Sarries spirit not enough as Tigers take points

Back from injury
By Jason Harris
November 28 2004

Saracens lost their latest Zurich Premiership match at Welford Road 21-9 to a Leicester Tigers outfit that now goes eight points clear at the summit of the table. Tries late in each half saw Leicester home after they failed to capitalise on their superiority, particularly in the second half.

Leicester wing Tom Varndell scored the opening try after 35 minutes from a first-phase move that delighted the home crowd. From a 5m scrum, outstanding no8 Henry Tuilagi barged his way to within a metre of the line and the quick recycled ball enabled the Tigers to move the ball swiftly from right to left and Austin Healy drew the final Saracens defender to put the 19-year-old in for his fifth try in just three games.

Former Saracen Andy Goode had taken an early lead with a penalty goal which was cancelled out by Sarries fullback Robbie Kydd. The Men in Black lay siege to the Leicester line for the best part of ten minutes as skipper Hugh Vyvyan shunned opportunities to take three points from penalties awarded inside the 22.

No fewer than five times was the scrum reset as Sarries tried to shove the home pack over the whitewash, but referee Dave Pearson did not - in spite of Leicester either taking the scrum down or disintegrating it by standing up - award what should have been; a penalty try. Tigers were let off the hook as scrum no5 hit the turf and Sarries were penalised for an offence that remains a bit of a mystery, given their superiority in the tight at that point.

Sarries did, however, hold a brief lead after Kydd booted goal number two on the half hour, but it was his unforced error, as he failed to take a high ball under no pressure, that gave Tigers the scrum that was the precursor to their first five pointer. There was no further scoring in the first period and the teams changed ends with Leicester ahead 8-6.

Tigers captain Martin Johnson's half time team talk shook his charges as they dominated the second half almost completely. Goode extended their lead with two further penalty goals as Saracens struggled to keep the home side at bay. On more than one occasion, Leicester failed to ram home their obvious advantage as their handling let them down - very badly on occasions - much to the relief of the Men in Black who, with just two minutes remaining, were still in with a shout of registering their first ever victory at Fortress Welford.

But Sarries were camped in their own 22 for far too long to pose any threat to the Leicester line and the Tigers duly finished the job with a try from replacement centre Ollie Smith.

A planned move from a five metre scrum wrapped up the game but it very nearly didn't come off for the league leaders. From the scrum, centre Daryl Gibson took the ball standing flat and it looked as if he would take the ball in to set up a game-clinching drop goal for Goode who was waiting back in the pocket. Instead the former All-Black fired a long, looping pass to the blind side which nearly eluded Smith, such was its height. But the England man lept skywards and took the ball at full stretch, gathered and raced in from 10 metres out to ensure the four points for Leicester and deny Saracens a losing bonus point. Goode added the simple conversion and Sarries' spirit was finally shattered.

More to follow....