Taylor steers stripy Tigers to bonus point

By TigersTart
February 20 2004

Tigers continued their winning streak in the Zurich “A” League on Monday evening, 16th February 2004, at Welford Road with an valiant victory over Leeds by 22-16 - running in 4 tries and earning a much needed bonus point.

The Zurich “A” League is a combination of the U21s and Extras, where the north and south are split into two groups and the winners of both Leagues play in a final to be crowned National Champions. Tigers have Sale, Leeds, Newcastle, Northampton and Rotherham in their group.

Leicester narrowly beat Rotherham away 19-10, which put them 2nd in the North League and this victory has consolidated their position in the table. An away trip to Sale, 15th March, will see Tigers pushing hard to take the top spot from Northampton. Nearing the end of the season, it will come down to this crucial game against Saints at Welford Road on 22nd March and then another home game against Newcastle on 5th April, to see who wraps up the North League. The Challenge Match on the 13th March (between Northampton and Leicester at Franklin’s gardens is a sharpener to keep fit) is also likely to be a key indicator of squads for the Development clash, which is a week later.

Ramiro Pez and Neil Baxter were scheduled to start but were probably needed for bench cover for the crucial Premiership game at London Irish, this weekend, so Matt Cornwell came into NO15 and Ronnie Mclean took over the wing. The Leeds team included a South African centre by the name of David Clayton – any connections to our very own Mr. Clayton?

Tigers kicked off the first half. Within the first two minutes, Leeds had a kickable penalty and fly-half Walsh opened the scoring. Tigers then hit back, gaining two successive penalties, with No10 Tim Taylor kicking downfield. Leicester took the lineout, with the forwards driving down field but were held up over the line.

As the Tigers pack drove down field, Leeds centre Buchanan was sin-binned for killing the ball. With Leeds one man down, Tigers looked to take advantage. After a lineout and another pack drive, hooker George Chuter powered his way over the line to score. Taylor missed the conversion, as it was wide on the touchline but Leicester had narrowed the score to 5-3 in the 16th minute.

Leeds key play marker was NO10 Walsh, as he made snappy, fast breaks and tried setting up play across field by kicking possession or running ball. Walsh missed a penalty opportunity in the 17th minute.

After Leeds gained another penalty, Walsh kicked to touch. At the lineout, Tigers gain possession through flanker Andy Powell and Matt Cornwell clears his lines. After another lineout, Taylor kicks downfield but the ball does not go in touch, so Leeds fullback Rock gathers and kicks to touch, but slices his kick. Tigers lineout is 10metres from the Leeds line and after heavy driving, Hamilton emerged from under the pile of forwards. Taylor’s conversion just skimmed past the posts in the 36th minute.

In the 28th minute, Cornwell was taken out late, so Taylor kicked the penalty into touch. After the lineout, there was a midfield break from Chuter who passed to winger John Holtby and his pace broke through the Leeds defence, but there was enough support. Tigers were awarded a penalty, so Taylor kicked to touch. Lock James Hamilton rose to catch possession, and the ball was passed out to Taylor, who did a weighted diagonal kick across field to meet Holtby, but the ball went dead. Tigers then had a narrow escape, as on their own line they kicked to clear form the base of the scrum but the kick was charged down, so centre Steve Glitherow gathered and touched down the ball. At the end fo the first half, the score was 10-3.

Tigers seemed to repeatedly give away penalties at the start of the second half, as Leeds Walsh had three attempts to kick at goal, scoring twice and coming within one point of Leicester’s lead twice. Leicester regained composure, and hit back with two tries. In the 62nd minute, after a forward drive, the ball spread down the back line, centre Glitherow slipped inside to touch down. Taylor kicked the conversion from the 20metre line. In the 79th minute, full-back Cornwell broke through Leeds defence as he cut back inside to jinx through. Taylor missed the conversion.

In between Tigers tries, Leeds hit back with a try from their fullback. Rock came in from deep and broke clear through Tigers defence from the halfway line to score under the posts. Walsh added the conversion. Tigers grafted hard to the end, in the last few minutes, then were held up over the line and managed to end the night winners 22-16.

Leeds posed challenging questions to Tigers, as they targeted Tigers back line, exploited their defence and their backs were active. Perhaps it was the power of the stripes on the players’ shirts that saw Tigers stamped their mark on the first half, scoring twice. Tigers doggedness prevailed as they weathered a succession of penalties against them and the challenge of Leeds, to score two more tries in the second half and take the crucial bonus point. Tigers tries was set up by a “classic try” from Chuter, as a rolling maul moved up field to find George powering over from at least 10metrres out, or possibly even 15 metres out.

Tom Tierney, who has been having headaches when he plays, played the first half but young-gun Nathan Jones was a more pivotal and directorial No9. Andy Powell, whom I had never see play before (distinctly wore a lot of hair gel) was impressive, breaking from the base of the scrum and running interesting lines but was prone to ball spillage. Taylor virtually ran the show at NO10 and combined so well with Jones, with a fast and accurate mind, seeking new direction in play and a good boot, clearing lines and kicking to touch.

Scoring sequence:
2 mins Leeds pen Walsh 0-3
16 mins Tigers try Chuter 5-3
26 mins Tigers try Hamilton 10-3

54 mins Leeds pen Walsh 10-6
58 mins Leeds pen Walsh 10-9
62 mins Tigers try Glitherow 15-9
Tigers con Taylor 17-9
67 mins Leeds try Rock 17-14
Leeds con Walsh 17- 16
79 mins Tigers try Cornwell 22-16

Tries: Chuter, Hamilton, Glitherow, Cornwell
Rock
Cons: Taylor (1/4)
Walsh (1/1)
Pens: Walsh (3/5)

Date: Monday 16th February 2004
Time: 7pm k/o
Weather: nippy with clear skies
Crowd: 4,488
Ref: Mr Bruce Robertson
Man-of-the-match: Tim Taylor
Sin-bin: 14 mins J Buchanan (No. 12 Leeds)
Moment of the game: Dorian West coaching Tom Tierney from the sidelines – had to see it to believe it

Tigers team:
15 Matt Cornwell
14 John Holtby
13 Steve Glitherow
12 Alex Dodge
11 Ronnie Mclean
10 Tim Taylor
9 Tom Tierney
1 Ricky Nebbett
2 George Chuter
3 Matt Hampson
4 Tom Ryder
5 James Hamilton
6 Andy Powell
7 Luke Abraham
8 Adam Balding
Reps: 16 James Buckland (48mins on for 2 Chuter), 17 Rob Green (80mins on for 3 Nebbett), 18 Brett Deacon (58mins on for 8 Balding), 19 Daniel Montageu (58mins on for 4 Ryder), 20 Nathan Jones (40mins on for 9 Tierney), 21 Peter Clarke (67mins on for 7 Abraham), 22 Luke Sayer (80mins on for 11 Mclean)

Leeds team:
15 T Rock
14 S Parsons
13 D Clayton
12 J Buchanan
11 D Doherty
10 T Walsh
9 G Barry
1 M Cussack
2 S Bowden
3 J Brown
4 A Enston
5 K Myall
6 M Stockdale
7 S Worrell
8 P Nilsen
Reps: 16 P O’Donavan, 17 R Webber, 18 A N Other, 19 J Crane, 20 M Chester, 21 C Buck, 22 T Daplyn