2013: A Statistical Review

This was a good year for the Tigers; another English title was taken home to Leicester, a record extended 10^th; victory against Toulouse saw us win our Heineken Cup group; 6 players went on the British Lions tour to Australia and all played at least 1 test. 

That success was achieved despite an incredible amount of flux and change.  70 different players were used in a match day squad in 2013, with 67 of them taking the field at some point.  56 different players were used in the starting XV.

Stalwart number 8 Jordan Crane earned his tag as Cockerill’s favourite, leading the appearance charts with 29 games.  Next was flanker Julian Salvi who started the most games, 27, and appeared once more from the bench for his 28 games.  Despite missing the Premiership Play Offs Adam Thompstone still managed to rack up 27 appearances (24 Starts, 3 Sub).

Dan Cole moved decisively to become the club’s premier tight head as he started 19 games with only 4 appearances from the bench. 

Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Vereniki Goneva, Tom Croft and Manu Tuilagi were all named solely in the starting XV, when they were selected they started without exception.

In reverse was new signing Tom Bristow who is yet to start but has featured 4 times as a substitute.

 
Injuries to Marcos Ayerza and Boris Stankovich gave young prop Fraser Balmain the chance to be named in the Match Day XXIII on 27 out of 34 occasions; 23 times named on the bench he featured 11 times and was unused 12 times, both seasonal records.

Balmain shared his substitute record with Thomas Waldrom who also entered the fray 11 times. 

28 of the 67 players used during the year scored a try for the club, plus of course our friend Mr. Penalty Try.  Flying Fijian Vereniki Goneva was the top try scorer in the year with 10, an honour he shared with the Penalty try. 

Ben Youngs and Adam Thompstone weighed in with 6 each whilst Ed Slater was top forward after crossing the white wash 5 times.

Toby Flood was the top scorer with 229 points (53 pens, 30 Cons, 2 Tries), followed by Owen Williams with 75 (18 Pens, 9 Cons, 1 Drop Goal).

Tigers played 34 games in 2013 winning 22, drawing 2 and losing 10; some way from our best effort of 31 wins from 35 in 2001 but pretty much bang our long term average of 21 wins per calendar year. 

Scoring 845 points and conceding 621 Tigers had an average winning margin 6.58.