By Gryff
January 2 2007

The Men in Black and a good band of faithful supporters made the trek up the M1 on a bright crisp cold New Years Day to Welford Road looking for that elusive win but with confidence high after a successful Xmas period. We joined many of the Sarries supporters at the back of the Crumbie Stand with anticipation high. The first thing I noticed was the Crumbie Stand or should that be Crummy Stand, seats a painted plank with about 12 inches of bum room and six of leg for £25 a throw! I increasingly fail to understand the bad rep Vicarage Road gets yes atmosphere is less but you can use your legs after the match, your bum isn’t too numb, you can see all the match and you have more money left in your wallet! Tigers move to the Walkers you deserve it!

So on to the match, the crisp weather had turned into a downpour, Tigers kick off and camp in the Sarries half for first 10 minutes including a missed fairly straightforward penalty. Much of the time was spent getting used to the new scrum laws as several scrums were set and reset. The new laws seemed not to make much difference the gentle arm taps of the prop quickly dropping for the charge in. Leicester powerful front 5 showed their mark during the opening phases and this was to become a theme for the match. The other theme that showed up was Sarries indiscipline and it appeared that whenever they cleared the ball it would come right back at them following infringements and turnovers.

Sarries virtual first visit to the Leicester half resulted in the first try of the match. Following a lineout, the forwards carried the ball on several times before the ball was spun wide for Kevin Yates to crash over in the corner. Thomas Castaignede who had taken the kicking duties missed the difficult conversion but was shortly afterwards to leave the field with what seemed to be a hamstring problem, to be replaced by Tomas De Vedia.

Sarries looked good following the try with the backs in particular putting together a good series of plays but, after 25 mins, coughed up possession which they should have cleared up. This resulted in a break from Scott Beamand before feeding Alesana Tuilagi for a clear run to the line. Humphries converted for the extras.

Shortly after, following good moves by the backs and Faz in particular, the Tigers were caught off side and Faz kicked the penalty putting the Men in Black back in front.

Leicester struck back on the stroke of half time after a series of attacks had resulted in the ball held up over the line with Alan Dickens getting his body under the ball. Despite the countdown clock showing 0 and over-ruling the complaints of the Sarries players Chris White set a 5m scrum and following the resulting drive Ben Kay went over, Humphries adding the extra again. Half time, Sarries 8 Tigers 14.

Virtually straight from the kick off disaster struck. After a grubber through from replacement scrum half Frank Murphy which should have been easily cleared but bobbled, was hacked on and collected by Alesana Tuilagi who raced under the posts for his second try. Again the extras were added.

Sarries however didn’t give up and Tim Taylor having now found his kicking boots pinged the ball to the 5m line and from the resultant lineout Census Johnson powered over for his second try in 2 starts. Faz converted, 15 – 21.

Sarries failed to deal, yet again with the restart and the Tigers rushed up field and were stopped just short, resulting in a 5m scrum. Nobody on the ground had any doubt what was to happen next with the Tigers scrum having had the edge all match. However, the scrum was set and rest to the increasing frustration of both packs. White awarded a couple of penalties with Tigers resetting the scrum and when the scrum went down again Kevin Yates was sin binned for pulling down. The next scrum collapsed and Chris White marched under the posts. Penalty try easily converted and bonus point to Tigers.

Neither side gave up attacking despite the atrocious conditions and Tuilagi was denied a hat trick following a knock on. In the last two minutes the Men in Black pressed hard trying to get back into bonus point territory, a lovely pass from Faz released Penney who raced towards the line; further pressure from the forwards was held up and as the ball was recycled it was knocked on in midfield, game over Sarries 15 Tigers 28.

In summary, I think the Tigers realised they had been in a match and Sarries were slightly unlucky not to take away a bonus point. The worrying aspects were the lapses in discipline resulting in handing the ball over and particularly the failure to deal with restarts. What is wrong there? Sort it out Gaffer! Please! Pluses: we didn’t stop fighting and I thought both Faz and Penney had good games and looked dangerous. We did however definitely miss De Kock and Jackson primarily, but also Skirvs, Chesers/Simon R and Kameli Ratuvou.

So, after the holiday period, we picked up 9 points and are 5th in table just one point behind Pests. It appears that Bristol, Tigers and Glawster (assuming they win their game in hand against Falcons) are pulling away leaving Pests, Sarries and Sale to fight out 4, 5 and 6. That can all change quickly, especially with Sarries next 2 GP matches home and away against 7th placed Irish, but the Men in Black should remain confident. A loss after a fighting display at Welford Road carries no shame! Come on Sarries!

Scorers: Leicester: Tries: Tuilagi 2 (29min, 47), Kay (40+8). Penalty try: (65). Conversions: Humphreys 4. Saracens: Tries: Yates (14), Johnston (54). Conversion: Farrell. Penalty goal: Farrell (38).

Scoring sequence (Leicester first): 0-5, 7-5, 7-8, 14-8 (half-time), 21-8, 21-15, 28-15.

Leicester: G Murphy; A Tuilagi, D Hipkiss (rep: S Rabeni, 49), M Cornwell (rep: Hipkiss, 59), T Varndell; I Humphreys (rep: A Goode, 69), S Bemand (rep: F Murphy, 45); M Ayerza (rep: Castrogiovanni, 62), J Buckland, J White (rep: Castrogiovanni, 6-12, 38-41; rep: A Moreno, 67), L Cullen, B Kay, L Abraham, S Jennings (rep: T Croft, 80+2), J Crane (rep: M Corry, 69).

Saracens: T Castaignède (rep: T De Vedia, 18); T Vaikona, R Penney, A Farrell, R Haughton; T Taylor (rep: A Powell, 77), A Dickens; K Yates (sin-bin, 64-75), M Cairns, C Johnston, I Fullarton, T Ryder, H Vyvyan (rep: N Lloyd, 65-75), R Hill, P Gustard.

Referee: C White.

Attendance: 16,815.