Tigers U21s take championship in style

By Ro
May 11 2003

Sore heads all round on Saturday morning in the Tigers Under 21s camp but I for one won't be criticising them for over-indulgence. The team's performance over Gloucester Under 21s showed why they have won 19 out of their 22 league matches this season to win the Zurich Under 21s league.

The guys fully deserved to let their hair down and party. In front of a crowd of nearly 2,000, Captain, Michael Holford, led his side out to the strains of 'Rocking all over the world'. Tigers attacked the clubhouse end in the first half, playing into an unpredictable breeze. This affected the distance that both fly half and full back could get on their kicks, with a few going astray.

Glaws started well and after 3 minutes were awarded a penalty in the Tigers 22. They kicked to touch and made good use of the catch and drive, but Tigers defended well and Glaws were penalised for joining from an offside position.

Glaws knocked on from a lineout on the Next Stand side of the pitch and Buckland made a good break but was called back for a second knock on. Tigers scrum just inside their own half. From the scrum the ball went to the backs and outside centre, Steve Glitherow, made a great run but was caught on the Glaws 22. He managed to get the pass away to Myring. Nathan Jones made a clever run from 5m out and scored to the left hand side of the posts.

14 min
Myring's kick was just wide of the left hand upright.

Tigers 5 Gloucester 0

The Gloucester scrum was under pressure throughout the game, firstly being turned in midfield, then the front row were penalised for collapsing. Tigers took a quick tap, but a chip was overcooked and Glaws won the ball. A penalty to Glaws was kicked to touch just inside the Tigers 22 (gosh these boys like to live dangerously) but was knocked on from the lineout. Scrum down Tigers. Gloucester were still on the attack, their No 11 finally being bundled into touch in front of the Crumbie Terrace by Ajuwa. Tigers throw in but Glaws conceded a penalty for holding down. Taylor found touch on the Gloucester 10m line. Buckland threw long to Morley and the forwards got a good drive on. The ref played advantage for offside and the ball came back to Myring for an unsuccessful drop goal attempt. No advantage so Taylor kicked for goal but the kick was wide.

From the dropout Tigers kicked back and the Cherry & Whites' full back was unlucky to be deemed to have taken the ball into his 22 before kicking direct to touch. Tigers throw in on Glaws 22. From the lineout, the backs took the ball acrossfield but Taylor was caught in the offload and Ajuwa knocked on a poor pass. Scrum down to Gloucester.

26 min.
Tigers pressed hard and took the ball against the head but knocked on at a later ruck. Glaws got the ball back to their fly half in the ingoal area but his kick was charged down. Tigers 5m attacking scrum, but the Glaws front row went down. Penalty to the Tigers. The crowd were keen for them to ask for the scrum (penalty try?) but they chose to kick to touch instead. A short throw to the front of the lineout and Morley went over 5m in. Tim Tayor's conversion attempt was pulled to the right of the post.

Tigers 10 Gloucester 0

29 min
Clap clap clappy clap, clappy clap clap clap-clap.

The Gloucester kick off goes over the dead ball line. Scrum down Tigers on halfway, but the ball was knocked on by Abraham. Scrum down to Gloucester. Tigers gave away a penalty for holding on and the Glaws scrum half made a good break but was eventually caught.

Buckland stole the ball and made ground in the centre, followed by good work from the backs, then Cook took it on but the ball was knocked on at the ruck.

33 min
Scrum to Glaws 5m out. Tigers again showed their dominance and won the ball with Abraham going over for a try. Conversion by Taylor.

Tigers 17 Gloucester 0

34 min
Rob Cooke took the ball from the kick off and made good ground up the far touchline, chipping over the heads of the Gloucester defence but the ball went out on the Glaws 10m line. Tigers were penalised for being offside at the lineout (to a chorus of 'Rubbish' from the Crumbie). Cooke displayed amazing acrobatics for such a tall chap and the ball was won by Tigers. Akinyemi took the ball at pace but knocked on. Tigers were penalised at the ensuing scrum for collapsing and Gloucester again kicked to touch in the Tigers 22. Glaws got a good drive on from the lineout, Tigers managed to stop them but Glaws got the ball down and won the scrum.

40 min
Gloucester again attacked the Tigers line but the ball was stolen by the outside centre and kicked to touch.

Half time.

Tigers had the wind behind them in the second half but when they were caught offside just inside their own half, the Gloucester full back, Rory Teague, went for goal.

Tigers 17 Gloucester 3

45 min
Tigers had a lineout just outside the Gloucester 22 and got a drive on but Cook was held up just before the try line but Jones picked up the ball from the base of the ruck and popped over for his second try. Successful conversion by Taylor.

Tigers 24 Gloucester 3

47 min
A sliced Gloucester kick found Tigers attacking in the Glaws 22. A lovely offload by the scrum half to Cook and Tigers were again camped on the Gloucester line.

53 min
A pass from the ruck and Myring went over. Conversion by Taylor.

Tigers 31 Gloucester 3

Myring replaced by Luke Sayers

Tigers were givng Glaws real trouble at the scrum and some good interplay between forwards and backs saw Glitherow go over in the corner.

Tigers 36 Gloucester 3

Overenthusiastic use of the boot by the Gloucester No 22 on Akinyemi had the ref reaching for the yellow card.

Ajuwa made a break down the far touchline but knocked on 5 m out. Tigers again won the ball against the head but it went out in the ingoal area. 22 dropout. The forwards made ground but again the ball was knocked on, but the Gloucester scrum was disrupted and Tigers got the putin. The ball again went out ingoal and Glaws opted for the scrum on the halfway line. Holford and Buckland replaced by Hampson and Frizwell. Rapturous applause from the Crumbie.

67 min
Ajuwa finally broke throught the Gloucester defence and touched down in the far corner. Successful conversion by Taylor.

Tigers 43 Gloucester 3

The kickoff was short of the 10 and Glaws were offside after the ensuing scrum so Taylor kicked to the Gloucester 22. The throw in was long and Glaws won the ball but Tigers managed to disrupt and Glaws kicked to touch.

71 min
Hipkiss, Read and Clarke replaced by Chamberlin, Dodge and Loney (but not necessarily in that order!)

The Gloucester inside centre broke through but a mispass allowed the Tigers defence to regroup and forced the knock on. The ref played the advantage but Tigers were bundled into touch on the Glaws 10m line.

79 min
Glaws get a scrum 10 m from Tigers line. Good play by their No 8 but Tigers infringed and Glaws kicked for touch. Their forwards drove on and the ball came back to their flyhalf but a moment of indecision and Tigers stole the ball, but were offside.

Glos took a quick tap and went over for the try. The conversion wrapped up the game.

Tigers 43 Gloucester 10

After the presentation of the hubcap and distribution of the medals on the pitch, the team and squad members took to the balcony and showered the applauding crowd on the Crumbie Terrace with a heady cocktail of Champagne and Lucozade.

And my Man of the Match? Well, I couldn't decide between them as they make such an awesome team, so it has to go jointly to the front row, Cook, Buckland and Holford. Remind you of anyone?

Those of us who were at the match will be happy in the knowledge that there's a bright future for the Leicester Tigers so long as we can hold onto these guys.

But hey, what would I know, I'm just a gurl!

Teams:
Leicester Tigers: Peter Cook, James Buckland, Michael Holford, Rob Cooke, Lee Morley, Chris Read, Peter Clarke, Luke Abraham, Nathan Jones, Luke Myring, Joe Ajuwa, Dan Hipkiss, Steve Glitherow, Yomi Akinyemi, Tim Taylor. (Replacements: Luke Sayers, Alex Dodge, Dave Jackson, Matt Hampson, Stuart Friswell, Alex Loney, Ben Chamberlin)

Gloucester: from - Nick Wood, Roy Davies, Ben Gorst, Mike Guess, Rob Elloway, Adam Caves, Mark Rimmer, Tom Skelding, Ben Hughes, Nick Southern, Matt Evans, Luke Narraway, Duncan White, Matt Brittan, Dan Parr, Brad Davies, Mark Foster, Duncan Murray, Rory Teague, Tom Jarvis, Neil Hunter, Sean Lynn, Andy Macrae, Cameron Mitchell, Chris Wilkes.

Apologies to Gloucester for being unable to identify your players. I arrived just as the team was being announced and was unable to make a note who was playing.