Kings of the North

Tigers have announced the games that will replace the LV Cup fixtures on Season Tickets for next year.  After Bath, Gloucester and Exeter announced a triangular West Country series mouths were watering that Tigers may be able to replicate that with derbies against Northampton and Wasps.  

Instead the club has arranged to play Newcastle and Sale.  Real pedigree fixtures to get the fans excited.  More than that they have titled this triangular tournament "Kings of the North", a nifty on-trend title nicely referencing both Game of Thrones and King Richard III, but unfortunately rather missing the fact that Leicester is not in the "north" of any thing.  Leicestershire perhaps, at a push.  

And that both these Kings were prematurely killed and not only defeated but their whole dynasty was routed.  Perhaps not the best title to contest?

It seems bizarre that given a free hand to arrange fixtures with any club that would have us we have sided with the two poorest clubs in the league, in both supporter numbers and financially, who we share little history and zero rivalry.  Neither club will bring many fans on the long trip down to Welford Road, neither side will entice many floating non-season ticket holding Tigers fans attentions away from the World Cup and surely TV companies will show no interest in broadcasting any of these matches.

I don't even care enough to Photoshop this image properly

For the traveling fan Kingston Park is the most remote trip in the league at 191 miles compared to 186 miles to Exeter's Sandy Park, Sale meanwhile is the fourth longest trip by driving time only beating Bath because of the lack of motorways to darkest North-East Somerset.  If these away games get moved to Friday night or Sunday it would be the icing on the cake.

So a decidedly dodgy name, unattractive fixtures unlikely to pack in the punters or attract a TV audience and extra-long away trips for our most dedicated away travelers.  I cannot think of a worse pair of clubs to arrange a triangular tournament with.

Tigers win in Newcastle

Regular readers will know I am no Premiership rugby puff boy; not a fluffer who writes endless articles about how, like, utterly amazing the Premiership is and how it's super duper competitive.  Better Than Ever.  The kind of site who either posses a memory that would make a goldfish's wife worry her husband has dementia or genuinely only started watching rugby in 2008 and has never really bothered to find out what happened before.

The kind of "independent" blogs suspiciously well promoted by BT Sport and Premiership rugby on twitter and facebook.

But this season's run in is turning into a remarkable tale.  It's March and four sides will have the domestic double as a realistic goal and Northampton & Saracens will internally be targeting the elusive beast.  The Treble.  Bath still have ambitions for the Premiership & European double that Tigers won in 2002 and Wasps won in 2004.

Tigers dream of only their second ever domestic double.  Despite the spite directed at the team.  Despite 45-0 at they who shall not be named.  Despite only scoring 25 tries in 17 games.

Despite what was a pretty poor opening hour on Sunday.  Tigers were toothless in the first half.  Blunt.  Lacking incision.  We had plenty of ball in the opening exchanges, dominating the first 10 minutes of possession and territory.  But a series of poor kicks were replied to with exquisite Falcons replies, eventually forcing Mat Tait to lamely limp into touch just 5 metres out.

With Newcastle's formidable maul hardly a secret the result, whilst hardly inevitable, was no surprise.  Scott Lawson the baldy nuggety hooker from Scottish borders claimed the spoils.  You have to question the thought process from Tait.  He had options.  Kicking gains a few yards, often crucial in defending mauls; standing up and trying to stay in play would have gained us a ruck and again a better clearance; and controversially, dotting down behind our own line would have given a scrum.  And from a scrum, often as not, we were getting penalties.

Deliberately conceding a 5m scrum is a cardinal sin.  Usually.  But with current interpretations making maul defence impossible against well drilled units the lottery of the scrum has a certain attraction.

Tigers chipped into the lead with a Burns penalty after a collapsed scrum, reading the wind or getting lucky with the swerve as it carved its way left to right and through the middle.  

Newcastle caused problems every time they attacked.  Catterick was an impish threat reminiscent of Healey in his pomp, the evasion, the visions, the ahem, "tactical" kicking.  Sinoti Sinoti was equally dangerous with ball in hand.  A hitchkicker defenders naturally stand off him afraid of over committing.

Tigers cut back to 7-6 following an impressive Tait break down the left and a Newcastle penalty in the ruck but it was not long before Newcastle extended their advantage.  With Tom Croft down injured Tigers had the ball slightly outside the 22, unable to kick directly to touch Burns heaved the ball down centre field.

Alex Tuilagi, needing no introduction, bulldozed his way through the Tigers defence.  Morris nailed him and with the help of Pearce kept the behemoth out.  Newcastle quickly swung the play to the opposite flank and Sinoti.  Sinoti stepped in, he stepped out.  He wriggled his way over, freeing his arms to slam the ball home as his body was being dragged into touch.

The wide conversion was dragged wider and halftime was quickly signaled.

The second half was different.  Salvi was introduced for Croft, Bell for Morris and Crane for Pearce all in the first ten minutes.  They made an impact as Tigers firstly subdued Newcastle's attack.  Catterick had their one golden chance in the second period, after some neat interpassing of the Falcon's pack he broke free only for a Sam Harrison lunge to dislodge the ball.

Tigers forwards were introduced to each other at half time and told, it seems, that they were in fact allowed to pass the ball and that despite the smells it was probably a good idea to get close and support the man in possesion of it.

These revolutionary tactics bore immediate rewards as Tigers became noticeably more fluent with Crane a real influence on proceedings.  New leaf freshly turned over, along with the ball, Tigers attacked through Goneva and Mulipola.  The momentum building until Newcastle offended Tigers closed the gap to 3.

Catterick's kick off drifted on the wind directly into touch.  Tigers replaced the entire front row to immediate effect as Rizzo had Newcastle's loan prop Rogers in all sorts of trouble.  Burns was short but the momentum was with Tigers as Gibson rose to deny the Falcons' clearance.

Tigers were now rampant and Newcastle badly retreating into their shell.  A Tigers attack or two were denied for attacking penalties but the collisions and the rucks were only going one way now.  It was Michele Rizzo who burst through, with Balmain joining to create the maul that Newcastle dragged down, Burns kicked cross field but to noting.  To the corner and another maul.  Dragged down again.  Another advantage.  Another cross field kick.

But this time it worked.  Mat Tait leaped into younger brother Alex, knee high in the traditional style he could not claim the ball but did enough to disrupt his sibling.  The ball spilling loose on the plastic turf.  Bell swept forward and applied the finish.

It went to the TMO.  And he looked. And we looked.  And I couldn't see anything at all as it was at the other side of the ground.  But he gave it.  On reviewing the highlights he could hardly have done anything else, Mat Tait does not touch the ball but he is clearly trying to.

Burns was faced with the crucial conversion.  Miss and Newcastle would have ample time to pressure Luke Pearce into finding a penalty against us, whether one existed or not, but succeed and we are immune to the penalty and can defend with the extra edge that a 4 point cushion allows.

From the same spot that Catterick missed the Bath born fly half made no mistake, the wind mercifully quiet as he struck it elegantly through the posts.

In the end Tigers should have been awarded another try.  Burns swopped on a free ball and an ingenious kick pass from Mele to Thompson brought Tigers onto the goal line again.  Jordan Crane picked his spot through the ruck and went for the try.  One camera showed him well over the line, but unsure on the grounding, and another showed him on the ground but not where he was in relation to the line.  Apparently it is beyond the wit of Trevor Fisher to add these images together to make a try.

With a bizarre penalty at the resultant scrum Newcastle had a lifeline but never looked capable of the unlikely 90m try.

And Tigers remarkable season of utterly unremarkable games carries on.  Despite the first hour.  Despite a points difference of +7.  Despite ourselves.  The dream of the double lives on.

About Last Night: Lights go out on Extras

A young Extras side succumbed to a more experienced Newcastle side eventually losing 34-8.  The Tigers side needed all of Neil Briggs’ 29 years to nudge the average age of the starting XV just above 20, whilst Newcastle fielded US international Eric Fry, England tourists Scott Wilson & Andy Saull, former Tigers Rob Hawkins & Andy Tuilagi, Super League Grand Final Man of the Match Lee Smith and a smattering of experienced Premiership players such as Rory Clegg, Jamie Helleur and Tom Catterick.

Tigers’ only fundamental weakness was with dealing with the restarts.  This reared its head right from the off and meant Tigers struggled to clear their half right through the game.  Newcastle dominated the opening 10 minutes spending the entire time camped in Tigers 22.  Brave defence ensued to keep the Falcons out, with the pack particularly to the fore.

On 15 minutes and after only 2 penalties referee Gareth Holsgrove from Peterborough produced a yellow card for Will Owen.  The offence on first look appeared to be for tackling Andy Tuilagi in full flight and forcing a fumble.  But the referee saw skulduggery and gave the Falcons a 3-0 lead.

Tigers struck straight back with a long range penalty from Williams after 21 minutes.  This was only Tigers second incursion into the Newcastle half after a foray a minute earlier was knocked on by Bryant. 

Just before the end of Owen’s sin bin period Newcastle finally profited from the man advantage.  A very suspicious steal at the base of the scrum, that appeared to me to be clearly in the scrum when it was pilfered, was taken by Newcastle 9 Andy Davies.   

After a battering on the line Newcastle were awarded a penalty and went quickly to Andy Tuilagi who used his considerable bulk to muscle over the line.

Tigers took the play to Newcastle for the rest of the half, creating opportunities but lacking the precision to finish them.  Despite his earlier no nonsense style the referee allowed Newcastle to deliberately slap down the ball with a man clear to the line with no yellow card.  Owen Williams was wide with the conversion.

Soon after a quick lineout was thrown at least 3 yards forwards Newcastle once again benefited from the Peterborough officials interesting interpretation of our sport’s rule book.  Rory Clegg was nerveless with the boot to take the score out to 13-3 at half time.

Tigers replaced Neil Briggs and Tiziano Pasquali at half time with Harry Thacker and Dan Hogan taking the average age of the side to below 19 years 6 months.  Thacker was his usual ball of energy and his brother Charlie, starting at 13 but switching to full back early in the second half, appears to share his ability to play bigger than his size. 

The second half really sprung into life in the 53^rd minute; Newcastle were attacking inside the Tigers 22 when Rob Hawkins fumbled the ball, as Tresidder cleaned up and attempted to break Hawkins swung a panicked arm at the Derbyshire teen catching him clean under the jaw.  The Crumbie cried foul and the players piled in to support their young friend.

How did the referee deal with this 30 year old forward’s high tackle garrotting the teen half back?  Obviously he revered the penalty for a bit of pushing and shoving and refused to even card Hawkins when a yellow was certain and a red hardly obscene.

Tigers on tilt, and with the crowd booing and sharing their witticisms on the referee’s eye sight, parentage and size of the bribe he must of took from Deano, were rolled over the line with a contested grounding given with undue haste generating more cat calls from the disgruntled Crumbie.

Owen Williams made way after 57 mins as Tresidder moved to fly half, not the Welshman’s best performance but he was leading an incredibly young side in tough circumstances.

Just to round out the fun we then had a 10 minute delay after an intrepid night watchman turned off the GNC stand’s flood lights.  Given this was a reserve fixture and the Crumbie flood lights provided a perfectly illuminated surface the 10 minute delay was completely unnecessary and a classic example of the referee’s pedantry and poor handling of the fixture.

As he didn’t appear to be watching the match anyway I fail to understand how a bit of shade on the far side would have made a difference.

Injury to sub Oliver Povoas forced Welsh wing Rhys Williams into the pack as Tigers opened up to chase the game.  Tigers looked good with the pace raised and hopefully this youthful team can raise the pace in the pitiful 4 remaining fixtures of the season.

Newcastle’s Dan Temm was sin binned for a innocuous midfield offence, just to prove the referee was not biased simply bizarre, and Tigers took advantage as George Prince dummied to a circling Charlie Beckett before sneaking over in the corner.

The comeback was short lived though as Newcastle’s power come through with a pick and drive try.  The final nail in the coffin, and the Falcons bonus point effort, was a break away by sub winger Penny after some excellent interplay by the Tigers deep in the Falcons 22.

This was a tough lesson in the vagaries of refereeing and the power needed at the top level but Tigers youthful cubs stood up very well.  Beckett and Milne in the back row are sizeable customers with good game awareness.  Brugnara and Pasquali impressed again and both seem likely to push on this season for the LV Cup at least.

In the backs Tresidder interested the fringe defence and created problems, whilst Charlie Thacker reminded me of a young Dan Hipkiss, with a cutting side step and good strength on a slim frame.

Extras: Bryant (Sakoh 45mins);R.Williams, C.Thacker, Pohe, Odogwu; O.Williams (Prince 57mins), Tresidder; Brugnara (Sio 51 mins), Briggs (H.Thacker H/T), Pasquali (Hogan H/T); Maksymiw, Hubbart (Joseph 60 mins); Beckett, Milne (Povoas 53 mins (Norville 73 mins)), Owen.

Yellow Card: Owen 15 mins.  Try: Prince 83 mins Pen: O.Williams 21 mins.

Goneva Hat trick clips Falcons' wings

Tigers opened their season with a second half blitz that saw 4 tries in half an hour and the bonus point claimed in a 36-17 win.  Flying Fijian winger Vereniki Goneva matched George North and Dave Strettle by grabbing an opening day hat trick with substitute scrum half David Mele scoring the 4th, Freddie Burns scored 16 points with the boot.

The first half was a territorial battle; a rare chance came the way of Tigers following Seremaia Bai's chip down the left flank.  Chased by Goneva the Fijian won the foot race and hacked on only to be taken out with the line at his mercy.  Bizarrely referee Luke Pearce did not even award a penalty, let alone the penalty try and red card the trip might have merited.

Newcastle defended the subsequent 5m lineout excellently, stopping a rampant Mulipola short then holding Tigers attack out for multiple phases before conceding the penalty for offside.  Burns slotted that and 2 more for scrum offences with Socino claiming Newcastle's sole first half points after a contentious off side call against Jordan Crane for a 9-3 score line.  A further penalty for Newcastle killing the ball inside the 22 gave Tigers a 12-3 half time lead.

The second half was a completely different game with 6 tries and a lot of running rugby.  Newcastle started the half with a bang.  Burns missed touch along the Crumbie side as Sinoti Sinoti tip toed down the line.  The Samoan fed the ball inside to the impressive Simon Hammersley, a summer singing from Hull Ionians, who carved the Tigers defence apart.  With only Burns remaining he was powerless to stop Hammersley drawing the man and finding Richard Mayhew for the easy run in.

This visibly stung Tigers into action.  Attacking with purpose we got the ball into Manu's hand, always a solid plan, and waited.  He did not disappoint, powering past his man he was hauled down inches short and looked to have lost the ball forward.  Goneva was following up and pounced on the loose ball to claim the try.

Luke Pearce passed the decision to the TMO, and it quickly emerged that Manu had slam dunked the ball into Godman's head, and very clearly he had done it backwards.  One of the odder tries Goneva will score.

Goneva doubled his tally just 5 minutes later.  Burns was the creator dancing through a gap he created with a mesmerising dummy, before an inside pass to Goneva who muscled his way past the last man before stretching out to find the line.

Newcastle now really came into it, looking a completely different side to the first half and the one that struggled last season.  They carved Tigers apart again before the half back partners of Burns then Youngs combined in the ruck to force a crucial turnover.  Again the Falcons came with Sinoti Sinoti making a dangerous burst inside the Tigers 22, unfortunately the Samoan lost his bearings and simply dropped the ball whilst in full flight.  Was it a pass to no one, a fumble or an attempted kick?  Who knows it ended up as none of them.

Newcastle were looking dangerous and cut into the 22 again.  In a crazy passage that I'm struggling to describe the Falcon attacker was cut down in full flight and passed, for my money, before a ruck was formed.  That off load allowed Goneva to lurk in the back field, stepping in to intercept a Newcastle pass when the Falcons had a massive overlap and the try line begging.

Have pilfered the pass he outpaced the Kieran Brookes, a tough ask, and Sinoti Sinoti all the way to seal his opening day hat trick.  

The interception seemed to take the wind out of Newcastle's sails; a 21 point deficit rather than a possible 7 point gap.  The bonus point seemed inevitable and it came just 5 minutes later.  Another of Bai's excellent chips forced the Falcons to scurry back and Powell only just beat Blaine Scully to the loose ball, conceding a 5m scrum in the process.

The Tigers pack heaved, with Geordie Fraser Balmain at the heart of it, and Newcastle crumbled.  The Falcons did well to stay together and force the grounding from Mele, making the conversion harder in the process.

Barbieri's bunny hops with the ball trapped between his ankles were a masterstroke, keeping the ball under control and unarguably in the scrum.

After the final try the game fizzled out as Tigers cleared the bench.  Newcastle grabbed a consolation try with 10 minutes left and kept attacking until the end but ultimately in was the 25 minute 4 try blitz from Tigers that sealed the victory.

2014/15 Season Preview: Newcastle

Newcastle

Nickname: Falcons

Founded: 1877

Years in Top Tier: 17

Last Year: 11^th in Prem (22 points), Amlin Challenge Cup & Anglo Welsh Cup group stage

Europe: Challenge Cup

Director of Rugby: Dean Richards

Transfers:

In: Alesana Tuilagi (NTT Shining Arcs), Josh Furno (Biarritz), Uili Kolo’ofai (Colomiers), Kane Thompson (Waikato Chiefs), Juan Pablo Socino (Rotherham), Ruki Tipuna (Bristol), Calum Green (Leeds), Rob Hawkins (Leicester), Eric Fry (London Scottish), Anitelea Tuilagi (Newport)

Out: Chris Pilgrim (Leeds), Carlo Del Farva (Retirement), James Fitzpatrick (Leeds), Michael Tait (Edinburgh), Franck Montanella (Biarritz), Alex Crockett (Retirement), James Hallam (London Scottish), Joel Hodgson (Northampton), Grant Sheills (Bath), Fraser Mckenzie (Edinburgh)

Ins: 9

Outs: 10

Without a league win since 27^th October Newcastle suffered a grim second half of the 2013/14 season and only Worcester’s woes saved them.

Failing to replace Jimmy Gopperth was a bad mistake from Deano and one that he seems doomed to repeat, unless a rabbit can be pulled from the Currie Cup or New Zealand Provincial Championship.  Phil Godman and Rory Clegg will once again be tasked with steering the ship; though Argentinean centre Juan Pablo Socino will probably kick the goals.

Owned by the Geordie Jordanian Semore Kurdi the Falcons have suffered from a long term lack of investment; this season they have chosen to buy a plastic pitch, for a stadium they no longer own, rather than attempt to bring in the play maker they so desperately need.  Baffling.

The big transfer news is the return to the Premiership of Alesana Tuilagi.  The destructive winger has returned from Japan fresh from only 15 games in 2 years and with historic charges of assault in Ireland hanging over him.  How he fares with the temptations and bouncers of the Bigg Market is yet to be known.

Newcastle have the makings of a good pack with Dom Barrow, Calum Green, Kieran Brookes, George McGuigan and Will Welch supported by Italian international Josh Furno, Samoan Kane Thompson, new boy Kolo’ofai and the excellent Ally Hogg.

Opposite Tuilagi will be Sinoti Sinoti, so good they named him twice, with former SuperLeague Grand Final winner Lee Smith also available.  Local Durham boy Tom Catterick could have a break out year in any position as the versatile player has featured at wing, full back and at fly half.

But without a decent fly half or creative inside centre I can’t see them unlocking too many defences and winning too many games.  Lacking a proven Premiership goal kicker may also be an issue, though Socino has shown his reliability in the Championship.

The promoted team rarely goes down, but I just can’t see Deano and John Wells getting relegated.

Prediction: 11^th

Tiger Cubs roar into 7s Finals

Tigers secured their place in a second consecutive Premiership Rugby 7s Finals day with a second place in finish in Group D on Saturday night.  A reported crowd of 7,057 were on hand to see Tigers secure victories over London Welsh & Sale.

Tigers opened the proceedings by facing hosts Newcastle.  The Falcons’ new artificial pitch is being installed at Kingston Park which forced the change of venue to the Darlington arena.

Sevens specialists Tomi Jones, Andy Bulumakau & Dan Rundle joined academy prospects George Catchpole, George Tresidder, Oli Bryant and Rhys Williams in the starting line up; Falcons had Premiership experience in Tom Catterick and former Super League Grand Final Man of the Match Lee Smith.

Tigers opened the scoring after only 27 seconds.  Bulumakau broke free through the middle and had the pace to scorch in from his own half.  Falcons claimed a messy ball from the restart and played patience possession rugby until Chris Harris found a gap sniping up the side of a ruck to break free and score.  Newcastle struck again as Tom Catterick seemed to have added another but it was ruled out; Tresidder's tackle forced a knock on. 

George Catchpole claimed Tigers second try of the night; Coventry winger Dan Rundle, guesting for the Tigers, stretched the Falcons' defence running from his own 22, his off load found Tomi Jones who weaved his way through 3 tackles before giving Catchpole a simple run in to the line. 

Newcastle’s second try was fortuitous, the field opened up after a blocked kick, but Tigers will be disappointed with the lost scrum just before.  The try meant Tigers went into half time with a 14-12 lead.

Catterick showed his skills to add another try just after half time, cutting back inside Rhys Williams to expose Tigers inside defence, giving Newcastle the lead for the first time.  Bryant & Tresidder were wasteful in the Newcastle 22 but a quick turnover by Will Owen gave Tigers good ball and Tresidder went under the posts unmolested to quickly restore Tigers’ 2 point advantage.

Catterick claimed his hat trick with under a minute left.  Tigers were ruled to have held on; the try was inevitable, 3 men still on the floor from the ruck, a tap and go exposed the gaps.  A home town decision in the final ruck gave Newcastle possession to run down the clock and secure a 5 point win.

Next Tigers faced Welsh, the Exiles had only 10 minutes rest from the end of their win against Sale.  Academy hooker Jake Farnworth joined specialists Josh Fowles and Phil Woodhead in the starting line up as Rundle, Rhys Williams and Bryant made way.  Bulumakau again showed his footwork and pace, beating his man in his own half and having the speed to race away to the line.  Welsh responded when Chris Levesley raced past Phil Woodhead like he wasn’t there to score under the posts.

Tomi Jones’ neat grubber looked to have unlocked the Welsh defence but his second touch was too strong, booting it out the back of the in goal area.  Bulumakau set Catchpole through but the centre lacked the pace or support to finish, the Fijian then had to leave the field with a head knock ruling him out for the rest of the night.  Former Tigers academy man Will Hurrell looked to have scored on the final play of the first half but could not shake the attentions of Josh Fowles who prevented the grounding.

Fowles got the next try after half time, his pace seeing off Hurrell in his own 22, before some great footwork on half way beat the last man.  Hurrell got his own back with a try off the back of some clever passes from Welsh, manipulating the Tigers defence and giving him an easy run in.

With less than a minute left it looked like Tigers had returned to form of previous years and were going to crash out after 2 rounds.  But this is sevens after all and anything can happen.  Straight from the kick off David Williams tapped the ball down to namesake but no relation Rhys Williams.  He spread it wide to Bryant who gave Rundle the ball with clear ground in front of him.  The former Tynedale winger went inside one man, outside another and raced away with his ears pinned back for the winning score.

The final game was against Sale, also on 10 minutes rest, with Tigers knowing a bonus point win would see them through to Finals day next Friday at the Stoop.  Tigers started with Will Owen, Catchpole, Tresidder and David Williams joined by the specialists Jones, Fowles and Woodhead.

Sale took advantage of a slip in the Tigers line to pile on some early pressure but good work rate and discipline meant the Tigers got back just in time; a goal line stand forced Sale into the error but they were still first to score minutes later when George Beal went over in the corner following nice work from Nathan Fowles.

Tigers struck straight back with a try of good quality from George Tresidder.  Lazy defending on the inside was ruthlessly exposed by Tresidder who simply ran straight and ran hard, bamboozling two defenders.  In a see saw game Fowles put Sale straight back into the lead with a solo try, brushing off Phil Woodhead’s attentions.

With 7 minutes up it was good to see both sides continue to play the game, rather than seeking half time with touch, and it was Tigers who profited; considered build up saw the ball through all 7 pairs of hands before George Catchpole pirouetted his way through the Sale defence and strode in under the posts for the go ahead score.

The second half was more of a procession for Tigers; first Josh Fowles simply outpaced his man one on one to score on the outside, then David Williams jagged back towards the posts after good work by Tresidder to secure the bonus point.  Finally Dan Rundle had a short jog into the corner following a sniping break by Woodhead.

That result meant Tigers were through unless a bizarre game between Newcastle and London Welsh resulted in an 18 point or greater win for the Exiles with Newcastle scoring at least 4 tries.  Needless to say that odd result was not achieved and Tigers can look forward to a trip to the Stoop next Friday.

Sevens specialists Josh Fowles and Andy Bulumakau impressed for Tigers whilst George Catchpole and George Tresidder top scored with 14 points each.  Oli Bryant was an effective cog in many of the moves whilst Will Owen showed his ability in the ruck, earning a crucial turn over in the first game.

With no friendly lined up for next week hopefully Tigers will be able to name an even stronger squad.

Bonus Point Blitz

Tigers roared back into the Premiership’s Top 4 with a stunning bonus point win away to Dean Richard’s Newcastle Falcons.  The 41-18 win was secured with a 3 try second half blitz that saw Tigers storm away from Newcastle who had closed the gap to 20-18.

Manu Tuilagi made only his second start of the Premiership season as Tigers recorded their first Premiership bonus point victory since September, also against Newcastle and notably the last game Manu started.

Lee Smith opened the scoring for the hosts with a monster 50 meter penalty only for Rob Vickers to block Marcos Ayerza on the kick off and let Tigers level up straight away.  Newcastle controlled the possession well during the opening stages and took advantage of some rusty Tuilagi defence for Noah Cato to step the centre and Ayerza for a try.

Owen Williams closed the gap to one point with two more successful penalty attempts.  Tigers were growing into the match; Jordan Crane’s pick and go through the middle made huge yards as did Marcos Ayerza who collected the off load.  But Ayerza was unable to find Ben Youngs with the try line begging.  Youngs was again at the centre of the action after his tap and go split the Newcastle defence.  His ambitious pass to Scully was under cooked and the Californian knocked on.

Maverick Fijian genius Vereniki Goneva unlocked the Newcastle defence late in the first half with a body swerve and forceful hand off followed by a gloriously delicate chip ahead; winning the foot race to ground the ball.

Goneva received the ball after a break from Ed Slater.  The captain ran an inside line to burst between two defenders and gain 20 yards.  Quick ball to Dan Bowden was shipped on to the Fijian for his magic finish.  Owen Williams was off target with his conversion making it 14-13.

A single point advantage at half time was quickly expanded to a 7 point lead after two Owen Williams penalties.  The first was after Scott Lawson failed to release the tackled man and second came straight from the kick off.  Newcastle’s kick off failed to go 10 meters and they conceded the penalty from the scrum.

Newcastle came back strongly though with good bursts from their forwards pivoting around Mike Blair.  Noah Cato looked dangerous again but Alex Tait couldn’t hold on to his pass under pressure from Ben Youngs.  

Bafflingly referee Greg Garner saw fit to sin bin Youngs for defending his own line.  Apparently because he tried to tip the ball up and catch it that is now illegal and considered more damaging to the game than late tackles that injure fly halfs out of Grand Finals.

The rule book actually states that players must not intentionally knock the ball forwards.  Nothing about number of hands.  Just intentionally forwards.  The fact we have a generation of referees that have never played the game is clear from instances like these.  

Why wouldn’t Ben Youngs be trying to catch that ball?  The referees seem to think they are being clever and that the players are cynical when most of them just see the ball and go for it. 

Then to see a deliberate knock down punished more strongly than dangerous play that injuries people out of action is not only wrong but offensive to all those that play the game.

Newcastle profited from Garner’s mistake as Scott Lawson burst round the side of a ruck to sprint in on the blindside corner.

The Tigers though were only made more determined by the Coventry raised referee’s anti-Tigers officiating after he ruled out a good try for a forward pass.  The ball was spun wide left and after Owen Williams’s pop pass Pablo Matera straightened his man, got his hand round the back and rolled the pass to Blaine Scully.  No debate about it the try was good.

In Ben Youngs’s absence Dan Bowden stepped into the scrum halfs shoes to great effect, keeping the tempo high and even setting up Goneva’s second try.  Straight from the incorrectly ruled out effort Tigers had an attacking maul.  The set up was superb as Tom Youngs handled the ball at the back.

Bowden broke round the side and popped the pass to Goneva wrapping around from the left wing.  Goneva did well to hold the pass and broke the arm tackles of Noah Cato and Mike Blair.  Relief was palpable as Tigers were clear again.

Goneva almost secured a hat trick 3 minutes later but couldn’t hold on to an interception attempt.  Thankfully Garner seemed to apply some logic to this chance and it was only a knock on.  With Tigers back to full strength it was Thomas Waldrom who next crossed the white wash.

Good ball retention in the Falcons 22 saw Tigers probe to the left and right.  Goneva set up a ruck from a classic switch and Waldrom ran a tight line back towards the ruck.  A ballet dancer’s side step saw him clear of the last man and under the posts.

Garner yellowed Manu Tuilagi for the imaginary “deliberate” knock on 3 minutes later, because obviously Manu wanted to knock it on on the half way line when had he held it a bonus point try would have been a walk in.

A man down Tigers were still pushing for a bonus point to put us level on points with Bath.  It looked like time was draining away after Ed Slater dropped Toby Flood’s close contact pass.  But as ever it was Tigers scrum that came to our rescue when Gary Strain couldn’t take the power of Fraser Balmain.

With 79 minutes now showing on the clock it was now or never.  Flood kicked to touch and Tigers set the line out.  Tigers drove the lineout before Tom Youngs and David Mele broke to the open side.  Pablo Matera following play decided to test the fringe defence of the Falcons and it was found wanting.  After an initial repulse the Argentinean tyro was not held so surged again to power forward for his 2^nd try in Tigers colours.

With the bonus point secure there was only just time for Greg Garner to further embarrass himself with the sin binning of Toby Flood despite getting both hands to the ball on his interception attempt.  This was the first time Tigers have suffered 3 yellow cards in a single match since 17^th March 2007 at home to Bath; that day we also secured a bonus point victory as Tom Varndell, Henry Tuilagi and Alex Tuilagi all saw yellow.

A fourth victory during the international window and Tigers shift into a share of 3^rd place.  A home semi final is still a long way away but more results like this and we just might make it.

Manu Returns

He's back.  After almost 5 months out of action with a torn pectoral muscle he's back.  Manu returns to make his second start of the season, ironically, against the same side he injured himself in November.  Tigers also welcome Tom Youngs back into the pack and a second league start for Argentinian tyro Pablo Matera.

3 unconvincing wins on the bounce against Worcester, Gloucester and Irish have left the Tigers season on life support.  Another win is the bare necessity and an improved performance surely needed to boost morale. 

Mat Tait looked back to effervescent and dangerous best at the Madejski, the Durham born full back will be keen to go one further this week.  His opposite number is younger brother Alex Tait.  The two have never faced each other in senior action.

Joining Tait and Tuilagi in the backline are international wingers US Eagle Blaine Scully and Flying Fijian Vereniki Goneva.  Goneva takes Adam Thompstone's spot on the wing to accommodate the returning Tuilagi. 

The inside backs are unchanged from last week as Youngs, Williams and Bowden look to take last week's performance as a base and push on again.

Tigers have an all international front row featuring Marcos Ayerza, Tom Youngs and Logovi'i Mulipola.  All three are fearsome scrummagers, dynamic carriers and aggressive tacklers.  Arguably Tigers greatest area of strength, the front rows are key to providing us a platform from which the backs can play.

New captain Ed Slater leads with club stalwart Louis Deacon in the engine room.  Jamie Gibson and Jordan Crane keep their places in the backrow whilst Julian Salvi makes way for Pablo Matera.  Matera has impressed in his chances so far and this game is his chance to lay down a marker for the rest of the season. 

Newcastle name two new names in their backline; international centre Gonzalo Tiesi was with Deano at Quins, Lee Smith tries Rugby for the second time after a short lived spell at Wasps.  Smith is a three time Super League Champion with Leeds and joins after a spell with Wakefield Trinity.  Scotch half backs Mike Blair and Phil Godman complete the backline with Noah Cato and Adam Powell.

In the forwards one name that leaps out is Rob Vickers.  Formerly a hooker, under John Wells expert eye he has been playing this season as a loosehead prop.  In his old position is ex-Gloucester and Irish front row Scott Lawson.  Former Tigers prop Kieran Brookes is at tighthead.  A disappointing two year spell at Tigers was scarred by a crushed foot, suffered away to Newcastle in 2011, but Brookes seems to be back close the form that saw Cockerill describe him as the best young tighthead in Europe.

Two more Scots for the lock partnership as Fraser McKenzie joins Scott Macleod.  They make an enterprising back five of the scrum will Andy Saull at openside and the particularly impressive duo of Will Welch and Mark Wilson.  Welch is a local boy and would surely be on the England radar were he at a top 4 club.

Sunday's referee will be Coventry's Greg Garner.  Garner has refereed Leicester 10 times with 7 victories to 3 defeats.  He has officiated 2 previous meetings between the sides in 2010 & 2012, both bonus point wins at Welford Road.

Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Dan Bowden
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Louis Deacon
5 Ed Slater (c)
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Pablo Matera
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Neil Briggs
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Sebastian De Chaves
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mele
22 Toby Flood
23 Adam Thompstone

Newcastle:
15 Alex Tait
14 Noah Cato
13 Gonzalo Tiesi
12 Adam Powell
11 Lee Smith
10 Phil Godman
9 Mike Blair
1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Scott MacLeod
5 Fraser McKenzie
6 Will Welch (c)
7 Andy Saull
8 Mark Wilson
Replacements:
16 George McGuigan
17 Gary Strain
18 Oliver Tomaszczyk
19 Sean Tomes
20 Chris York
21 Warren Fury
22 Joel Hodgson
23 Danny Barnes

Referee: Greg Garner
Touch Judges: Andy Watson, Gareth Copsey
TMO: Graham Hughes

Kick Off: 2PM, Sunday  2nd March
TV: BT Sport1HD, 1PM

ParkLife

To raise awareness for the Rugby World Cup which kicks off in two years time the RFU have been putting up odd sets of posts in parks around Leicester.  The idea is to get people to have a kick about in park, get some air in the lungs, have a nice run around.  Nothing serious just a bit of fun.

Tigers and Newcastle it seems were recruited as ambassadors for the scheme as they had a nice relaxing game in beautiful weather.  Got some air in the lungs, had a nice run around with only occasional interruptions of seriousness.

As you probably know already it was not a happy return for Leicester legends Dean Richards and John Wells.  Their Newcastle side was dismissed with ease as Tigers just clicked through the gears to record a 31-6 victory. 

There was no messing about from Tigers as they kicked to touch from every penalty awarded.  Some people call it arrogant but frankly we don’t want to get into a tit for tat penalty contest, we want a 4 try bonus so might as well go for it from the off.

Tigers won a mid field penalty and Flood went to touch, from the maul Tigers won another penalty and this time Ben Youngs tapped it into the corner.  Jordan Crane claimed it at the back of the lineout and tigers went for the heave.  The Falcons were flagging already as Waldrom broke towards the Crumbie on the blindside.   

He was stopped inches short of the line but the Falcons defence had failed to wrap around the ruck and simple hands but JC in the corner. 

A traditional Crumbie groan greeted Flood’s attempt at the conversion.

In the week that Manu Tuilagi gave call me Dave Cameron “bunny ears” he was more like a Rampant Rabbit as he penetrated the Falcons defence time and time again.  He created the second and third tries through powerful thrusts into the Geordie midfield.  The second try he was unstoppable as he powered from outside the 22 to the 5 yard.  When he was stopped short of the line it was a pyrrhic victory as the defence was all at sea and Graham Kitchener had the proverbial open goal.

The third try was just before half time.  Once again Newcastle’s midfield indiscipline had given Tigers a lineout in excellent position.  Again it was on the Crumbie touchline and again the Tigers drive was strong.  Again the Newcastle pack chose to stop the maul by illegal means and Tigers had the advantage.  The Newcastle rush defence put Bowden’s second pass under pressure but Manu’s sheer strength and pace saw him brush off the attentions of his defender and feed Californian Blaine Scully for a dream debut try.

Sandwiched between the Tuilagi interjections were Newcastle’s only points.  Scully skewed his clearance kick into touch and the Falcons forwards took flight, well sort of, with a maul.  I’m not entirely convinced that Ed Slater did come from the side but it really doesn’t matter in the long run.  

Rory “don’t call me Nick” Clegg slotted the pen then 5 minutes later knocked over a rare sight a Welford Road, a drop goal.  Long gone are the days of Cusworth or Harris or even Goode where Drop Goals were a regular occurrence, Tigers haven’t kicked a drop goal in 19 months since Geordan Murphy’s last gasp winner against Saracens.

The second half’s early exchanges were tentative as Tigers were content to wait for their chance for the bonus point.  Dave Rose’s liberal approach to watching the game lead to an open game as lots of knock ons were missed by both sides.  Tigers almost profited as Goneva was set to race clear but at the last second Rose’s contacts came into focus and he spotted a knock on.  No complaints as there were several in the move but it is annoying when he spots the small one at the end after you’ve got away with a whopper early in the move.

The try was coming though and eventually it came.  Flood put Kitchener through a hole on the Newcastle 22 and as the giant strode forwards and about a million years after the pass he was clattered into by Kieran Brookes.  Brookes left the club in the summer after falling behind Fraser Balmain and no loved was lost between Brookes and the former Falcon Flood.  

Flood, not unsurprisingly given recent events, was not impressed by this blatant thuggery.  He rocketed straight back to his feet and after the tub of lard assailant, grabbing his ears and not quite head butting him but heads certainly were in contact.

Meanwhile, Dan Bowden was latching on to Kitchener’s pop pass to scorch under the posts.   

After the conversion Brookes was a lucky boy and only shown a yellow card.

With the bonus point secured Tigers used most of their bench, keeping Tom Youngs and Julian Salvi back for another day but giving allowing Tom Bristow to step up to the oche and make his debut for the club. 

The final score was reminiscent of the Deano and Wells hey day as the pack completely ignored their talented backs to shove the opposition pack back over the line.  It was the man wearing Wells’s old shirt that came up with ball after the push over, Thomas Waldrom the blindside for the day.  Young Welsh fly half Owen Williams slotted the conversion to keep up his 100% kicking record the club, all 2 out 2 of them.

Newcastle tested out the Tigers defence late on and Adam Thompstone was yellow carded for the crime of not quite catching a ball.  The Law (12.1 (e)) merely says that “A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with hand or arm”.  So according to Mr.Rose, who played second division rugby for Moseley, Thompstone didn’t want to score a try or even attempt to catch the ball.  Which is rubbish.  I hate this from referees because it is massively disproportionate and is not in the rules.  It is just another chance for them to show off their egos and try to spoil the game for the players and fans. 

And that’s how the kick about in the park ended really.  Got some air in the lungs, scrapped some knees, had a run around.  Nothing serious, just an afternoon of fun.

Deano and Wells: The Boys are Back in Town

Tigers welcome club legends Dean Richards and John Wells to Welford Road this Saturday as they bring newly promoted Newcastle to the Tiger’s lair.

Richards was the iconic figure at the club for his 16 year playing career where he captained Tigers to the 1995 Courage League Title playing 314 games.  Wells captained the side to the 1993 Pilkington Cup, ending the clubs longest trophy drought and played 367 times for the club.  They both retired in the 1997/98 season and together took the club into the modern era.

In their first full season in charge Deano and Wells lead the Tigers to only their 3^rd ever league title before repeating the trick the next three years to tie Bath’s record of 4 Title in a row and 6 overall.  But Europe was the stage where they made the biggest impact.  Both started in the painful defeat to Brive in the 1997 European Cup Final and used that hurt to drive the club on to its most memorable moments.

Who can forget Paris?  Or Nottingham?  Or the glorious return to Cardiff?

Newcastle were re-named from the old Gosforth club in the early 1990’s and ironically their only victory at Welford Road under that name was Richards final ever game for the club in December 1997.  Richards was a late replacement for Martin Corry and played in the second row wearing “S”.  Newcastle completed the double over Tigers that year as John Hall’s revolution powered the Geordie’s to their only ever League Title. 

Since then Newcastle’s fortunes have waned somewhat culminating in relegation to the Championship in 2012, their first year outside the top tier since 1996/7.  The nadir at Welford Road was reached in an 83-10 thrashing in 2005 when Ollie Smith scored 2 tries before half time making a mockery of opposite number Mat Tait’s selection for England two weeks previously.  Others in the Newcastle side that day were Toby Flood at full back and Geoff Parling.  Odd to think that currently we have more players from the Newcastle side that day than the Tigers one.

Tigers have named a much changed side from the one that tasted defeat last weekend in Bath making 10 changes in personal plus two positional switches.

Headlining the changes is the return to fitness of Ben Youngs, Toby Flood and Manu Tuilagi in the back line.  All three start for the first time since last May's Premiership Final.

Tigers also hand debuts to Californian full back Blaine Scully, flanker Jamie Gibson and hooker Neil Briggs.  Notably this is the first game that Tom Youngs has been available for but not started since the Premiership final in 2012.

The pack sees Logovi'i Mulipola switch sides to tighthead and Boris "the finger" Stankovich move into the No.1 jersey as Marcos Ayerza is still away with Argentina.  Graham Kitchener replaces Sebastian de Chaves in the second row as he misses out on the match day squad altogether as Geoff Parling returns to the bench.

Saturday’s referee will be David Rose.  The Birmingham native celebrated his 50^th birthday this summer with a new position working for Badminton England as a “Regional Delivery Manager”, whatever that is.  Rose has refereed the Tigers 15 times with Leicester winning 10 times, drawing once and losing 4 times.  His last Leicester game was the Anglo-Welsh encounter with Newcastle in February 2012 when Tigers were victorious 24-13. 

  Newcastle make a slew of changes from the side that was victorious away to Sale last Friday as Rory Clegg, Rob Vickers, Kieran Brookes and Carlo del Farva all return to the starting line up.  Watch out for summer singings Franck Montanella from London Welsh and Dom Barrow from Leeds in the pack.

Leicester Tigers
15 Blaine Scully
14 Vereniki Goneva
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Dan Bowden
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Boris Stankovich
2 Neil Briggs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Ed Slater
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Thomas Waldrom
7 Jamie Gibson
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Tom Bristow
18 Dan Cole
19 Geoff Parling
20 Julian Salvi
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Niall Morris
Newcastle Falcons:
15 Alex Tait
14 Noah Cato
13 Adam Powell
12 James Fitzpatrick
11 Tom Catterick
10 Rory Clegg
9 Warren Fury
1 Franck Montanella
2 Rob Vickers
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Carlo del Fava
5 Dominic Barrow
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch (c)
8 Chris York
Replacements:
16 Matt Thompson
17 Gary Strain
18 Scott Wilson
19 Sean Tomes
20 Andy Saull
21 Chris Pilgrim
22 Joel Hodgson
23 Alex Crockett


Leicester Kit:

Newcastle Kit: