In addition, England required Moody, Hipkiss, Chuter, Ellis (unfit anyway) and Tom Croft to stay away.

Even ace scrummager Julian White is now crook. The Northampton team was also short of four on England duty and a few injured.

Nonetheless in excess of 23,000 paid to watch the East Midlands derby part one.  These matches always have an exciting atmosphere and both teams will give their all.  The Crumbie Terrace was already very full when I arrived 30 minutes before kick off.  I was not hugely confident, these matches when international calls disrupt the teams always seem a possible banana skin for the teams that are old fashioned enough to supply England with players (e.g. Leeds beating Wasps).  My mood was not brightened by the news that Richard Blaze had pulled out at the last minute.  That reduced the Tigers only obvious strength, the front five. 

Northampton began well and worked a position in Tigers 22 from which Stephen Myler attempted a drop goal that he pushed inches to the right of the posts.  But Saints did take the lead after six minutes with a try through second row Day.  The ball went loose near half way and Northampton attacked at pace down the right with the Tigers defence stretched.  Nonetheless in required exact execution and good lines of running from Myler and Ashton to put in second row Day.

Tigers came away with three points from their first passage of attacking play. Tigers scrum was on top all match with Castrogiovanni, Davies and Ayerza driving back Saints with lung busting vigour.  It was from one scrum that Tigers attacked into the Saints 22 and Northampton came in at the side of the rock.  Staunton, who didn’t miss a kick at goal all match, slotted the penalty.

A forty five yard break by Amoroso then had Tigers back on the attack. And when Saints were again penalised at the breakdown, Staunton's kick brought the hosts to within a point.

From the kick off Saints pressed into the Tigers 22.  Saints recycled quick ball through a number of phases and had the Tiger defence a little stretched down the right when Allen swooped on a loose pass by Myler drew the last defender and passed to Amorosino. The Argentinean international sprinted 80 yards in characteristic head-back arms-flailing style and stayed ahead of the corner-flagging Diggin's attempted tap tackle to put Tigers ahead for the first time 13-7.

Myler had the chance to chip away at this lead but was wide with his second penalty as the clock showed 30 minutes played. Then the Tigers scrum won a penalty and Staunton extended the lead to 16-7.  I felt this score flattered Tigers who were struggling in the loose allowing Saints many phases to attack.  Saints backs looked more threatening, especially down the right with a ploy to exploit Amorosino’s lack of height almost resulting in a try.

As the clock ticked down to zero, I was hoping for this secure looking lead to last into the changing rooms but Saints scored with the last play of the half as Reihana broke down the right touchline, slipped two tackles, one a disappointing effort from Amorosino and found Ashton inside to score near the corner. Myler missed from wide.

The second half saw no change in the relative strengths and weaknesses of the teams although Saints started to attack more often close to and over the top of the ruck and to some advantage.  Then Saints flanker Neil Best tackled Martin Castrogiovanni round the head which brought Staunton his fifth penalty of the game.  Myler hit back with his first 3-pointer of the evening.

Saints attacked into the Tigers 22 and sniped down the blindside and Lee Dickson reached for the line but the TMO judged that Brett Deacon had tackled him into touch as the scrum-half attempted to score.

Saints kept the pressure on with the Tigers tiring as Cockerill was reluctant to use many of his inexperienced bench. With four minutes left Allen intercepted Everitt’s long' pass just in the Tigers 22 and ran under the posts for a try converted by Staunton. This try denied Saints a losing bonus point and allowed Tigers to jump above Saints to fourth in the Guiness Premiership.  The home crowd made their approval known as Ben Youngs kicked the ball into touch to end the game.

Men of the match:  Castro’, Ayerza, Allen and Staunton

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