Match Report: Leicester Tigers 39 Leeds Tykes 11
Not a happy bunny...
By Tukey on 28/12/2003
December 29 2003
On a very cold afternoon, Leeds Tykes travelled to the Wellford Road, home of Leicester Tigers and were given a lesson in forward domination.
The Tykes were in buoyant mood after a much-needed win the previous week over Gloucester and much the same was needed this week. The match, played in front of a capacity crowd of 16,500, (we can only dream) was all Tykes for the first few minutes as our back line shipped the ball out quickly, only a try saving tackle on Snyman by fellow countryman Van Der Westhuyzen stopped him from scoring in the first minute. Ross traded penalties with the returning Andy Goode, the later of which saw Tigers centre Lloyd sin-binned for a high tackle, thwarting another Tykes attack.
Tykes never took advantage of the superior numbers and it was Tigers who played the more positive rugby. Tykes struggled in the scrummage, Rowntree giving Powell a lesson in the art of front row play throughout the match. Tigers reverted to past form when they were granted a succession of lineouts five meters from the Tykes line. The Tykes defence held out a number of trademark ‘catch and drives’ by the Tigers which saw play moved across the park to a five meter scrum, again defended well by Tykes. From the resulting play, Tigers were awarded a scrum in the centre of the pitch, around 25 meters from the Tykes line. A pick up and go, followed by a barn storming run from Tigers No 8 Henry Tuilagi saw Austin Healey dive over from the base of a ruck.
Tykes were very short on possession. The line out failed, again, the scrum were under so much pressure we went backwards most of the time. What little ball we had was wastefully kicked away by Tykes fullback Cardy, whose kicks were far to long and poorly chased to have any effect.
It is at this point I should mention the ref, Dave Pearson. He was appalling and was not helped by his touch judges either. His decisions were beyond the most of the crowd, both Tigers and Tykes supporters alike. The fact that he was consistently bad for both teams was a saving grace. I would imagine the Tykes and/or the Tigers management might be putting pen to paper over Mr Pearsons’ efforts.
The first half continued in much the same vein. The Tigers were very effective in the rolling maul department and drove some 30 unanswered meters from the kick off. This was followed by another in which prop Rowntree emerged from under a pile players having scored Tigers second try.
This was shortly followed winger Freddie Tuilagi scoring the third in injury time, after Ollie Smith and Van Der Westhuyzen combined well to put him over in the left hand corner. The interval couldn’t come soon enough for Tykes who were now trailing by 25 – 6. Tykes again started strong in the second half and played with much more purpose; they didn’t kick the ball away and put speed and pace on it causing Tigers some problems. Winger Diego Albanese went close but was bundled into the corner flag after he broke from halfway. Centre Phil Christopers also went close after taking a quick tap penalty and scampering 15 meters to the line only to knock the ball forward after crossing it.
In the loose the Tykes back row had done well with another solid performance from Salter. That is why there were some comments of wonder, from the dozen or so Tykes fans I was stood with, when on 48 minutes Arran Persico was replaced by Hyde. Perhaps the Tykes management had one eye on next weeks game? Hyde did not disadvantage the cause in any way and had another good game. Also replaced at this juncture was Tom Palmer on for Phil Murphy and Michael Cusack on for Matt Holt who had been struggling with an injury from early on. Although with the introduction of Palmer we started winning more ball the ‘execution’ of the line out was still poor. There was one attacking line out in the Tigers 22 that was won by Palmer, only to be ‘messed up’ in the resulting confusion ‘of who was taking it and what they should be doing with it’.
At times there was similar confusion within the backs, with players in the wrong channels, short of ideas and lack of direction; these things happen though when you are playing catch-up rugby.
Neil Back scored Tigers fourth try and bonus point after another rolling maul. Tykes did manage a consolation try, after the backs put a move together which saw Matt Cardy create the over lap to score in the left hand corner. It was Tigers who had the last word after young winger Neil Baxter scored under the posts after a break from Goode, final score Tigers 39 Tykes 11.
Were the Tykes that bad? No, the Tigers played possibly their best match of the season. However,on this performance it will be hard to see where Tykes next win is coming from. Hopefully we will have got the Christmas festivities out of our system in time for the new years day match against Saracens.
Squads
Leicester Tigers: Graham Rowntree, Jim Richards (George Chuter ,73 mins), Darren Morris (Ricky Nebbett , 73 mins), Louis Deacon (Martin Johnson , 70 mins), Ben Kay, Will Johnson, Neil Back (Will Skinner , 70 mins), Henry Tuilagi, Austin Healey (Luke Myring , 67 mins), Andy Goode, Freddie Tuilagi, Ollie Smith (Sam Vesty , 47 mins), Leon Lloyd, Neil Baxter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
Replacements:George Chuter, Andrew Powell, Ricky Nebbett, Martin Johnson, Sam Vesty, Luke Myring, Will Skinner
Leeds Tykes: Mike Shelley, Matt Holt (Michael Cusack , 48 mins), Gary Powell, Stuart Hooper, Phil Murphy (Tom Palmer , 48 mins), Matt Salter, Aaron Persico ( Dan Hyde , 48 mins) , Alex Popham, Clive Stuart Smith (Ryan Walker , 17 mins), Gordon Ross, Diego Albanese, Tristan Davies, Andre Snyman, Phil Christophers, Matt Cardey.
Replacements:Andrew Kiriacou, Michael Cusack, Tom Palmer, Dan Hyde, Ryan Walker, Tim Walsh, Liam Botham