Having to adjust to the differing pace of ZP rugby and ZP team-mates, the weather and the fact that Saints had forwards who were only too happy to get in his face and show him not too much respect meant that not everything in the England skipper's Garden was rosy on Saturday. More of that later................

The preamble to this East Midlands derby between two old rivals said that this match had been devalued by calls from both teams for players required for the exhibition match at Twickenham. So was this low scoring game in poor weather not worth the admission money? Not a bit of it. Full of excitement, mistakes and cameo performances to savour this was a game which a former Saints player and club president said "That was as good a game of rugby as you could wish to see." Maybe not if you were from Leicester but the fact remains that Saints have done the double in the league over their old rivals for only the first time since.....oooh..........Pontius was a pilot probably!

The rain Gods were smiling down on Franklin's Gardens after a morning of continuous rain and the clouds had rolled away in a stiff north westerly breeze by 2.45 kick off time. Tigers started playing towards the Lake End with the wind coming from behind their right shoulders and early pressure from Leicester saw an up and under to the Saints right wing being fumbled in a moment of confusion between new boy ( well, for this season anyway!) Matt Dawson and Nick Beal. And within two minutes, Tigers were awarded a notable penalty, which Ramiro Pez kicked at goal, slow. low and left of the target.

The penalty was notable as it was the only kickable penalty awarded to either side for the first 20 minutes. Good discipline by the sides? Mr White being generous at Christmas time? Certainly he was being very flexible over the off side law and Tigers were certainly getting the benefit of the doubt on occasions.

Given that the score at half time was a mere 3-0 to the home side, what was keeping the crowd entertained?

New Tigers signing Jaco van der Westhuyzen was certainly proving to be a handful, with some very quick and mazy runs in counter attack from deep causing Saints some trouble. One of his attacking runs put Freddie Tuilagi seemingly in for a try but as he tried to slide in on the wet surface through the last ditch Saints tackling, he knocked on.

Saints cleared the danger then as they were to do again shortly before half time when Tigers attacked left again. A grubber slid through on the wet grass and John Clarke's sliding goalkeeper save collected the ball. Clarke then showed considerable maturity and strength and stood up as the Tigers arrived. Clarke managed to stay on his feet long enough for his team-mates to arrive, regroup and drive Leicester back. Tigers then gave away a penalty and Shane Drahm kicked to touch. At the line out, Robbie Morris collected the ball, drove on, Blowers played scrum half at the ruck and Drahm cleared nearly to halfway. Danger over and the interval arrived.

Tom Smith was giving his opposite number Julian White a lot of difficulty at the scrum and Saints front three were generally doing well. Twice during the game, referee White lectured both front rows before scrums reset, collapsed and Tigers were penalised. Saints were also contesting Tigers line out and Messrs Johnson and Kay were certainly not securing their 100% of their own line out

The aforementioned festive gifts were becoming evident during the first half.

Saints had been penalised for coming in at the side of a ruck but both members of the Johnson family decided that a couple of slaps around the ears of some prone Saints forwards would be reasonable punishment. Mr White reversed the kickable penalty.

Martin Johnson was also to be penalised a little later in the half when, not for the first time, Tigers cynically killed Saints ball with Johnson failing to roll away after the tackle and trying to use his hands on the ground as well! Shane stepped up to the mark and slotted the kick to open the scoring after 32 minutes. 3-0 to Saints.

A scrappy first half then in which Tigers would have been disappointed not to have been in the lead, given their dominance of possession and territory for much of the game. Saints midfield defence was causing all sort of problems for Tigers however and John Leslie was having one of his best games in terms of tackle count. The first half had also seen the substitution of Matt Dawson by Sharky Robinson. Daws limped off with a calf injury after 27 minutes and an indifferent return to Saints colours. By his own admission he faces a strong challenge to recover the 9 jersey from the Kiwi.

After the break, the teams returned with James Brooks on for Nick Beal who was having possible concussion assessed in the Saints goal area by having balls thrown to him. If he caught 3 in a row he passed the test and was soon back in the fray. Brooks swapped wing position with John Clarke who moved to full back and apart from a wayward kick, showed composure enough to prove that 15 may be his future position.

Saints were soon to increase their score with another Drahm penalty after initial advantage was played in Saints favour, only for Clarke to be denied a fair chance of a try from a cross kick to him when Mr White judged that he had started his run off side. No matter as the kick was taken by Shane to make the score 6-0 after 47 minutes.

Tigers started to up the pressure now and disrupted a Saints scrum in their own 22, with scrappy ball coming back to Drahm who knocked it on on his own goal line. Scrum 5 to Tigers and a real chance for them which Sharky managed to spoil at the base of the scrum and again Saints relieved the pressure.

At 55 minutes, Brooks replaced Beal permanently and Chris Budgen came on for Robbie Morris who looked none too pleased as he trotted towards the bench.

Another Christmas present arrived shortly after! After Saints took a penalty kick to touch, following Rowntree dropping the scrum, the line out was lost and Tigers chipped and chased. Hyndman, who had a good all round game, collected the kick and ran it back well. At the breakdown, a certain M Johnson killed the ball again as he charged over the top of the ruck. He couldn't have infringed in a more central position if he'd tried and Shane took the 3 points with ease.

9-0 to Saints after 59 minutes.

Saints were now playing clever rugby given the conditions and the wind at their backs. Bruce Reihana rifled a touch finder 50 metres down field and Sharky was sniping around the fringes, keeping the Tigers defence guessing. Tigers hadn't given up however and more pressure led to a penalty and a line out 15 metres from Saints line. Tigers took the throw cleanly but Saints midfield again snuffed out the attack. Sharky countered and a very promising move which flowed up field was blown in dreadful fashion when John Leslie tried a cross kick to the left which ended up in the middle of the South Stand.

Saints were able to keep the pressure on Tigers and pin them in their own half which was just as well as both sides were making handling errors and Saints line out was not functioning that well. On 76 minutes Saints lost their own throw but then Tigers kicked out on the full! It was that sort of day! Some spectators started to leave, which was a pity as the best was yet to come.

Martin Johnson was put under pressure from Grant Seely and knocked the ball on. Sharky worked the ball right from the scrum and sprinted for the line. Tigers' desperate defence stopped him just short but Saints won quick ball and that man Andy Blowers was on hand to crash over the last 2 metres and seal the victory for Saints with the clock showing 80 minutes and the scoreboard 14-0 to the home side.

Not a classic game by any means but one in which Saints coped better with the conditions. In the second half despite errors and lost line outs, Saints played with great determination and ran and tackled like demons. If they can secure their line out and cut out some mistakes then a top three ZP position should be realistic.


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