By TigerTom
October 13 2010

Treviso Away – what a great draw. Last time we played there I went for the day and had a great time. Super place, wine festival and an unknown number of tries scores by Tigers. Well of course I could look it up, but at the time it took us an age to work out the try scorers as the end of the game had become a blur of Tigers crossing the Treviso line. And the highlight was learning the Julian White song.

Best laid plans and so on all seemed to rather awry this time because I can find no information about the wine festival, then annoyingly the match date is one week away from half term so no short family break is possible. However I’m still planning on going as I enjoyed Treviso so much last time. But the others in our group all seem to making their own plans and with the leagunion rugby I’m not too bothered about spending a couple of hundred quid watching a game of rugby. Still never mind I can go and pick up a new Wendyball ground and watch Shrewsbury away at Morcambe. I check out all the travel details and get the train price down to about 40 quid with some cheap(?) day returns. I find their new ground on google and I’m all set.

This all fails miserably when I find out that my wife is working on the saturday morning so there’s no chance of getting to the football in time. Oh well never mind I’ll get into town and watch the Tigers stuff the Italians, Oh drat, the game kicks off at 1:30 UK time and my wife doesn’t finish until 1 and won’t be home til 1:45. This is going to be annoying as I’m going to have to drag the kids down to meet her and that means lots of complaints from the kids. Worse news – my daughter has a birthday party to attend and that starts at 2:00. How on earth can I get her there, and watch the game, and not drive so I can have a beer? Just to compound my problems there are some demonstrations planned for Leicester city centre. I’m not sure what they’re about – they were probably complaining about the new Rugby Laws this season.

After some negotiations a plan emerges that just about works – Daughter to friends who are doing birthday trip - son to get lift to meet his mother – drive to Bakers in Blaby to watch game. It’s not perfect but it’s a plan. Miss time it slightly, but arrive in time for the KO to find that the editor is already in the pub. That was a surprise as she lives the other side of the city, but nice as I get someone to talk to.

The pub is pretty busy, but not as full as last time I watched a European game here (Clermont away). I’ve just about managed to get a beer and found a position to stand, watch the game without actually banging my head on one of the many low beams and I see Matt Smith scoring the opening try.

Ha – it seems those Magners league boys must be rubbish this year losing away to Treviso. Still they do at least have a much nicer kit this year than the dayglo yellow outfit they had last time. Having arrived late I have little idea of our lineup, but it seem that 36 is at 10 again – YBY is playing, Geordy, Scotty and Alex are the back three and clearly Matt is playing. I only realise later when the commentator mention that Hippo had dropped out in the warm up that I’ve no idea who the other centre is (Agulla it turns out) and judging by a lot of our passing throughout the game, the players didn’t know either as we repeatedly threw the ball onto the grass. The forwards were the usual bunch with no Ayerza – I’m hoping that he’s back for next week. Newby playing at 7 – I’m slightly surprised but find out later that Woods also dropped out late, and similarly with Flood who we certainly need back. I hope he was given another weeks rest as a precaution.

Back to the game. Actually Treviso look pretty competitive, certainly in the scrums where I’d assumed we would have our usual dominance. In fact it seems they may even have a slight edge. Our lineout is awful (again) and George keeps on getting pinged for non straight throws. This doesn’t help our attacking momentum and Treviso are right in the game. I’m still convinced that we’ll win easily, but they score a nice try under the posts. Tigers quickly respond with a Newby try, but 36 is missing some kicks. I think we shouldn’t really be attempting many penalties with him kicking as although he’s an OK kicker, he does miss a lot and that just lets the opposition off the hook and relieves the pressure.

13 each at half time – not quite what I was expecting, but last time the score was something like 16 all after an hour, so I’m not worried.

We drop behind to a penalty, but soon score our 3^rd try from Castro, but our midfield defence goes missing and Benvenuti goes under the posts again. This isn’t right – we’re supposed to be starting to dominate now!

Tigers get their 4^th try and the expected bonus point, but the Italians are still playing well and get their second drop goal and take the lead 29-27 with not long left. I’m now getting slightly worried as although we get the ball we seem unable to get down to their end to get a penalty or attempt a drop goal (I’d guess by Geordan, not 36?).

Meanwhile Treviso are playing it fairly safe booting the ball back down near our goal to keep us penned in. We use the normal approach of kicking it back to then, much to the general annoyance of the pub, but finally run one back and after some slick handling Alex gets over the line. 36 makes the important conversion to give the Tigers 5 point lead. He also took an age to take the kick using his full minute and although Treviso attack they never get near the line and Tigers hold on.

Overall Tigers deserved to win, but Treviso certainly deserved at least a point and it certainly shows how much Treviso are improving. How long before they’re considered real threats?  Or is that time now? I certainly don’t think anyone can afford to take them lightly either at home or away, and I fully expect them to win at least one game, and very possibly two in the group. Tigers need to make sure one of those is not at welford road.

After Tigers, I made the two mile hike ducking about a thousand times to the loo in the Bakers (the gents is at one end and the ladies at the other of the pub) and its quite handy being able to keep track of the current game on the multiple TV’s you pass on the way :-) just remember to keep ducking if you’re over 5 foot tall!  And Ladies should remember to make sure they wash their hands after visiting the loo – the hand dryer is VERY LOUD and everyone knows if you haven’t used it.

Our editor had said that she hadn’t seen her husband in the crowd – where he was playing the somewhat less than dutiful father to be, and at one point in the second half I thought I saw him as the camera panned along the crowd, but naturally the editor had chosen that moment to use the facilities so the sighting was unconfirmed – and before you ask, yes the hand dryer was used!

I had planned on heading straight home, but the Llanelli – Perpignan game came on the TV and I ended up staying to watch that. That turned out to be a real try fest. It seems that we’re not so much in a group of death, more like a group of no defence. Sixteen tries in our group in 2 games, the best any other group could do is 10, then next best is 7.

I thought Perpignan would just win the game, and when they scored an early try I thought my prediction was looking about right. However the Welsh proved to have a real attacking flair running a fast game and moving the ball round really well, and that doesn’t even count Stephen Jones goal kicking. There were some terrific tries, and I was impressed with both teams. Certainly Llanelli looked a lot better than I had expected and will prove a real threat at Welford Road next weekend.

I hope Flood is back for the Tigers as we’ll need his kicking, and certainly the pack will have to improve especially in the lineout.

Oh and BTW Shrewsbury lost 1-0, Morcambe's first win at their new stadium - I just knew that was going to happen when I saw that they'd only managed draws at home before :-(

Treviso Match Report

Discussion started by TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk , 13/10/2010 10:24

TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk
13/10/2010 10:24

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andrew pickard
13/10/2010 11:07

I was only there on a day pass, in case the baby decided to put in an early appeareance. We're both hoping it doesn't arrive yet, the house is a long way from ready.

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Tiggs
13/10/2010 12:20

Cheers Tom, a lovely backdrop to your usual Saturday arrangements !!

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Stopsy
13/10/2010 12:38

Many thanks Tom

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ChrisC
13/10/2010 13:37

Cheers Tom - much as I saw it - aside from the Editor's ablutions of course as I couldn't hear the handryer!

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SimW
13/10/2010 16:15

Great report. Good work fella.

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Johns
13/10/2010 16:39

I can confirm the Editors better half was indeed in Treviso.

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Rich W
13/10/2010 16:43

Thanks Tom - good effort!

...

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tigersimon
13/10/2010 19:20

Thanks Tom

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harlequinade
13/10/2010 20:45

Quote:

drive to Bakers in Blaby to watch game. It’s not perfect but it’s a plan. Miss time it slightly, but arrive i

The Baker Arms oh how I miss it
We used to go on Sunday lunch and have 3 pints and stagger home!!
(Well I was only 15!)


Thanks for the report and the memory jogger!

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