Young Green Lifts Mood a Lote
By TigerR
March 8 2010
With the news that stalwart Tiger Lewis Moody will be joining Bath next season, the poor performance at Franklin’s Gardens to consider and title rivals London Irish needing a victory to restart their challenge, there were some negatives to consider as the sun sank lower in the sky over the fields of south Leicestershire.
By TigerR
March 8 2010
With the news that stalwart Tiger Lewis Moody will be joining Bath next season, the poor performance at Franklin’s Gardens to consider and title rivals London Irish needing a victory to restart their challenge, there were some negatives to consider as the sun sank lower in the sky over the fields of south Leicestershire.
However Welford Road always has a chilly feel for visiting teams and on this occasion it was matched by the air temperature as the wind began to blow from the east.
Leicester has Geordan Murphy, Toby Flood and Castrogiovanni returning from Six Nations duty and Lote Tuqiri was making his final appearance before his return to the warmth of Australia. The promising Callum Green was named in the second row which was exciting although he was up against two excellent operators in Bob Casey and Nick Kennedy. For London Irish, were missing the dangerous Topsy Ojo and Delon Armitage but Paul Hodgson was available to prompt their attacks from scrum half..
Tigers started with the wind behind them and made a quick start as they worked play to the blind side where Martin Castrogiovanni made room for Anthony Allen with a quick pass. Allen drew last defender Homer (something that backs playing for England seem unable to manage) before passing to the unmarked Tuilagi, who trotted over. Flood converted.
Flood added a penalty goal to extend the Tigers lead to 10-0 before Homer replied with a penalty. Tigers continued to press and were awarded a penalty which Flood kicked to make the lead 13-3 midway through the first half.
Irish had been doing well in the line out but Callum Green rose at 2 to steal Irish lineout ball near the Tigers 22. The pack drove forward and then released the backs. Flood found Tuqiri who scorched round Elvis Seveali'i and raced to the Irish 22 where he fed Hamilton who beat Armitage on the outside to score in the corner. It was one of the best tries scored at Welford Road this year.
Irish were rattled and pinned in their own half tried an ambitious inside pass only to find that Martin Castrogiovanni was lurking. Castro juggeld th ball a little and then raced 22 metres to the posts and slammed the ball into the turf. He was mobbed by most of the Tigers players and cheered to the rafters by the crowd.
Leicester has Geordan Murphy, Toby Flood and Castrogiovanni returning from Six Nations duty and Lote Tuqiri was making his final appearance before his return to the warmth of Australia. The promising Callum Green was named in the second row which was exciting although he was up against two excellent operators in Bob Casey and Nick Kennedy. For London Irish, were missing the dangerous Topsy Ojo and Delon Armitage but Paul Hodgson was available to prompt their attacks from scrum half..
Tigers started with the wind behind them and made a quick start as they worked play to the blind side where Martin Castrogiovanni made room for Anthony Allen with a quick pass. Allen drew last defender Homer (something that backs playing for England seem unable to manage) before passing to the unmarked Tuilagi, who trotted over. Flood converted.
Flood added a penalty goal to extend the Tigers lead to 10-0 before Homer replied with a penalty. Tigers continued to press and were awarded a penalty which Flood kicked to make the lead 13-3 midway through the first half.
Irish had been doing well in the line out but Callum Green rose at 2 to steal Irish lineout ball near the Tigers 22. The pack drove forward and then released the backs. Flood found Tuqiri who scorched round Elvis Seveali'i and raced to the Irish 22 where he fed Hamilton who beat Armitage on the outside to score in the corner. It was one of the best tries scored at Welford Road this year.
Irish were rattled and pinned in their own half tried an ambitious inside pass only to find that Martin Castrogiovanni was lurking. Castro juggeld th ball a little and then raced 22 metres to the posts and slammed the ball into the turf. He was mobbed by most of the Tigers players and cheered to the rafters by the crowd.
Irish steadied themselves but Tom Homer twice missed the chance kick penalties from long range. Another penalty was kicked by Irish to the corner and Nick Kennedy won clean lineout ball. A series of drives took Irish up to the Tigers line and Steffon Armitage added the finishing touch. The conversion left Tigers 25-10 ahead at the break, closer than was entirely comfortable given Irish’s attacking style with the wind at their backs in the second half.
Tigers had lost open side flanker Ben Woods to injury to be replaced by blind side Brett Deacon and Toby Flood was also withdrawn after half time to be replaced by Jeremy Staunton. Irish, presumably given a stern talk by Toby Booth began the second-half strongly running the ball at every opportunity using long passes to stretch the Tigers. Lamb, who had taken over kicking duties, ensured Irish came away from a period of pressure with three points from a penalty. Irish were reduced to 14 men when No8 Hala'Ufia was yellow-carded for a high ‘tackle’ on Castrogiovanni. The lack of an attempt to grasp the man persuading French referee Berdos to send him to the ‘cooler’
Berdos’ refereeing of the scrum was not always to the liking of the crowd but he awarded the Tigers scrum a penalty which Jeremy Staunton slotted. Lamb then landed two penalties in quick succession, which were probably fair reward for Irish’s dominance with Steffon Armitage standing out in both ruck and open play. It left Tigers only 28-19 ahead with 14 minutes remaining and still short of the bonus point for four tries that had seemed so likely in the first half.
But Tigers won a penalty, kicked to the corner and Tom Croft on for the excellent Green took a safe catch at the front. From an ensuing ruck the ball went to the backs and Staunton found Allen who spun through a couple of tackles only to be grabbed by the last defender. He popped a pass inside for Chuter who burst over from 5 metres untouched. The crowd went wild. With Staunton injured by a lateish tackle, Murphy took the conversion to set the seal on a 35-19 victory.
So farewell Lote, it was probably your best performance in a Tigers jersey. We have looked a sharper outfit with you in the team.
Man of the match was Martin Castrogiovanni, and I don’t disagree, but the contributions of Anthony Allen and Lotte Tiquiri must not be neglected. The return of Tom Croft is a plus and with Ben Youngs and Callum Green looking perfectly comfortable in this company, the loss of Moody need not cause depression.
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Young Green Lifts Mood a Lote
Posted by: TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2010 15:42
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Re: Young Green Lifts Mood a Lote
Posted by: Rich W (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2010 16:35
Thanks Rex - good report!
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For the avoidance of all doubt please note that the views expressed above are the opinions of the author. I do not make any claim as to their veracity beyond that I believe them to be true. I do not believe that they take precedence over anyone else’s but I maintain my right to question and to refute any opinion expressed on here which runs contrary to mine. Please note that I expect nothing else in return. Please do not, however, be offended should I express doubt as to the accuracy or value of any contribution made by another poster.
Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
..........................................................................
For the avoidance of all doubt please note that the views expressed above are the opinions of the author. I do not make any claim as to their veracity beyond that I believe them to be true. I do not believe that they take precedence over anyone else’s but I maintain my right to question and to refute any opinion expressed on here which runs contrary to mine. Please note that I expect nothing else in return. Please do not, however, be offended should I express doubt as to the accuracy or value of any contribution made by another poster.
Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
Re: Young Green Lifts Mood a Lote
Posted by: johns (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2010 20:36
Thanks Tiger R.
Re: Young Green Lifts Mood a Lote
Posted by: Stopsy (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2010 21:01
Many thanks TigerR
Re: Young Green Lifts Mood a Lote
Posted by: Tiggs (IP Logged)
Date: 19/03/2010 22:24
Thanks by the way, super read.
Re: Young Green Lifts Mood a Lote
Posted by: Tom Paine (IP Logged)
Date: 20/03/2010 14:15
'Well done, Johns', E. Butler.
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