Tigers Flounder At Franklin’s Gardens

By Ian Birks
December 21 2003

The amount of surface water on the pitch in Northampton on this chilly Saturday afternoon put paid to any hopes of seeing the a repeat of the running rugby witnessed at Welford Road against the Dragons just a week ago.

Ex-Bristol fly-half, Drahm kicked three penalties and Blowers got try in the final minute of the game to seal the victory in a predictably error strewn and, ultimately, frustrating 80 minutes.

Leicester dominated possession for most of the first half, but their attempts to get onto the score board were thwarted by numerous knock-ons, handling errors, poor kicking plus some fierce defensive work from the Saints pack. The best opportunities of the half coming from Freddie Tuilagi breaks, both on the wing and in the centre, but it was not to be. Tigers were close to the try line time after time, but failed to convert the pressure into points.

The first half proceedings ended 3-0 to Northampton with Drahm converting the first of his three penalties of the day shortly before half-time. His second and third 3-pointers came after 7 and 19 minutes into the second half.

Meanwhile, the Tigers failed to capitalise on scrums and line outs in the Saints 22. With a 9 point cushion, the Saints kept Leicester pinned in their own half by kicking high and long, fully expecting the Tigers backs to fumble the slippery ball: they were not disappointed, and the tactic was perfectly chosen and perfectly executed by the home side at that stage in the game, given the difficult playing conditions.

Saints could have crossed the whitewash in the 65th minute when Leslie decided to ignore an overlap and attempted a cross field kick instead. The only try of the game was scored by Blowers in the final minutes of the match. Robinson, on for Dawson, made a break on the blind side and the recycled ball found its way to Blowers who crashed over to take the Saints to 14 - 0 .

It would be all to easy to look to blame the dreadful whether conditions or to criticise the standard of refereeing for this score line. But we cannot. Saints played the conditions better on the day, and had the same number of good and bad calls from Chris White and his touch judges.

This was not a classic game of rugby, and was never going to be given the amount of surface water leading to the inevitable error count.

On paper, there is little to choose between these two East Midland clubs.

On the field, the Saints are making the most of their season, only failing to find any consistency in their form: if they do find this elusive quality, they will be irresistible given the quality of their squad.

Tigers, on the other hand, still in 10th. place in the Premiership after losing nine out of the last twelve games, have unfortunately found consistency, and it does not make good viewing for the supporters of the men in green, white and red.

Teams:
Northampton:
Beal, Clarke, Hyndman, Leslie, Reihana, Drahm, Dawson, Smith, Richmond, Morris, Hunter, Connors, Seely, Fox, Blowers

Replacements: Miles, Budgen, Phillips, Soden, Robinson, Golding, Brooks

Leicester:
Van der Westhuyzen, Baxter, Lloyd, Gelderbloom, F. Tuilagi, Pez, Healey, Rowntree, Richards, White, M. Johnson, Kay, W. Johnson, Back, Balding

Replacements: Chuter, Morris, L. Deacon, H. Tuilagi, Tierney, Hipkiss, W. Skinner

Scorers:
Northampton:
Tries: Blowers.
Penanlties: Drahm 3.

Attendance: Capacity 12,150
Ref: Chris White (RFU).