Tigers v Ulster Match Report
By TigerR
November 20 2011
SMITH FASHIONS VICTORY Leicester 20 – 9 UlsterThe trip up the M1 was going well until I crossed into Northamptonshire and the patches of mist started. At this point I started to regret the 6pm KO time. Would I be able to get home at any sort of reasonable time? Next the M1 came to a halt just before Northampton; a crash had closed the motorway. Fortunately the crash was just at a junction and the traffic was being diverted off and back on via the junction roundabout.
Now I was worried about getting to the ground before KO. As I turned off to join the Welford Road I hit full blown fog forcing progress to 30 mph through south Leicestershire.
Fortunately the fog was in the hills only and game was not a sell out so I managed to take up a position on the Crumbie Terrace with a good view of the pitch just in front of a knot or two of Ulster supporters who seemed in high spirits and determined to make as much noise as possible. Other Ulster fans further down the terrace had brought their flags and were taking every opportunity to wave them. Given Tigers’ record at Welford Road this season this was going to be a challenge. A win was vital to Tigers season. Ulster were coming off a good comeback win over Clermont. This should have given them a level of belief rarely known in visiting sides to Welford Road in previous years.
The match opened with a bout of kicking tennis, one of the themes of matches under floodlights. Geordan Murphy tried an up-and-under which was knocked-on by a challenging Tiger and then caught by another Tigers giving Ulster a penalty just inside their own half which former Crumbie favourite Humphreys thumped between the posts in front of the Santander Stand.
It was a muscular confrontation with defences on top and almost all of the play between the 22s. A ruck offence yielded a penalty that Flood converted from halfway in the still conditions.
Stephen Ferris was prominent making yards after tackles and one of his runs resulted in Tigers playing the ball on the floor near halfway and Humphreys made it 6-3.
Tigers then put together their first period of pressure on the Ulster defence. It began with a break by Andy Forsyth and continued with drives by Waldrom and then Murphy. An Ulster player failed to release in the tackle and Flood kicked the penalty in front of the posts. It was Forsyth's last contribution as he injured an ankle and he was replaced by Morris. This left Matt Smith as the only regular centre in Tigers team and he responded by trying to tackle for two. Morris however was also strong in the tackle and so Tigers defence, perhaps surprisingly did not seem to suffer.
Ulster restored their lead with another long-range penalty after Ayerza dived in at a ruck. However after 23 minutes of play the first scrum of the night was awarded and the Tigers eight had Ulster going backwards and conceding a penalty. Flood levelled matters at 9-9.
The rest of the half was a stalemate with neither side getting anywhere near scoring a try except when Tigers launched an attack off the back of a scrum in their own half. Matt Smith and Murphy made ground launching Alesana Tuilagi into the Ulster 22 where he was just forced into touch.
Another powerful Tigers scrum five minutes after halftime was rewarded with a penalty on halfway and Flood put Tigers ahead for the first time.
There followed a period of possession and territory for Ulster. Smith had to produce an excellent tackle to prevent Ulster breaking through. He was backed up by some Tigerish defence by his team mates as Ulster attacks were stopped around the 22. The game was opening up a little and Tiger replied with a period of attack but Tuilagi knocked on just inside the Ulster 22. With about 20 minutes left Castrogiovanni replaced Cole and Ben Youngs came on for Sam Harrison.
The tension around Welford Road was considerably eased when Tiger were awarded a penalty on the Ulster 22 in front in front of the posts. Referee Mr Poite allowed advantage and Flood slid a grubber into the right hand corner behind the flat Ulster defence for Matt Smith to win the race to dab down. Flood was unable to add the conversion.
Ulster attacked from the restart but Ayerza stole possession at the back of a ruck on the Tigers 22. He made 20 metres towards the last defender before punting into the Ulster in-goal area where Ulster were forced to touch down under pressure from Youngs. With three minutes to go a 5 metre scrum had Ulster just where Tigers wanted them. Cockerill replaced Ayerza with Stankovic and after two resets Mr Poite awarded a penalty toUlster. This enabled Ulster to reach halfway where they conceded a penalty which Flood banged between the posts with the clock beyond 40 minutes.
The Tigers crowd seemed pleased with the result and the commitment of the Tigers players.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:27:16:37:59 by Stephen Bath.
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Quote:Rich W
Thought I hadn't seen you.
Thought ? Why weren't you sure ?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:21:15:25:53 by TigerR.
Quote:TigerR
Journey back was OK. The fog had not not got any worse.
You were lucky - things got a lot more cloudy for me as the night went on.
Good, fair report. Thanks.
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