By TigerR
November 14 2006

Leicester Tigers travelled to Watford on Sunday to play Saracens. Pat Howard had ten players unavailable due to international call ups. The notable exception was ex-Saracen Andy Goode. However Goode was not given a starting role possibly because of Pat Howard's dislike for disrupting settled combinations. Thus it was that a youthful looking Tigers team emerged onto the pitch (Burke and Moreno excepted). Saracens had the odd
call up but were fielding a settled nearly full strength side that included
Andy Farrel at 12 for the first time.

Saracens started powerfully pinning Tigers in their own half for most of the first half. The Tiger cubs defended heroically but could not win enough ball to push Saracens back. The line out went well enough but the Tiger scrum was under pressure and the Tigers pack were out-muscled in the rucks and mauls. The scrum was no surprise with Michael Holford and Alex Moreno against more seasoned premiership performers like Cobus Visagie.

Saracens territorial dominance lead to a number of penalty goals for them.
However the key moment of the half came when a Saracens kick went down the middle of the field and was well placed enough that neither Sam Vesty nor Tom Varndell could not reach it before it bounced. The bounce favoured the Saracens kicker who gathered and passed to Richrad Haughton who crossed the line for a try. Tigers went in at half time 16-6 down.

After the break Pat Howard brought on Andy Goode. He had an immediate impact with the length of his kicking. For once he found all his touches and the Tigers gained some territory. Leon Lloyd was sin binned for not rolling away (he was probably the somewhat unlucky recipient of a team yellow) but Tigers prospered with a penalty goal. Lloyd was replaced by Matt Cornwell. Then Tigers pressure near the Sarcens line set up Andy Goode for a close range try and Tigers were back in the game.

Saracens were finding it harder to get up field (although their set scrum was still well on top) and were leading by only 3 points. However on one forray close to half way they were awared a penalty. Some back chat gave then an extra 10 yards and the excellent Jackson slotted the kick for a six point lead. This prompted a siege of the Sarcens line for the last five minutes. The Tigers attacked mainly through the forwards (their backs had not had the better of their exchanges with Saracens) declining two kickable penalties in as many minutes. Several times they went close before James Buckland was driven over in a mass of players. Mr Maybank did not see theball grounded and blew for full time.

Saracens 22 Leicester 16

This was a close match in which the Tigers could have won at the death.
They did get a bonus point. Saracens played well, especially in defence.
Careless talk once again cost the team. However my lasting impression is of a good performance by Tigers (given the ten men missing) who showed lots of spirit, especially at the end and which was so nearly rewarded.