By Corporate Lounger
May 1 2006

Saracens ran Leicester Tigers very close in a predictably feisty encounter at Vicarage Road on Friday night. The Tigers came to VR desperate for a win to assure a home play-off semi-final. The game should never have been as close as it was given the try scoring opportunities that Leicester wasted. Tuilagi was the main culprit, dropping the ball twice within touching distance of the Saracens line. Lewis Moody also had a good chance to score after some great running by the Tigers backs, a good cover tackle by Glen Jackson with a Vaikona assist forced Moody into a double movement.

Tigers did their absolute level-best to help out the hosts. Indiscipline up front and Tuilagi’s wasted over-lap/dropped ball shenanigans as well as returning crowd favourite (?) Andy Goode’s missed penalty lifted Sarries; Jackson popped over three penalty goals, 9-0.

Tom Varndell soon got Tigers back on track, collecting a well weighted cross-field kick which Saracens wing Dan Scarbrough practically handed to the Leicester flyer on 35 minutes. Goode converted and the visitors were back within two points, 9-7.

Things got a bit heated (shocker!) just before half-time as Harry Ellis’ charge-down of Jackson’s clearance left the England scrum-half with a nasty gash above the eye.

Austin Healey joined the fray as a blood replacement for Ellis just after the break and quickly renewed acquaintances with old sparring partner Kyran Bracken on the Sarries legend’s last home game before stepping into retirement.

Healey sprung very quickly into panto-mode, giving away a penalty to Sarries after a playful confrontation with Bracken, Jackson converted. Sarries 12, Tigers 7.

Leicester clawed their way back onto the scoreboard the old-fashioned way, through some good rolling mauls and solid defence. Two Goode penalties within 6 minutes moved his team into the lead for the first time on 55 minutes.

Jackson missed the opportunity to get Sarries back into the lead minutes later after Julian White had infringed.

Leicester then started making holes in Sarries defence. Lewis Moody dropped a pass which was part of a sweeping move up the field led by Goode. Tuilagi then missed his second sitter again metres out from the Sarries line.

Saracens threw everything at Leicester but the away defence remained resolute and held out during a frantic finish to the game. Sarries couldn’t get Jackson into position for the drop-goal despite waves of attacks. Final Score: Saracens 12 Leicester Tigers 13.

Sarries showed enough potential in this game to threaten most teams and will still fancy themselves against the surging Irish next weekend. Once again Sarries forwards will have to impose themselves on the game as they have done in recent weeks against Wasps and in patches against Tigers. The backs will have to be at their very best to keep out the electric Irish back-line.

Irrespective of the result next week at MadStad, Saracens fans will once again look back at another disappointing season, another fallen DoR but, as always, they’ll be full of hope for next season given the new coaching regime which will soon (?) click into place and the possible (no giggling at the back of the class, non-Sarries fans!) debut of the much-hyped Andy Farrell.

If Saracens are to challenge next season, much will depend on who Sarries pick up to replace the retiring Kyran Bracken. His performances over the past two seasons in particular have been remarkable given his physical state of repair. His competitive nature, will to win and incredible bravery made him a very special player and Sarries will miss him.

SCORERS: Saracens: Penalty goals: Jackson 4 (14min, 27, 29, 50). Leicester: Try: Varndell (35). Conversion: Goode. Penalty goals: Goode 2 (56, 61)

SCORING SEQUENCE (Saracens first): 3-0, 6-0, 9-0, 9-7 (half-time), 12-7, 12-10, 12-13.

SARACENS: T Castaignède (rep: R Haughton, 80+5); D Scarbrough, B Johnston, K Sorrell, T Vaikona; G Jackson, K Bracken (rep: M Rauluni, 61); K Yates (rep: N Lloyd, 79), S Byrne (rep: M Cairns, 64), C Visagie, S Raiwalui, T Ryder, K Chesney, B Russell (rep: D Seymour, 80+1), H Vyvyan.

LEICESTER: G Murphy (rep: S Vesty, 75); T Varndell, O Smith (rep: L Lloyd, 64), D Gibson, A Tuilagi; A Goode, H Ellis (rep: A Healey, 41-56, 65); D Morris (rep: M Holford, 78), G Chuter (rep: J Buckland, 80+2), J White, L Cullen (rep: J Hamilton, 65), B Kay, L Deacon (rep: S Jennings, 62), L Moody, M Corry.

Referee: C White.

Attendance: 9,828.