By Mike Hill
October 26 2003

Tigers recorded their fourth successive Premiership defeat as arch rivals Northampton Saints put them to the sword 32 -15. The only positive from another poor performance was the return to action of Freddie Tuilagi and Steve Booth. There wasn't much to cheer about for the home fans with the biggest roar of the day reserved for the introduction of Freddie midway through the first half. Quality antipodean duo Shane Drahm, who kicked 19 points, and Bruce Reihana, who scored two excellent tries, were the standout performers for the visitors.

I won't dwell on the opening period of the game because I wasn't there a traffic jam near Newbury had seen to that! My usual 2 hour journey to Leicester became more than 4 and I turned up thoroughly disgruntled to find the score was 7-6 to the visitors. Apparently Steve Booth had capped Tigers good start to the game with two penalties before Reihana scored from a slick backs move.

The two sides seemed fairly well matched for most of the game only in the final quarter did Saints build a sizeable lead as Tigers heads dropped. In the first half however it was more even as Shane Drahm kicked two penalties to Booth's one to give the Saints a 13 - 9 halftime lead. Tigers could have won this game if they had taken the two decent chances that came their way.

The first came at the very end of the opening period with the Tigers down to 14 men after George Chuter had seen Yellow after allegedly pulling down Matt Lord at a lineout. Fortunately shortly after Chris Budgen was also binned and both teams had 14. Tigers elected to kick a penalty to touch and drive from the lineout. Minutes earlier they had come close to scoring with the same move and Leicester seemed to have the edge. On this occasion the drive wasn't tight enough and Saints were able to survive until half time.

The second half started slowly and neither side managed any continuity of possession with the two kickers slotting another penalty apiece. Drahm's was a wind assisted 55 metre peach whilst Booth's was a lot closer. The second chance was also missed and owed much to Saints blind side defence going AWOL. Josh Kronfeld found himself in acres of space as he burst out of a maul near halfway. An early pass to his left would have found John Holtby sprinting up in support and put the young wing away but the pass was delayed and the cover got to Holtby in time.

An immediate counter attack gave Drahm another penalty before the rejuvenated Nick Beal kicked a monster drop goal. That gave Northampton a handy 22 - 12 lead and although Ollie Smith and Freddie came close with strong runs neither could break the visitors strong defence. Things went steadily downhill as Drahm added yet another penalty goal before Reihana sailed through a disorganised back line to add the final insult. All Tigers could muster in reply was Booth's fifth penalty of the afternoon.

Harry Ellis was my Tigers Man of the Match and remained spirited, aggressive and sprightly throughout. He may not be the world's most technically gifted scrum half but he has enormous determination and a disregard for his own well being only matched by Lewis Moody.

So what next for the one time four in a row league winners and back to back European Champions who now sit a lowly 10th in the Zurich Premiership? Away to the new much improved Bath is the next very tricky fixture. Bath are currently league leaders and a side that knows all about the difficulties of living up to past success. Bath have been rejuvenated by the arrival of new coach John Connolly is it time for a change at Leicester?

The current management has been phenomenally successful and deserves some time to turn things around but the Leicester board has proved in the past that it can be ruthless when the need arises. As Tony Russ and Bob Dwyer know only too well. For the moment I think Deano is safe but for how much longer if the slump continues. Thank heavens Saracens are just as bad and Rotherham are even worse.

See you all at the Rec.