvyan, with David Seymour, the latter being welcomed onto the field by several wolf-whistles from the Crumbie Stand terrace. This had less to do with any rugby related matters than the replacement’s hair style, disturbingly reminiscent of Little Britain’s Vicky Pollard.

Five minutes later, Tigers had the opportunity to stretch away from the visitors, when following a flowing move from a line out, Danny Hipkiss broke the gain line, only to go alone and be brought down by the defence when a simple offload down the back line would surely have resulted in a try. The otherwise impressive Hipkiss must have rued the lost chance but the breakdown was somewhat typical of the Tigers’ recent lack of clinical finishing.

Two minutes later, Leicester were down to 14 men, as Ben Kay saw yellow, not for the first time this season. Saracens elected to kick to the corner from the resultant penalty but were unable to capitalise. Leicester’s problems were compounded when Graham Rowntree followed Kay to the bench, reducing the home side to 13. Paradoxically, as is often the case, Tigers seemed to be galvanised in the face of adversity. As Saracens went through the phases deep in the Leicester 22, they were driven back by resolute defence, eventually conceding a penalty. From the cheer, any passer-by would have thought a try had been scored. Even the Members Stand was roused into a stupor.

Will Johnson was replaced by Darren Morris, to enable scrums to be contested in Rowntree’s absence. The latter received a great round of applause from the home support when leaving the field.

In the 27th minute, Saracens full back, Dan Scarborough, was penalised for holding on. There was some murmuring form the crowd as Andy Goode called for the kicking tee, since he was standing on his own 10 metre line. However, distance proved no object as the ball was sweetly struck between the posts, giving the Tigers a much needed lift and making the score 27-14.

Shane Byrne was replaced by Matt Cairns about halfway through the second period, which heralded a number of changes on both sides, which maybe contributed to a disruption in the flow of the game. A Glen Jackson penalty on 20 minutes saw the score stand at 27-17 before Tigers exciting new talent, Tom Varndell, took the field, as replacement for Ollie Smith.

Glen Jackson’s boot kept Saracens in the hunt all afternoon, further demonstrated as he made the score 27-20 with a penalty on 30 minutes, as Tigers were penalised for crossing.

Five minutes later, the home fans got what they’d been waiting for, as the ball was fed out to Varndell on the left wing. The young England international showed just why he has progressed to full honours so quickly, taking the ball with aplomb and leaving his opposite number, Vaikona, flat-footed as he rounded him and out-paced the covering defence, finishing with style in the corner towards the Crumbie Stand. Goode’s conversion took Tigers out to 34-20 and talk of a bonus point was rife on the terrace. However, despite a last foray into the Saracens 22, Tigers were unable to secure the extra point and it was to be the visitors who after several phases of play, had the last word through Tevita Vaikona; the powerful ex- rugby league man handing off Leon Lloyd and running round to score behind the posts. Having contributed fully to the game throughout the 80 minutes, it would be hard to begrudge the visitors a losing bonus point.

As the referee brought the game to a close with the final score 34-27 to Leicester, the home fans were able to celebrate a much needed victory, which moves Tigers up the table to third place. Altogether, this was a much improved performance but one could not help feel that Tigers need to move up a level if they are to challenge the likes of Stade Francais in Europe.



Venue: Welford Road

Attendance: 16815

Weather: Dry and mild, windless

Referee: R. Maybank

Man of the Match: Dan Hipkiss

Tackle of the Match: Ben Kay