Well what a season that was…
By Stopsy
June 14 2010
My first season in over 30 years without a visit to Welford Rd, my only 3 games were Sale away, Falcons away and The Dev team v Sale away, the latter being by far the best game! Where to start? Well, 2 away games courtesy of finishing off the Caterpillar Stand, we played like duffers in Sale (well Stockport more accurately) who played marginally less poorly on the night to record a win.
By Stopsy
June 14 2010
My first season in over 30 years without a visit to Welford Rd, my only 3 games were Sale away, Falcons away and The Dev team v Sale away, the latter being by far the best game! Where to start? Well, 2 away games courtesy of finishing off the Caterpillar Stand, we played like duffers in Sale (well Stockport more accurately) who played marginally less poorly on the night to record a win.
We then won at Quins in another tryless performance. Jeremy scored all our points. Then the visit of Newcastle and the opening of the stand albeit not the official one, a capacity crowd were treated to another tryless game. One hell of a stand though! Jeremy scored all our points.
Then came Bath away and the try, from who else but Mefin? Geordan out for a long time with a shoulder injury trying to get the score, Staunton again showed his value by adding the Tigers points for a draw.
Worcester were the next visitors and won few admirers with a game plan that appeared to be based on stifling and gaining a losing bonus point, another try, this time by Lewis and Jeremy added all the others.
Have I mentioned the horrendous injury list that has so far plagued us this season yet?
Next up our dear, dear friends from Ospreylia, a magical land where supernatural things seem to happen that bend reality beyond what one might feel was believable. They, like us, were shorn of a number of first teamers, none more so than the hair bear bunch and didn’t it show.
On paper we were dead and buried, on the pitch we were dead an buried, but somehow we huffed and we puffed and we dragged ourselves back to a 32 – 32 draw, even clinching a try bonus in the process. Enter Stage Left the press’ darling Billy, what a stunning arrival! But who was the Centre that caught the imagination? Craig Newby! Pass the Magic Mushrooms!
Jeremy was outscored by Billy! In reality, this game was where we exited the HEC, but to have come so close against the odds was great.
Viadana away were suitably minced although again we made hard work of it, for the second time the rest of the team outscored Jeremy.
I then went on holiday to Yorkshire, TJS10 kindly provided the scores from the LI game via text, Jeremy scoring all our points and gaining us a losing BP. Unable to access the internet, I attracted the expected bile from Shawshank, who’s nom de plume is a wonderful anagram of “a sshh @#$%&” and it seems in keeping with his character that he is a very quiet onanist.
Talking of W@#$%&, next up were Saints, not really, a great bunch and disturbingly playing good rugby obviously only due to their purloining of Nobby. Fortunately Lucas’ head remained on his shoulders despite his running style to score, but guess what, Jeremy outscored the team. The grizzled forwards delivered the ball and looked after it.
Then the big debate, money grabbing or meaningful? South Africa come to town, we hold nothing back , deploying such household names as Tuilagi (OK we may just of heard that family name before), Forsyth, Green, Hemingway, Pienaar, Hammond!, Armes, Tonks and some bloke called Tuqiri. What a game, what an atmosphere, I have enjoyed the DVD on many occasions. Interestingly Jeremy was rested, saving him for important games. That lad Parling also seemed to show a knack for lineout poaching at 5m defensive throws, that may come back again.
We then go to Leeds in the LV= cup and lose with only Cole and Kay as recognisable 1st team names albeit Cole is still only a callow youth.
Just over 16,000 then watch Newport Gwent Dragons visit, the team is far more recognisable and Jeremy is top scorer.
Next up an away dull fest at Kingsholm, guess who scored all our points to record another losing bonus point.
OK, thanks Jeremy, Toby makes his season start, Leeds come visiting and we get a try bonus but he still gets on the score sheet.
Another bonus point follows but not of the best kind in a visit to Adams Park, boo hiss!
All these bonus points seem to be helping though.
We then go to Clermont Auverne and get a salutary spanking however even then we narrowly miss grabbing a 4th try when seemingly dead and buried.
Revenge was sweet the following week courtesy of Scott running in from 60m. I am not sure that losing is the best way to motivate us, but it seems to work.
OK time to start trying! Sale come down and get what’s due, why couldn’t we do this at their place, the trip home would have been so much sweeter.
Table topping Sarries away next undefeated at home until today, obviously they were cheated out of it by poor reffing, this was pointed out by a medical doctor so obviously it is right.
Next up our old amigos Wasps, after last week I am getting a bit dewy eyed remembering how much I have always loved Wasps. Tuqiri scores 2 but no bonus (I don’t want much, do I) I watched this at my neighbour’s house his Father in Law was highly appreciative of Cipriani’s try, fortunately subsequent events, THE MOST GRUNTLICIOUS SCRUMMAGING DISPLAY IN THE WORLD! meant I could be more tolerant of my hosts!
Viadana are next up in the HEC and another try bonus is delivered.
We then go to Ospreylia and both sides look more like full strength, indeed our hosts appear to be a tad over full strength for a short but significant period along with a useful Scrum Half who is obviously committed to Ospreys for the long term. I believe the first Danish king of England was an Osprey too, Cnut.
Another home win in the LV= with a defeat of Bath, ooooooooh I like that, indeed I’ll repeat it with a defeat of Bath.
And as a come uppance, we get stuffed at Saints in the LV=.
An away win at Leeds (about time too in the league!), guess the top scorer?
Baaaaaah! Glos at home, Smurph gets his first try but we don’t score a 4th (how fussy am I?). Too many of these games were spent listening to Bleddyn and Steve, not good.
Even more boo hiss we get beaten at Franklins Gardens in the league, Jeremy scoring all 3 of our points.
But Irish are put to the sword, again we rack up the tries but not the bonus, this game might just be remembered for a try from Castro form 150m. Chutes first league try was also worthy of merit.
Another 3 try game against Worcester followed with Toby kicking 24 points.
And so to the visit of Bath, the form team, the team playing beautiful rugby, the pundits favourites. Yet again we see the opposition struggle to be beautiful without the ball. 5 tries, a dismantled scrummage, breakdown and lineout later, Bath went home.
Following Saturday’s sunburn in the garden, the children and I got into the car and drove up to Kingston Park, 5 degrees and horizontal rain. Lunch and met up with Mally a long time acquaintance through these boards. Tigers play for 20 minutes and secure the bonus point then shut up shop. Falcons score after Scott dithers waiting for a kick through to cross the try line, the best bit was when Geordan did the same except dropping on the ball at the last nano-second with a massive “had you going there” grin to the crowd.
Then Quins come a visiting and get a right seeing to as Tigers secure a home semi in the Play Offs in part due to Saracens beating Saints at Franklins Gardens.
Saracens next game was at Welford Rd where they hadn’t won since Noah was a lad etc. they played well and managed to extract a couple of tries from the gift wrapping we applied in a strangely lacklustre performance from a nigh on full strength team. There was an off field incident that rather detracted from Sarries victory.
So to the Play Offs, Bath visit again in a tryless game, but yet again we dominate the set piece to prevent the flair and form team.
And the Final, it’s a good job the Medical Doctor didn’t attend the game as sitting would have been painful with the haemorrhoid that is Ian Robertson. What a cracking game between two excellent sides, well refereed and contested. And so we retain the title in our 6th consecutive appearance.
Some season, some club!
Then came Bath away and the try, from who else but Mefin? Geordan out for a long time with a shoulder injury trying to get the score, Staunton again showed his value by adding the Tigers points for a draw.
Worcester were the next visitors and won few admirers with a game plan that appeared to be based on stifling and gaining a losing bonus point, another try, this time by Lewis and Jeremy added all the others.
Have I mentioned the horrendous injury list that has so far plagued us this season yet?
Next up our dear, dear friends from Ospreylia, a magical land where supernatural things seem to happen that bend reality beyond what one might feel was believable. They, like us, were shorn of a number of first teamers, none more so than the hair bear bunch and didn’t it show.
On paper we were dead and buried, on the pitch we were dead an buried, but somehow we huffed and we puffed and we dragged ourselves back to a 32 – 32 draw, even clinching a try bonus in the process. Enter Stage Left the press’ darling Billy, what a stunning arrival! But who was the Centre that caught the imagination? Craig Newby! Pass the Magic Mushrooms!
Jeremy was outscored by Billy! In reality, this game was where we exited the HEC, but to have come so close against the odds was great.
Viadana away were suitably minced although again we made hard work of it, for the second time the rest of the team outscored Jeremy.
I then went on holiday to Yorkshire, TJS10 kindly provided the scores from the LI game via text, Jeremy scoring all our points and gaining us a losing BP. Unable to access the internet, I attracted the expected bile from Shawshank, who’s nom de plume is a wonderful anagram of “a sshh @#$%&” and it seems in keeping with his character that he is a very quiet onanist.
Talking of W@#$%&, next up were Saints, not really, a great bunch and disturbingly playing good rugby obviously only due to their purloining of Nobby. Fortunately Lucas’ head remained on his shoulders despite his running style to score, but guess what, Jeremy outscored the team. The grizzled forwards delivered the ball and looked after it.
Then the big debate, money grabbing or meaningful? South Africa come to town, we hold nothing back , deploying such household names as Tuilagi (OK we may just of heard that family name before), Forsyth, Green, Hemingway, Pienaar, Hammond!, Armes, Tonks and some bloke called Tuqiri. What a game, what an atmosphere, I have enjoyed the DVD on many occasions. Interestingly Jeremy was rested, saving him for important games. That lad Parling also seemed to show a knack for lineout poaching at 5m defensive throws, that may come back again.
We then go to Leeds in the LV= cup and lose with only Cole and Kay as recognisable 1st team names albeit Cole is still only a callow youth.
Just over 16,000 then watch Newport Gwent Dragons visit, the team is far more recognisable and Jeremy is top scorer.
Next up an away dull fest at Kingsholm, guess who scored all our points to record another losing bonus point.
OK, thanks Jeremy, Toby makes his season start, Leeds come visiting and we get a try bonus but he still gets on the score sheet.
Another bonus point follows but not of the best kind in a visit to Adams Park, boo hiss!
All these bonus points seem to be helping though.
We then go to Clermont Auverne and get a salutary spanking however even then we narrowly miss grabbing a 4th try when seemingly dead and buried.
Revenge was sweet the following week courtesy of Scott running in from 60m. I am not sure that losing is the best way to motivate us, but it seems to work.
OK time to start trying! Sale come down and get what’s due, why couldn’t we do this at their place, the trip home would have been so much sweeter.
Table topping Sarries away next undefeated at home until today, obviously they were cheated out of it by poor reffing, this was pointed out by a medical doctor so obviously it is right.
Next up our old amigos Wasps, after last week I am getting a bit dewy eyed remembering how much I have always loved Wasps. Tuqiri scores 2 but no bonus (I don’t want much, do I) I watched this at my neighbour’s house his Father in Law was highly appreciative of Cipriani’s try, fortunately subsequent events, THE MOST GRUNTLICIOUS SCRUMMAGING DISPLAY IN THE WORLD! meant I could be more tolerant of my hosts!
Viadana are next up in the HEC and another try bonus is delivered.
We then go to Ospreylia and both sides look more like full strength, indeed our hosts appear to be a tad over full strength for a short but significant period along with a useful Scrum Half who is obviously committed to Ospreys for the long term. I believe the first Danish king of England was an Osprey too, Cnut.
Another home win in the LV= with a defeat of Bath, ooooooooh I like that, indeed I’ll repeat it with a defeat of Bath.
And as a come uppance, we get stuffed at Saints in the LV=.
An away win at Leeds (about time too in the league!), guess the top scorer?
Baaaaaah! Glos at home, Smurph gets his first try but we don’t score a 4th (how fussy am I?). Too many of these games were spent listening to Bleddyn and Steve, not good.
Even more boo hiss we get beaten at Franklins Gardens in the league, Jeremy scoring all 3 of our points.
But Irish are put to the sword, again we rack up the tries but not the bonus, this game might just be remembered for a try from Castro form 150m. Chutes first league try was also worthy of merit.
Another 3 try game against Worcester followed with Toby kicking 24 points.
And so to the visit of Bath, the form team, the team playing beautiful rugby, the pundits favourites. Yet again we see the opposition struggle to be beautiful without the ball. 5 tries, a dismantled scrummage, breakdown and lineout later, Bath went home.
Following Saturday’s sunburn in the garden, the children and I got into the car and drove up to Kingston Park, 5 degrees and horizontal rain. Lunch and met up with Mally a long time acquaintance through these boards. Tigers play for 20 minutes and secure the bonus point then shut up shop. Falcons score after Scott dithers waiting for a kick through to cross the try line, the best bit was when Geordan did the same except dropping on the ball at the last nano-second with a massive “had you going there” grin to the crowd.
Then Quins come a visiting and get a right seeing to as Tigers secure a home semi in the Play Offs in part due to Saracens beating Saints at Franklins Gardens.
Saracens next game was at Welford Rd where they hadn’t won since Noah was a lad etc. they played well and managed to extract a couple of tries from the gift wrapping we applied in a strangely lacklustre performance from a nigh on full strength team. There was an off field incident that rather detracted from Sarries victory.
So to the Play Offs, Bath visit again in a tryless game, but yet again we dominate the set piece to prevent the flair and form team.
And the Final, it’s a good job the Medical Doctor didn’t attend the game as sitting would have been painful with the haemorrhoid that is Ian Robertson. What a cracking game between two excellent sides, well refereed and contested. And so we retain the title in our 6th consecutive appearance.
Some season, some club!
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponRelated Articles:
Well what a season that was…
Posted by: TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 14/06/2010 15:28
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Re: Well what a season that was…
Posted by: TigerChick (IP Logged)
Date: 14/06/2010 15:29
Thanks Stopsy!
Will update the site with news stories and reports. Supporting the Tigers fans community
Email me via tigerchick "at" ymail "dot" com (No spam!)
Will update the site with news stories and reports. Supporting the Tigers fans community
Email me via tigerchick "at" ymail "dot" com (No spam!)
Re: Well what a season that was…
Posted by: Downsey (IP Logged)
Date: 14/06/2010 16:05
Nice one Mike.
Keep it safe as i expect a similar report to be needed this time next year!
-----------------------------------
Lest we forget
Keep it safe as i expect a similar report to be needed this time next year!
-----------------------------------
Lest we forget
Re: Well what a season that was…
Posted by: ChrisC (IP Logged)
Date: 14/06/2010 16:09
very good Mike - just one minor point - did you know that the Saracens' DOR is actually a medical doctor - yes really he is!!
Re: Well what a season that was…
Posted by: Tiggs (IP Logged)
Date: 14/06/2010 17:09
Excellent, but as I was there I knew all the details, except that is for the bit about Sarries DOR being a Doctor, well I never !!
Re: Well what a season that was…
Posted by: TigerR (IP Logged)
Date: 15/06/2010 13:54
Thanks Stopsy.
Re: Well what a season that was…
Posted by: IDLETIMES (IP Logged)
Date: 15/06/2010 16:18
Very good report Stopsy.We played some excellent rugby between Christmas and the Prem. Final which was a thriller from rocket start to grandstand finish and the A League final was very good evenings entertainment too.
Re: Well what a season that was…
Posted by: Tiggs (IP Logged)
Date: 15/06/2010 19:40
Thanks Mike, it was so good perhaps you should come to WR a few times !
Re: Well what a season that was…
Posted by: tigersfan1 (IP Logged)
Date: 16/06/2010 09:01
A good read, thanks Stopsy 
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
