By davidg
December 24 2012

Brief report, as no notes taken at the game, so written retrospectively.

Travelled to the game in hope of maybe a losing bonus point and heartened to see the team selection. From the off though, it was the visitors who showed the greater commitment, with the England fly half directing play with ease. The Irish lineout looked very sound and there was little between the teams at scrum time.

Tigers took an early lead after a cross-field kick from Mr Flood found his winger with pinpoint accuracy (a TMO referral on the grounding would have been interesting had the game been televised). Soon we were 14-0 down to a try scored by “Mr Penalty”. At last the home team managed to put some phases of play together and I Humph opened the scoring to make it 3-14 at half time. All up in Y21 agreed that the visitors were playing the ref very well, especially his interpretation of the breakdown, side entry, and general offside!

On to the second half where the team seemed to pick up a gear or two. That. combined with the yellow card for Ben Youngs, saw Irish creep back into the game and the score was a more respectable 9-14, and a more accurate reflection of the match so far. Even when the Tigers extended the lead to 17-9 there was a real belief that at least the bonus point was attainable. Alas this was not to be, with conceding the second penalty try after a very dubious Tigers’ turnover. At the death with 14 playing 15 the inevitable happened when Leicester secured the bonus point win.

A most frustrating afternoon in the stands as most felt that the home side deserved at least the losing bonus against a somewhat lacklustre Tigers’ performance