Photos & Report of the Bath away league match 2002

By Denise
May 8 2002

On a day when the vast majority of Tigers fans ended up stranded on the motorway due to a fallen power cable, Tigers overcame Bath with the help of two youngsters. Ollie Smith and Louis Deacon both scoring to make the final score Bath 9 - Tigers 27.

Youth play starring role as Tiger's overcome Bath

Bath 9 - Tigers 27

It was two of Leicester's youngest players Louis Deacon (21) and Ollie Smith (19) that grabbed the limelight with a try apiece as Tiger's reaped the benefits of their excellent youth academy. With Harry Ellis (19) also performing well as a second half replacement Tiger's future success is in safe hands.

Louis still in shock from scoring his first try for Tigers

Rob Andrew, the self confessed fountain of all knowledge, has said that when the likes of Johnson, Back and the front row retire Leicester will be there for the taking. Well I've got news for you Squeaky, Tiger's are only going to get better as these boys get more experienced so you'd better get used to being an also ran.

Bath's new coach Michael Foley couldn't have wished for a more difficult first game in charge and on this evidence he's got plenty to work on. Although the final margin flattered Tiger's it was all too easy for a Leicester team that rarely got out of second gear.

There was no continuity to Tiger's game and the lineouts were a nightmare, even allowing for a strong wind. Too many knock-on's and technical infringements led to a stop start game that suited neither team.

Stimmo back in the fold

That Leicester won in the end by a decent margin is testament to Stimpson's accurate goal kicking. Tim collected 17 points on his return after a horrendous cheek bone fracture had kept him out for nearly 3 months. It was a welcome return for a player who on top form adds another dimension to Leicester's back play with his strong intelligent running. Unfortunately opportunities were few and far between but Freddie Tuilagi made the most of the ball he received with some typical surging runs scattering blue and white shirts in every direction.

Stimpson opened the scoring with two well struck penalty goals before some rare continuity of possession and good quick ball gave Louis Deacon space to crash over in the corner for his first try for Tigers. Bath at this point were down to fourteen men since Grewcock had been sent to the bin for stamping on Austin. Olly Barkley added three points for Bath before the interval. Whilst Barkley's goal kicking was good, his only miss coming courtesy of a rebound from a post, his kicking out of hand was poor and too conservative lacking distance even with a gusty wind to help.

Two more Barkley penalties closed the gap to two points before Stimpson smacked three between the posts in reply to Bath infringements. The second half was redeemed as Ollie Smith took an interception to race away for a converted try under the posts and seal Tiger's sixth successive league victory over Bath.

There were lots of Man of the Match contenders this week: the ever excellent Ollie Smith, tackling supremo Martin Corry but the nod goes to Louis Deacon for making Johnno's unfair absence more bearable. Martin has a ready made replacement itching to take possession of the number four jersey. The future's bright and they all wear red, green and white.