Tigers Claw Their Way Back

By AlanQuin
May 19 2003

I suppose it was inevitable that this visit to Welford Road should be one match too far. Quins have not won there for seven years. So two wins over Tigers by Harlequins, at home, in four weeks would have to be reward enough. The smile was back on the face of the Tiger.

An error strewn match left Tigers the winners by 28 points to 13, overall 51 – 39 and despite a brave fight, the loss of Andre Vos early in the first half, and after the usual substitutions, the loss of Karl Rudzki was more than the forwards could overcome. So after all it will not be the Heineken Cup next season for Harlequins.

Mark Evans had made one change in the starting line-up from the first leg with Jon Dawson coming in for Laurent Gomez and Jason Leonard switching back to loose-head. On the bench Ceri Jones was unlucky to lose out to Gomez. The Tigers were at full strength with Johnson and West starting and Neil Back returning from injury.

Leicester made a brisk start and were with in a few metres of the Harlequin line almost immediately. The defence held firm but then was adjudged to be offside just within the 22-metre line. However, Stimpson missed the simplest of kicks in front of the post. Almost immediately from the restart a good half-break by Mel Deane ended in a penalty from 40-metres kicked with his usual accuracy by Paul Burke, 0– 3

After 15 minutes a penalty for a hand in the ruck at 45 minutes brought another wild kick from Stimpson which was wide on the right. But within minutes another attack resulted in pressure on the Quins line and two infringements brought Tigers first points from a successful kick. 3 - 3

After only six minutes Vos, in receipt of a late shoulder-charge from the rear from Martin Johnson, picked up the injury to his shoulder which after further attention some minutes later led to his having to leave the field and be replaced by Sanderson at this point of time.

Another long penalty kick from 55-metres, with the benefit of the strong wind, was missed by Stimpson. It was the prelude to the champagne moment of the after- noon. Greenwood picked up a charged down ball on the halfway line and passed back to Ugo Monye on the 10-metre line. In characteristic style, Monye started across the field to his left and then straightened his run and went through the gap in the Tigers defence untouched by any Tiger and with a clear 40-metre run to the line under the posts. The added points for the conversion brought the score to 3 – 10 after 25 minutes.

Another penalty from a kickable position was declined by Leicester, Stimpson looking for touch in the corner. His recent form has been well below his best and this kick went into touch in goal to waste the opportunity. However, Tigers were having much more possession than Quins and were retaining the ball. The pressure mounted and a Quins’ lost lineout led to another inside the 22-metre from which possession was lost again. The ball was passed rapidly across from right to centre and Gelderbloom went through for the try from close to the line. The resultant conversion levelled the match score at 10 – 10.

Almost from the restart another penalty against Fuga for a hand in the ruck gave Tigers another score from 20 metres and the aggregate score was equal at 36 –36 as half-time arrived. Both teams had it all to do!

Quins now had the wind behind them and one waited to see how they would use that advantage. Leicester gained a penalty after Simon Miall, who was having a fine game, again stole a Tigers lineout and made a good break upfield. Another Tigers attack developed and then a rolling maul that rumbled into the Quins 22-metre area, resultant pile-up giving Leicester a penalty for a hand in the ruck in front of the posts which Simpson could not miss! 16 – 10

The usual replacement changes began at around the 52nd minute. For Tigers, Nebbett and Deacon were replaced by Garforth and Kay. For Quins, Miall and Davison were replaced by Evans and Rudzki and a minute or so later Gomez replaced Dawson.

Clearly Mark Evans hoped to rejuvenate his forwards with fresh legs for the final assault. Instead, within five minutes an injury to Rudski under a considerable weight of Harlequin and Tiger bodies left him on the ground receiving attention. Quins were a man short as play went on to result in a dubious try awarded to Back, despite what looked suspiciously like a double movement. Stimpson failed with the conversion with his worst kick of the afternoon. 21 - 10

The only forward replacement left was James Hayter. Hooker for lock was the best Quins could do and Roy Winter moved to the second row with Hayter coming in on the flank. The loss of a main jumper in the lineout was to cause Quins problems for the remainder of the match with set piece possession severely affected by the loss.

A penalty against Tigers just inside the Quins half produced a Paul Burke score from 55-metres which went through off the left hand post to give Quins hope. 21 – 13. A few minutes later another penalty from 40-metres after Tigers had pulled down a lineout hit the left-hand post but this time bounced out to leave Quins without the vital points.

With only a few minutes of time left, another penalty chance from the half-way line was kicked for touch instead of at goal. It was perhaps a wrong decision. Nathan Williams kick was well short of the corner and the subsequent lineout was lost.

So to the last act. A scrum inside the Harlequins 22-metre line was turned and from the resultant possession Tuilagi’s pass found Skinner, on for Neil Back, and he made no mistake scoring the try which sealed the match.

It had been a valiant effort by Harlequins, but not enough. Afterwards, Dean Richards did not seem too pleased by the manner of the victory. It had been really galling to have lost in the manner they had done in recent weeks and his players had wanted to set the record straight. It was not so much about Europe as pride. They will have to much more to get back to the Leicester of a year or two ago.

Mark Evans’ view was that the game had been lost on Wednesday night when after carving out a 17 point lead and with Tigers rocking, Harlequins had not been able to put them away. He was disappointed. A 3 point lead was not enough with home advantage. He would reckon to win from that position against most teams. Asked about Ugo, ME was again cagey He agreed that he was fast over 50 metres but maintained that he needed to be faster over the first 5 or 10 metres. He was still young.

So the season ended for Harlequins and we said farewell from the team to Dan Luger, Matt Powell, Ben Gollings and Nathan Williams. There is a new season to look forward to with some new wearers of the shirt!

SCORERS:

Leicester: Tries: Gelderbloom (35min), Back (58), Skinner (78). Conversions: Stimpson 2. Penalty goals: Stimpson 3 (19, 39, 45).
Harlequins: Try: Monye (25). Conversion: Burke. Penalty goals: Burke 2 (5, 63)
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SCORING SEQUENCE (Leicester first): 0-3, 3-3, 3-10, 10-10, 13-10 (half-time), 16-10, 21-10, 21-13, 28-13.

LEICESTER: T Stimpson; G Murphy, G Gelderbloom, F Tuilagi, L Lloyd; C McMullen, H Ellis; G Rowntree, D West, R Nebbett (rep: D Garforth, 52), M Johnson, L Deacon (rep: B Kay, 52), P Short (rep: A Balding, 64), N Back (rep: W Skinner, 67), M Corry.

HARLEQUINS: N Williams; U Monye (rep: B Gollings, 79), W Greenwood, M Deane, D Luger; P Burke, M Powell; J Leonard, T Fuga, J Dawson (rep: L Gomez, 53), W Davison (rep: J Evans, 52), S Miall (rep: K Rudzki, 52; rep: J Hayter, 60), R Winters, A Vos (rep: P Sanderson, 19), A Diprose.

Referee: R Maybank (Kent)