Tigers vs Falcons: Calm down lads, calm down!

Well that was an interesting match wasn’t it? What it lacked in points it made up for in passion and controversy. However, during the warm-up there seemed to be a calm confidence around the ground. These Friday night fixtures always seem to have a different feel to them. Spectators get to their seats later as it is inevitably more of a rush to get to the ground; the Alliance and Leicester stand seemed practically deserted during the warm-up.

So the game started in relatively subdued mood. I think most fans were looking forward to seeing how Johnny Wilkinson would fair in one of his few competitive visits to Welford Road. Obviously this also gave an added incentive to Andy Goode to perform. And perform he did, his form in finding touch with long booming kicks to the touch line seems to have returned. There were several 50-plus yard kicks of note.

Tigers seemed to start the better and this was converted into points when Goode slotted an early penalty. However, the match began to get more fractious, as indiscipline on both sides lead to the penalty count rising. Tigers tried at every opportunity to pressurise the clearance kicks of Falcons. Showing plenty of commitment they threw their bodies in the path of the ball; unfortunately a tad inaccurately on two notable occasions. The second of these “incidents” resulting in a lengthy stoppage at around the 40th minute the while Wilkinson received the once over (or should that be twice, thrice and fourth over) from the physio. The resulting penalty was converted by Matt Burke to give Falcons a 9-6 lead.

The ‘fun’ didn’t stop there, however, as first Goode (late tackle) then Long (playing the ball on the ground) was yellow-carded and Julian White and Perry were red-carded for scrapping late in the first half. Burke missed a late penalty attempt to leave the score 9-6 to Falcons at half time; a half that had almost 15 minutes of injury time added on.

Throughout the first half tension grew as the crowd realised this wasn’t going to be a point-fest walk over for Tigers principally because Falcons were fronting up and tackling their hearts out. At the same time tempers started to fray which lead to the cards.

After the break Tigers had a sustained period of pressure which eventually led to a try by Big Jim Hamilton; the conversion of which was controversially awarded to Goode (who had only just rejoined the fray) when it seemed to have drifted wide. The lock had an excellent game and was my man of the match. Tigers’ biggest strength seemed to be the lineout where we regularly stole Falcons ball. Goode added a penalty shortly after (16-9 to Tigers)

Unfortunately, as the second half wore on the game lost shape with play regularly shifting from one end to another. In one of these attacks for Falcons, Robbie Morris made the most of a large overlap to score a try which Burke converted to level the score.

And so the game ended in a 16-all draw; a result neither Tigers nor Falcons can argue with (but Squeaky probably will) as neither team deserved to win. Tigers can live with this result. However, the injuries (Rowntree and Louis Deacon the worst) and probable lengthy suspension for Julian White make this a very costly twp points.

The scorers:

For Leicester:
Try: Hamilton
Con: Goode
Pens: Goode 3

For Newcastle
Try: Morris
Con: Burke
Pens: Wilkinson, Burke
Drop goal: Wilkinson

The teams:

Leicester: Murphy, Lloyd, Smith, Hipkiss, Varndell, Goode, Ellis, Rowntree, Chuter, White, L. Deacon, Hamilton, Abraham, Jennings, Corry.
Replacements: Vesty for Murphy (50), A. Tuilagi for Varndell (69), Healey for Ellis (69), Morris for Rowntree (29), Cullen for L. Deacon (35). Not Used: Buckland, Skinner.

Sin Bin: Goode (40).

Sent Off: White (40).

Newcastle: Burke, May, Tait, Mayerhofler, Elliot, J. Wilkinson,Charlton, Ward, Long, Morris, Perry, Parling, Finegan, Harris, Charvis.
Replacements: Noon for May (61), McCarthy for Ward (55), Thompson for Long (67), Gross for Finegan (55). Not Used: Paoletti, Grindal, Walder.

Sin Bin: Long (40).

Sent Off: Perry (40).

Att: 16,815

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (Bristol).