Tigers shoot themselves in the foot again
By Stopsy
September 16 2002
On Friday Tigers followed the away loss to Leeds and the home win over Harlequins with a 29 - 16 loss to Sale leaving the Tigers in the unaccustomed position of ninth in the table.
By Stopsy
September 16 2002
On Friday Tigers followed the away loss to Leeds and the home win over Harlequins with a 29 - 16 loss to Sale leaving the Tigers in the unaccustomed position of ninth in the table.
Don’t panic Mr Mainwaring, it was only some more knock ons and losing the ball in contact.
Tigers rested some of the England players, the pack however did not look any the weaker for it.
The game started with a Tigers kick off, Sale Knocked on, we pegged them back in their own 20 for the first 5 minutes. All looking good. Stimmo then attempted a drop goal from the half way, nothing wrong with the confidence tonight, the kick wasn’t up to much, but then again, there were no other options. From a Sale clearance to touch near the half way, Tigers took the ball and started the rolling maul, on three occasions, Sale tried to take it down but the ball carrier span out. 5 meters, 10 meters, 15 meters, more, nothing wrong there then. Eventually the pressure told and Leicester were awarded a penalty for off side. 3 – 0 to Tigers, Stimmo past the 1,000 points.
From the restart Tigers took the ball but then a dropped pass lead to Sale pressure, we were then penalised for holding the man in the tackle, up steps Hodgkinson, 3 – 3.
The restarts are looking better, Sale knock on, Austin kicks diagonally to the corner for a lineout, Deacon was penalised for taking the man in the air, Sale clear their line. It wasn’t only Leicester that knocked on, the lighting looks as though a few more coins in the meter wouldn’t go amiss. Sale’s centres were beginning to get through the first tackle and draw in players or offload past the gain line. Tigers began losing the ball in the tackle too frequently, another penalty to Sale – 6-3. Don’t panic, slow it down a bit, but no, the ball is whipped across the field with passes dropping short and the wings running out of space, Sale’s defence is hot and up for it tonight. Neither Booth not Tuilagi had space or options on the wings. Franck Tournaire’s open field play was a good feature, helping tidy up on a number of occasions.
After a Martin Corry take at the back of the line, he then lost the ball in contact, Peter Short was spoken to after the ruck, penalty to Sale – 9 – 3. One of the features of Heywood Rd is the conveniently placed pillars behind which the next bit of play was obscured. Penalty to Tigers, kick to corner and then a messy lineout and we again lose the ball in the tackle. Redpath was replaced by Walshe, things are looking up, Tigers exert some real pressure and although we are still dropping the ball or passing to ground, its going backwards, several phases of possession were strung together, we came away with 3 points from an offside penalty. 9 – 6, the tide is turning. Hodgkinson’s restart failed to go 10 metres, more Tigers pressure then Stimmo missed a penalty to the left from 40 meters in front of the posts. The next period of play was tight and well contested various knock ons spoiling any continuity. At a ruck 8 metres out from the Leicester line Harry passed via the ref, it was a good job the ref was there to get in the way, it was an awful pass. Sale then took the resulting scrum against the head, at an ensuing ruck Louis Deacon handled the ball (even I could see it through my one eye!) 12 – 6 to Sale. A good half time talk and kick in the pants and we’re here to win.
No changes to either team during the break – keep the faith, Deano will bring on the cavalry later, all is well. Sale restart, one of our players leaps to catch, nowhere near the ball, could he see anything through the lights? The ball bounced and Sale recovered it. Josh had obviously had something at half time, 2 excellent tackles and reclaimed the ball. Joseph then kicked the ball down field to Jason Robinson, Robinson runs it back for 40 metres, through the first 2 tackles, the ball comes out to the Sale right and Steve Booth and Glenn Gelderbloom take the same man leaving a massive overlap which Sale run through to score – note to diary, don’t kick to this chap Robinson, he looks quite good. All of the action has been in the Tigers half. From the restart, yet another knock on lead to an exchange of views, Titteral the Sale Hooker seemed to be running off before the yellow card was brandished and Martin Corry followed for killing the ball. There then followed a novel scene, the ref called the captains over and spoke to them, I had been under the impression that it was only the captains who spoke to the ref! The penalty went to Leicester who kicked to touch and then through a double move by Chuter were themselves penalised. West and Wiggy replaced Chuter and Freshwater, now we’ll see things move. The pace hots up, the forward pressure is more direct, Walshe has his hands all over the ball in a ruck, linesman had a clear view but did nothing, I bet had anyone’s foot come into contact with Walshe’s hand the old yellow flag would be up like a shot. From the next scrum Harry shoots over to score beneath the posts 19 – 13, told you so, here we go.
Austin then kicks long to Robinson, oh no, not again! but follows up and tackles, Robinson is penalised for not releasing. Backy and Tom Tierney come on for Josh and Harry. Penalty kick to touch on 10 metre line, right in front of me. Johnno calls and get the ball cleanly, meanwhile Sale no. 5 is laying down by his feet to ensure that no maul can get going, the ball goes out, Austin drops a goal, 19 – 16, told you so, never in doubt.
Austin then tries to chip the Sale defence, it has been in his face all night and playing very well, nice idea, atrocious execution. Chris Jones scooped up the ball and then sprinted 50m to score under the posts, converted, 26 – 16, oh pooh. Ben Kay on for Louis Deacon, Backy looks a class apart from the rest, breaks down the left, draws 2 men pops from the floor to Ben Kay, the Ball goes out but we are penalised for crossing, a harsh and unjust decision according to Mr Razcal. Sale’s Lines was again merrily dragging anything down that was upright. Hanley broke at speed but Austin was faster and brought him down, Tigers were then penalised for offside, the kick missed and went dead, scrum to Leicester, Tom Tierney’s pass was keeping Austin on his toes in guessing where it might go. Jason Robinson then kicked ahead and was adjudged to be tackled late (again Mr Razcal disagreed with the offence). 29 – 16. The team was beginning to show signs of last season’s form but in all honesty the backs looked dull witted against an excellent Sale defence and Austin running laterally didn’t help his back line get any width or distance from the Sale defence. We pressured but Sale held firm, we panicked.
Final whistle.
All in all, both teams got what they deserved.
Tigers rested some of the England players, the pack however did not look any the weaker for it.
The game started with a Tigers kick off, Sale Knocked on, we pegged them back in their own 20 for the first 5 minutes. All looking good. Stimmo then attempted a drop goal from the half way, nothing wrong with the confidence tonight, the kick wasn’t up to much, but then again, there were no other options. From a Sale clearance to touch near the half way, Tigers took the ball and started the rolling maul, on three occasions, Sale tried to take it down but the ball carrier span out. 5 meters, 10 meters, 15 meters, more, nothing wrong there then. Eventually the pressure told and Leicester were awarded a penalty for off side. 3 – 0 to Tigers, Stimmo past the 1,000 points.
From the restart Tigers took the ball but then a dropped pass lead to Sale pressure, we were then penalised for holding the man in the tackle, up steps Hodgkinson, 3 – 3.
The restarts are looking better, Sale knock on, Austin kicks diagonally to the corner for a lineout, Deacon was penalised for taking the man in the air, Sale clear their line. It wasn’t only Leicester that knocked on, the lighting looks as though a few more coins in the meter wouldn’t go amiss. Sale’s centres were beginning to get through the first tackle and draw in players or offload past the gain line. Tigers began losing the ball in the tackle too frequently, another penalty to Sale – 6-3. Don’t panic, slow it down a bit, but no, the ball is whipped across the field with passes dropping short and the wings running out of space, Sale’s defence is hot and up for it tonight. Neither Booth not Tuilagi had space or options on the wings. Franck Tournaire’s open field play was a good feature, helping tidy up on a number of occasions.
After a Martin Corry take at the back of the line, he then lost the ball in contact, Peter Short was spoken to after the ruck, penalty to Sale – 9 – 3. One of the features of Heywood Rd is the conveniently placed pillars behind which the next bit of play was obscured. Penalty to Tigers, kick to corner and then a messy lineout and we again lose the ball in the tackle. Redpath was replaced by Walshe, things are looking up, Tigers exert some real pressure and although we are still dropping the ball or passing to ground, its going backwards, several phases of possession were strung together, we came away with 3 points from an offside penalty. 9 – 6, the tide is turning. Hodgkinson’s restart failed to go 10 metres, more Tigers pressure then Stimmo missed a penalty to the left from 40 meters in front of the posts. The next period of play was tight and well contested various knock ons spoiling any continuity. At a ruck 8 metres out from the Leicester line Harry passed via the ref, it was a good job the ref was there to get in the way, it was an awful pass. Sale then took the resulting scrum against the head, at an ensuing ruck Louis Deacon handled the ball (even I could see it through my one eye!) 12 – 6 to Sale. A good half time talk and kick in the pants and we’re here to win.
No changes to either team during the break – keep the faith, Deano will bring on the cavalry later, all is well. Sale restart, one of our players leaps to catch, nowhere near the ball, could he see anything through the lights? The ball bounced and Sale recovered it. Josh had obviously had something at half time, 2 excellent tackles and reclaimed the ball. Joseph then kicked the ball down field to Jason Robinson, Robinson runs it back for 40 metres, through the first 2 tackles, the ball comes out to the Sale right and Steve Booth and Glenn Gelderbloom take the same man leaving a massive overlap which Sale run through to score – note to diary, don’t kick to this chap Robinson, he looks quite good. All of the action has been in the Tigers half. From the restart, yet another knock on lead to an exchange of views, Titteral the Sale Hooker seemed to be running off before the yellow card was brandished and Martin Corry followed for killing the ball. There then followed a novel scene, the ref called the captains over and spoke to them, I had been under the impression that it was only the captains who spoke to the ref! The penalty went to Leicester who kicked to touch and then through a double move by Chuter were themselves penalised. West and Wiggy replaced Chuter and Freshwater, now we’ll see things move. The pace hots up, the forward pressure is more direct, Walshe has his hands all over the ball in a ruck, linesman had a clear view but did nothing, I bet had anyone’s foot come into contact with Walshe’s hand the old yellow flag would be up like a shot. From the next scrum Harry shoots over to score beneath the posts 19 – 13, told you so, here we go.
Austin then kicks long to Robinson, oh no, not again! but follows up and tackles, Robinson is penalised for not releasing. Backy and Tom Tierney come on for Josh and Harry. Penalty kick to touch on 10 metre line, right in front of me. Johnno calls and get the ball cleanly, meanwhile Sale no. 5 is laying down by his feet to ensure that no maul can get going, the ball goes out, Austin drops a goal, 19 – 16, told you so, never in doubt.
Austin then tries to chip the Sale defence, it has been in his face all night and playing very well, nice idea, atrocious execution. Chris Jones scooped up the ball and then sprinted 50m to score under the posts, converted, 26 – 16, oh pooh. Ben Kay on for Louis Deacon, Backy looks a class apart from the rest, breaks down the left, draws 2 men pops from the floor to Ben Kay, the Ball goes out but we are penalised for crossing, a harsh and unjust decision according to Mr Razcal. Sale’s Lines was again merrily dragging anything down that was upright. Hanley broke at speed but Austin was faster and brought him down, Tigers were then penalised for offside, the kick missed and went dead, scrum to Leicester, Tom Tierney’s pass was keeping Austin on his toes in guessing where it might go. Jason Robinson then kicked ahead and was adjudged to be tackled late (again Mr Razcal disagreed with the offence). 29 – 16. The team was beginning to show signs of last season’s form but in all honesty the backs looked dull witted against an excellent Sale defence and Austin running laterally didn’t help his back line get any width or distance from the Sale defence. We pressured but Sale held firm, we panicked.
Final whistle.
All in all, both teams got what they deserved.
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