Irish trash sorry Tigers

By Mike Hill
November 24 2002

London Irish lifted themselves off the bottom of the Premiership with a hard fought 27- 7 victory over a misfiring Tigers side. Leicester were in control for much of the game but failed to convert pressure into points, in the process failing to score in the second half for the third game in a row.

After the excellent committed performance a week ago against Gloucester it was always going to be difficult to reach a similar level of performance but Tigers weren't even close. The lack of a recognised kicker proved a blow as Tigers passed up kickable penalties instead going for a try from a lineout drive.

It was all too one dimensional, yes the pack mauled fairly well but they were too often 20 metres from the line and more invention was required to break a stubborn Irish defence. Barry Everitt controlled the game for the home team intelligently exploiting our back three by kicking behind them and forcing mistakes. Freddie, Steve Booth and Leon were lateral too often and kicked poorly at times.

Everitt had kicked two penalty goals before Tigers put together a series of attacks that started with quick ball from a lineout and ended with Ollie Smith cutting through midfield to crash over close to the posts. Steve Booth converted and Leicester were pressing for a second when the half time whistle went. Everything seemed rosy at the interval, the pack were on top and even the backs seemed to be gradually getting into gear.

Then the second half hoodoo struck again and Tigers fell apart - big style. London Irish grew in confidence as the game wore on encouraged by Tigers inability to force a score during ten minutes of concerted pressure at the start of the second half. Leon was doing a good impression of someone who would rather be Christmas shopping. Apologies Leon we all know you are a good player but games like this make Paris seem an awfully long time ago.

Harry Ellis made too many overly long box kicks - not that anyone save Kronfeld was interested in chasing them - and his passing was below his usual high standard. Ditto the whole back line. Why didn't they bring Tierney and Gelderbloom on when it became clear things weren't happening?

The London Irish lineout was very effective and disrupted the Tigers game plan of forcing scores from catch and drive close to the line. Barry Everitt kicked two more penalties and a neat drop goal before scoring a try in the 84th minute to finally bury the Tigers. As Leicester launched a final attack to try and salvage a losing bonus point a loose pass led to an interception by Roussow who kicked crossfield for (ex -Tiger) Michael Horak to chase and ground beneath the posts.

Gareth Raynor's debut could not have been more difficult for him but he looks supremely fast and I hope he'll take to union as well as our other league converts. Man of the match goes to Perry Freshwater who made more yards than any other player usually with half the Irish pack holding on to him. Well done Perry.