Leicester 30 Sale 20 (EDF)
By Whaley Shark
November 2 2008
So let’s get this right. We’ve lost our two EDF home games, we’re finishing off with Leicester away and we’re putting out a team of youngsters, stiffened with half a dozen or so established players. So why have I bothered to come down to Welford Road and sit in the cold, feeling like a Roman at the Coliseum, but one who’s supporting the Christians, not the lions?
November 2 2008
So let’s get this right. We’ve lost our two EDF home games, we’re finishing off with Leicester away and we’re putting out a team of youngsters, stiffened with half a dozen or so established players. So why have I bothered to come down to Welford Road and sit in the cold, feeling like a Roman at the Coliseum, but one who’s supporting the Christians, not the lions?
Things don’t start too well for the Christians either. We allow Leicester’s kick-off to bounce, and put ourselves under immediate pressure. Fortunately the Tigers knock on, and we clear to half way from the scrum. As we settle down, we make progress into the Leicester half, run a couple of penalties, then take a scrum at another, run the ball left and pass it forward. This lets Tigers take the initiative, and they make ground with a high kick. We concede a penalty, which Tigers kick to touch. We concede a penalty, which Hougaard kicks, then almost from the restart, we concede another, and we are 6-0 down after 13 minutes.
The Tigers then turn the screw, almost crossing but winning a scrum five on the left. The scrum is very tetchy and Tigers win a penalty. They take the scrum, there’s more tetchiness, and Rob O’Donnell gets ten minutes in the bin. Mike Hills also goes off to allow the replacement prop, Ross Davies, to come on. Things don’t really improve, the referee’s patience runs out, and he gives a penalty try, which Hougaard converts. This is looking like a long night for the Christians.
We aren’t beaten yet, though, and come back at the Tigers with spirit. However, we can’t quite keep it all together and the one real opportunity we create is wasted, with a poor final pass. Tigers seem pretty much as disjointed as we do by this stage, and there is no further score before half time. The most memorable moment is a neat, under pressure touchfinder from Mike Hills.
We start the second half brightly, kicking a penalty to touch. From a scrum 20 metres out, we run the ball through several phases and retain possession well, winning a penalty which Nick MacLeod kicks. A few minutes later he kicks another and we’re back in the game at 13-6, with almost half an hour to play. However, if you twist a Tiger’s tail, it might just try and bite you, and that’s exactly what happens. The Tigers are denied a try by a foot in touch on the right, then a sloppy pass sends the ball loose, Chris Bell kicks it on and runs 70 metres to touch down. Nick MacLeod converts to tie the scores at 13 all. Leicester pile on the pressure now, but some excellent defence keeps them out, and we clear deep into the left corner, with Selorm Kuadey chasing. Sam Vesty just sneaks away from him and kicks long, diagonally across the field, putting the defender in an impossible position, and we have no choice but to carry the ball into touch. We win a free kick at the lineout, but Tigers run it back, and Varndell makes space to put Tom Youngs over. Hougaard converts for 20-13 after 57 minutes.
The next ten minutes are fairly shapeless until the Tigers try and kick through the defence and the ball finds its way to Chris Bell, who runs in from long range. Nick MacLeod converts for 20 all with 12 minutes to go. Tigers concede a penalty from the restart and MacLeod tries to pinch the lead with a really long range effort which drops just under the crossbar. Tigers make ground down the field and, with five minutes to go, win a penalty which Hougaard comfortably kicks. We aren’t done for yet though. We set up a scrum ten metres out from the restart, win a penalty which we take quickly, make progress and set up another scrum 5 metres out. The Tigers’ pack turns on the power, we are penalised, and they clear to touch. Time is running out now, and we start chucking the ball about in our own half. Finally, the ball goes loose, Jordan Crane picks it up and crosses under the posts for a converted try and final score of 30-20.
Trying to sum it all up, I really enjoyed the game. Once we’d realised we could compete, we did, and I think the Tigers got rather more than they expected. Tigers always had more control and, while I feel they deserved to win, I think the final scoreline was unjust. As for PSA’s approach to the EDF, playing many of our next generation of players, well, I’m impressed. We took a strong Cardiff team all the way, and performed well against decent Bath and Leicester sides. It would have been nice to win one to boost confidence but there’s a good deal of talent out there. Finally, my man of the match- Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, I think, for some real leadership.
The Tigers then turn the screw, almost crossing but winning a scrum five on the left. The scrum is very tetchy and Tigers win a penalty. They take the scrum, there’s more tetchiness, and Rob O’Donnell gets ten minutes in the bin. Mike Hills also goes off to allow the replacement prop, Ross Davies, to come on. Things don’t really improve, the referee’s patience runs out, and he gives a penalty try, which Hougaard converts. This is looking like a long night for the Christians.
We aren’t beaten yet, though, and come back at the Tigers with spirit. However, we can’t quite keep it all together and the one real opportunity we create is wasted, with a poor final pass. Tigers seem pretty much as disjointed as we do by this stage, and there is no further score before half time. The most memorable moment is a neat, under pressure touchfinder from Mike Hills.
We start the second half brightly, kicking a penalty to touch. From a scrum 20 metres out, we run the ball through several phases and retain possession well, winning a penalty which Nick MacLeod kicks. A few minutes later he kicks another and we’re back in the game at 13-6, with almost half an hour to play. However, if you twist a Tiger’s tail, it might just try and bite you, and that’s exactly what happens. The Tigers are denied a try by a foot in touch on the right, then a sloppy pass sends the ball loose, Chris Bell kicks it on and runs 70 metres to touch down. Nick MacLeod converts to tie the scores at 13 all. Leicester pile on the pressure now, but some excellent defence keeps them out, and we clear deep into the left corner, with Selorm Kuadey chasing. Sam Vesty just sneaks away from him and kicks long, diagonally across the field, putting the defender in an impossible position, and we have no choice but to carry the ball into touch. We win a free kick at the lineout, but Tigers run it back, and Varndell makes space to put Tom Youngs over. Hougaard converts for 20-13 after 57 minutes.
The next ten minutes are fairly shapeless until the Tigers try and kick through the defence and the ball finds its way to Chris Bell, who runs in from long range. Nick MacLeod converts for 20 all with 12 minutes to go. Tigers concede a penalty from the restart and MacLeod tries to pinch the lead with a really long range effort which drops just under the crossbar. Tigers make ground down the field and, with five minutes to go, win a penalty which Hougaard comfortably kicks. We aren’t done for yet though. We set up a scrum ten metres out from the restart, win a penalty which we take quickly, make progress and set up another scrum 5 metres out. The Tigers’ pack turns on the power, we are penalised, and they clear to touch. Time is running out now, and we start chucking the ball about in our own half. Finally, the ball goes loose, Jordan Crane picks it up and crosses under the posts for a converted try and final score of 30-20.
Trying to sum it all up, I really enjoyed the game. Once we’d realised we could compete, we did, and I think the Tigers got rather more than they expected. Tigers always had more control and, while I feel they deserved to win, I think the final scoreline was unjust. As for PSA’s approach to the EDF, playing many of our next generation of players, well, I’m impressed. We took a strong Cardiff team all the way, and performed well against decent Bath and Leicester sides. It would have been nice to win one to boost confidence but there’s a good deal of talent out there. Finally, my man of the match- Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, I think, for some real leadership.
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon