Tigers development squad continues its learning curve this week as 9 members are out on loan learning the ropes of professional rugby.
Tonight Nottingham face Munster A in the British & Irish Cup. Ryan Bower and Tom Price return to the pack and will be looking to press their claims for Championship action. George Catchpole continues in midfield whilst Harry Thacker is in line for his Nottingham debut should he feature from the bench.
Doncaster welcome Cinderford to Castle Park as they seek an immediate return to the Championship. Italian Prop Riccardo Brugnara retains his place at loosehead whilst Lucas Guillame switches from blindside to Number 8.
Tiziano Pasquali is a member of the wider European squad so presumably is required in Treviso with the first team.
Loughborough Students travel to east London to face historic opponents Blackheath. Harry Rudkin is named as loosehead, though he was named last week and had to pull out, whilst Harry Wells continues in the engine room at lock. Scott Steele drops to the bench after starting last week. Former academy player Jake Albon is also in the Starting XV.
Nottingham (v Munster A)
15) Andrew Savage
14) Olly Woodburn
13) George Catchpole
12) Joe Munro
11) Ryan Hough
10) Matthew Jarvis
9) Sean Romans
1) Ryan Bower
2) Alun Walker
3) Harry Williams
4) Tom Price
5) Dan Montagu
6) Kiefer Laxton
7) Brent Wilson (c)
8) Tom Calladine
Replacements:
16) Campese Ma'afu
17) Harry Thacker
18) Michael Holford
19 Neilus Keogh
20) Finlay Barnham
21) Rory Lynn
22) Jacob Knight
Doncaster (v Cinderford)
15) Glenn Bryce
14) Paul Jarvis
13) Jacob Woodhouse
12) Mat Clark
11) Tyson Lewis
10) Jamie Lennard
9) Bruno Bravo
1) Riccardo Brugnara
2) Roberto Santamaria
3) Darren Morris
4) Matt Challinor ©
5) Chris Planchant
6) Adam Kettle
7) Michael Hills
8) Lucas Guillame
Replacements
16) Santiago Sodini
17) Jack Bergmanas
18) Bevon Armitage
19) Paul Roberts
20) Dougie Flockhart
Loughborough (v Blackheath)
1
Harry Rudkin
2
Gareth Harris
3
Danny Herriot
4
Jack Collister
5
Harry Wells
6
Jake Albon
7
James Freeman (C)
8
George Messum
9
Henry Taylor
10
Chris Surman
11
Alex Davis
12
Jack Bradford
13
Rhys Owen
14
Craig Dowsett
15
Jack Pons
Replacements
16
Mike Daniels
17
Tom Crozier
18
Gab Carroll
19
Scott Steele
20 Sam Katz
Showing posts with label Scott Steele. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scott Steele. Show all posts
Friday, 10 January 2014
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
Loan Report: Joy for Donny, but no Home Comforts for Notts or Students
8 members of Leicester Tigers Development Squad were in action this weekend as they seek to gain experience and push for a first team opportunity.
On Saturday National League 1 leaders Doncaster traveled to the imaginatively named "Rugby Ground" and beat newly promoted Worthing 21-17 courtesy of a penalty try engineered by 20 year old loosehead Riccardo Brugnara. Brugnara played almost the whole match, not being replaced until the 77th minute, as the Knights remained in pole position for a promotion to the Championship. Flanker Lucas Guillaume played the whole match on the blindside whilst 19 year old tighthead Tiziano Pasquali played the final half hour after replacing Darren Morris.
Loughborough Students did not have such a good weekend falling at home to Wharfedale 27-7. 20 year old Scottish scrum half Scott Steele made his first start for the Students before being replaced in the 50th minute whilst Harry Wells played the whole match from the second row. The Students started brightly with an early try giving them a 7-0 lead; but that was as good as it got for the Students as the experienced Yorkshire side pulled away from them with two tries in 5 minutes during the second half.
On Sunday struggling Nottingham entertained Ealing at Meadow Lane. The Londoners had only won one game in their inaugural season at the second level whilst Nottingham finished last season 2nd in the regular season. As you can probably guess from that build up it was the visitors from London who shocked the Midlanders with a 28-27 win.
Outside backs Henry Purdy and George Catchpole played the whole match whilst Ryan Bower emerged from the replacements bench in the 55th minute for Fijian loosehead Campese Ma'afu. Nottingham scored 4 tries with scores for Bath wing Ollie Woodburn and a hat trick for former Tigers flanker Brent Wilson.
On Saturday National League 1 leaders Doncaster traveled to the imaginatively named "Rugby Ground" and beat newly promoted Worthing 21-17 courtesy of a penalty try engineered by 20 year old loosehead Riccardo Brugnara. Brugnara played almost the whole match, not being replaced until the 77th minute, as the Knights remained in pole position for a promotion to the Championship. Flanker Lucas Guillaume played the whole match on the blindside whilst 19 year old tighthead Tiziano Pasquali played the final half hour after replacing Darren Morris.
Loughborough Students did not have such a good weekend falling at home to Wharfedale 27-7. 20 year old Scottish scrum half Scott Steele made his first start for the Students before being replaced in the 50th minute whilst Harry Wells played the whole match from the second row. The Students started brightly with an early try giving them a 7-0 lead; but that was as good as it got for the Students as the experienced Yorkshire side pulled away from them with two tries in 5 minutes during the second half.
On Sunday struggling Nottingham entertained Ealing at Meadow Lane. The Londoners had only won one game in their inaugural season at the second level whilst Nottingham finished last season 2nd in the regular season. As you can probably guess from that build up it was the visitors from London who shocked the Midlanders with a 28-27 win.
Outside backs Henry Purdy and George Catchpole played the whole match whilst Ryan Bower emerged from the replacements bench in the 55th minute for Fijian loosehead Campese Ma'afu. Nottingham scored 4 tries with scores for Bath wing Ollie Woodburn and a hat trick for former Tigers flanker Brent Wilson.
Monday, 30 September 2013
It's Gamage Limitation as Steele puts Gloucester to the Sword
Tigers Extra Firsts triumphed 38-16 tonight in a ill tempered A League match with Gloucester at Welford Road. Tries from the returning Miles Benjamin, Henry Purdy, George Catchpole, Scott Steele, Michael Noone and a penalty try secured victory with both sides seeing red after referee Darren Gamage sent Ryan Lamb and Koree Briton for the proverbial early bath.
The match was scarred by Gloucester's negative tactics of holding players on the floor, when Tigers took exception to this the Gloucester response was to pile in with fists as well. First team forwards Huia Edmonds, Lua Lokotoi and Matt Cox were all extremely fired up and needed no excuse to start scuffles.
Referee Darren Gamage, the managing director of a Cambridge security firm, lost control from early on. He failed to spot the numerous Gloucester offences around the ruck which just emboldened them to push for more.
Tigers had already showed a different class to their opponents with the first two tries coming in the first 10 minutes. The first came from a simply beautiful break and off load by Terrence Hepetema finding the surging Miles Benjamin on the inside tracking line. Benjamin was playing his first game for over a year and was lively in the first half before tiring and being replaced around the hour mark.
Henry Purdy, last year's top try scorer and going the right way to retain that title, was next on the score sheet. Sebastian De Chaves charged down the Gloucester clearance and showed terrific work rate to secure the loose ball. Tigers whipped the turnover through the hands from the Crumbie touchline to towards Purdy on the old Members side. A simple finish for a man of his caliber, Purdy couldn't quite get it central enough for Ryan Lamb to land conversion, making it 12-0 to the Tigers.
Gloucester then started edging into the game more with a good spell of possession. Gamage now badly flailing under the pressure of the two sides tried to assert his authority with a penalty against Joe Cain for dissent. Johnny Bentley slotted it to secure Gloucester's first points.
Bentley doubled the Elver Eater's tally just 4 minutes later when play was stopped for a "high" tackle by Terrence Hepetema. This happened right in front of me and was a perfect text book tackle. He hit him in the ribs and drove him up and back.
Tigers were not to be held back for long however. Purdy was given good counter attacking ball and spotting lumbering lock forward Lua Lokotoi in the back line he turned him this way and that moving from the halfway to the 5m line. A cheeky chip through for Lamb was blocked but Gloucester infringed at the breakdown anyway. Purdy, now full of beans, fancied himself down the blindside with the quick tap and Perry Humphreys in support but the pair were bundled in to touch. Chance wasted.
But no!
The Cherry 'n' Whites lineout, from Australian Test hooker Huia Edmonds no less, was miles overthrown. First to react was quicksilver Irishman Michael Noone who scrapped it back on the Tigers side. The ball was bobbling and Ryan Lamb showed a touch of class as his quick "Fijian Flip" pass drew in the onrushing Ryan Mills and let George Catchpole wander under the posts completely unmolested.
This cheeky trickery from the exiled Gloucester native clearly ruffled a few feathers. Thankfully in my roughly 17 years watching the Tigers I can't recall another time when a fight has broken out in the queue to get through the Crumbie terrace at half time but Gloucester managed it. Gamage had let tensions simmer so high it was inevitable that it was going to boil over at some point but practically in the crowd is not a good sight, as much as I love a good punch up.
Much like Nick Mullins in the Premiership 7s I couldn't tell whether it was Steph Reynolds or Drew Cheshire that took exception to Lamb's exceptional skill but it was an ugly reaction that foreshadowed what was to come.
With no obvious talking to from the referee at halftime both sides returned from their break refreshed and fired up. Harry Thacker replaced George Chuter and Will Owen made his A league debut in place of Thomas Waldrom.
It did not take long for the match to spark, for the pot to boil over, for the Gloucester players to avoid all pretense and nakedly ambush Ryan Lamb. 5 minutes into the half, certainly no more, and Lamb put up a steepling Garryowen for the backs to chase. As all eyes followed the ball the Gloucester forwards set upon Lamb, with baby faced assassin Lewis Ludlow flying in for such a late hit the first I noticed of it was when the Crumbie reacted to all the flying fists. Ludlow and Koree Britton were both on top of Lamb with both sides certainly giving as good as they got.
The referee's 14 year old touch judge came in to report the misdemeanors. Red cards for both. I have no problem with straight reds for violence so no qualms there. But the decision to restart the game was odd.
The sequence of events seemed to be this: Lamb kicks ball, is taken late, reacts by punching Ludlow in the head, Britton piles in and as one twitterer put it "went Duncan McRae on Lamb". Now surely that should be a Tigers penalty to restart? First offence is Gloucester, without which we would have had no fight at all, then after Lamb reacts so does Britton. If we are reversing pens then surely it goes Tigers reversed to Gloucester reversed to Tigers?
But no, Gamage with the help of the not quite shaving school boy not only gave Gloucester the pen but a further 10 meters too.
Bizarre.
Tigers reacted better to the reduction though as Scott Steele's muscular display came to the fore. This hardy carrying game makes him a very different proposition to our other scrum halfs and an interesting option ahead of the likes of Mele and Harrison.
Tigers earned a penalty from the scrum in the Gloucester 22 which Steele tapped quickly. He raced around the pack before cutting back outside, holding off the Gloucester challenge to squeeze over in the far corner. With Lamb off Steele missed the conversion.
Gloucester's night was about to get worse though as a the red cards had done nothing to remove the niggle from the game. Lua Lokotoi was chief culprit again, particularly boisterous after Balmain had smashed through him on the counter ruck. The Tigers' tales were now up and they scented blood.
With George Catchpole playing fly half we kicked to the corner. A mighty surge came on from the young pack and forwards they marched. Tongan international Lokotoi collapsed the maul inches from the line and was carded for his troubles. With Tom Bristow, Tiziano Pasquali and Tom Price now in the engine room the scrum surged forwards and as the Gloucester players were spit out the side Gamage put them out of their misery and raced under the posts for the penalty try.
Gloucester responded well with Billy Burns, younger brother of Freddie, now introduced to the fray they went quick from one of the only "holding on" penalties given all match. This length of the field breakaway whilst down to 13 men will be some consolation for the Gloucester boys.
With the benches now emptied and the villain Lokotoi returned the Gloucester scrum was not improved. A promising Tigers move was pulled back for the final pass being forward but it mattered not. A huge 8 man shove drove the Cherry 'n' White pack back at a rate of knots. With the scum now our put in a try was inevitable. This time Gloucester let Michael Noone ground it for an old fashioned push over rather than cheat and gift us the conversion. Steele nailed it anyway. 38-16.
And that was the game really.
Steele would be my Man of the Match (Man of Steele?) for his calm performance once robbed of his half back partner but as ever the likes of Purdy and Noone were impressive. Benjamin showed well in his first run but will require time to build up the fitness required for 80 minutes of Premiership rugby.
The match was scarred by Gloucester's negative tactics of holding players on the floor, when Tigers took exception to this the Gloucester response was to pile in with fists as well. First team forwards Huia Edmonds, Lua Lokotoi and Matt Cox were all extremely fired up and needed no excuse to start scuffles.
Referee Darren Gamage, the managing director of a Cambridge security firm, lost control from early on. He failed to spot the numerous Gloucester offences around the ruck which just emboldened them to push for more.
Tigers had already showed a different class to their opponents with the first two tries coming in the first 10 minutes. The first came from a simply beautiful break and off load by Terrence Hepetema finding the surging Miles Benjamin on the inside tracking line. Benjamin was playing his first game for over a year and was lively in the first half before tiring and being replaced around the hour mark.
Henry Purdy, last year's top try scorer and going the right way to retain that title, was next on the score sheet. Sebastian De Chaves charged down the Gloucester clearance and showed terrific work rate to secure the loose ball. Tigers whipped the turnover through the hands from the Crumbie touchline to towards Purdy on the old Members side. A simple finish for a man of his caliber, Purdy couldn't quite get it central enough for Ryan Lamb to land conversion, making it 12-0 to the Tigers.
Gloucester then started edging into the game more with a good spell of possession. Gamage now badly flailing under the pressure of the two sides tried to assert his authority with a penalty against Joe Cain for dissent. Johnny Bentley slotted it to secure Gloucester's first points.
Bentley doubled the Elver Eater's tally just 4 minutes later when play was stopped for a "high" tackle by Terrence Hepetema. This happened right in front of me and was a perfect text book tackle. He hit him in the ribs and drove him up and back.
Tigers were not to be held back for long however. Purdy was given good counter attacking ball and spotting lumbering lock forward Lua Lokotoi in the back line he turned him this way and that moving from the halfway to the 5m line. A cheeky chip through for Lamb was blocked but Gloucester infringed at the breakdown anyway. Purdy, now full of beans, fancied himself down the blindside with the quick tap and Perry Humphreys in support but the pair were bundled in to touch. Chance wasted.
But no!
The Cherry 'n' Whites lineout, from Australian Test hooker Huia Edmonds no less, was miles overthrown. First to react was quicksilver Irishman Michael Noone who scrapped it back on the Tigers side. The ball was bobbling and Ryan Lamb showed a touch of class as his quick "Fijian Flip" pass drew in the onrushing Ryan Mills and let George Catchpole wander under the posts completely unmolested.
This cheeky trickery from the exiled Gloucester native clearly ruffled a few feathers. Thankfully in my roughly 17 years watching the Tigers I can't recall another time when a fight has broken out in the queue to get through the Crumbie terrace at half time but Gloucester managed it. Gamage had let tensions simmer so high it was inevitable that it was going to boil over at some point but practically in the crowd is not a good sight, as much as I love a good punch up.
Much like Nick Mullins in the Premiership 7s I couldn't tell whether it was Steph Reynolds or Drew Cheshire that took exception to Lamb's exceptional skill but it was an ugly reaction that foreshadowed what was to come.
With no obvious talking to from the referee at halftime both sides returned from their break refreshed and fired up. Harry Thacker replaced George Chuter and Will Owen made his A league debut in place of Thomas Waldrom.
It did not take long for the match to spark, for the pot to boil over, for the Gloucester players to avoid all pretense and nakedly ambush Ryan Lamb. 5 minutes into the half, certainly no more, and Lamb put up a steepling Garryowen for the backs to chase. As all eyes followed the ball the Gloucester forwards set upon Lamb, with baby faced assassin Lewis Ludlow flying in for such a late hit the first I noticed of it was when the Crumbie reacted to all the flying fists. Ludlow and Koree Britton were both on top of Lamb with both sides certainly giving as good as they got.
The referee's 14 year old touch judge came in to report the misdemeanors. Red cards for both. I have no problem with straight reds for violence so no qualms there. But the decision to restart the game was odd.
The sequence of events seemed to be this: Lamb kicks ball, is taken late, reacts by punching Ludlow in the head, Britton piles in and as one twitterer put it "went Duncan McRae on Lamb". Now surely that should be a Tigers penalty to restart? First offence is Gloucester, without which we would have had no fight at all, then after Lamb reacts so does Britton. If we are reversing pens then surely it goes Tigers reversed to Gloucester reversed to Tigers?
But no, Gamage with the help of the not quite shaving school boy not only gave Gloucester the pen but a further 10 meters too.
Bizarre.
Tigers reacted better to the reduction though as Scott Steele's muscular display came to the fore. This hardy carrying game makes him a very different proposition to our other scrum halfs and an interesting option ahead of the likes of Mele and Harrison.
Tigers earned a penalty from the scrum in the Gloucester 22 which Steele tapped quickly. He raced around the pack before cutting back outside, holding off the Gloucester challenge to squeeze over in the far corner. With Lamb off Steele missed the conversion.
Gloucester's night was about to get worse though as a the red cards had done nothing to remove the niggle from the game. Lua Lokotoi was chief culprit again, particularly boisterous after Balmain had smashed through him on the counter ruck. The Tigers' tales were now up and they scented blood.
With George Catchpole playing fly half we kicked to the corner. A mighty surge came on from the young pack and forwards they marched. Tongan international Lokotoi collapsed the maul inches from the line and was carded for his troubles. With Tom Bristow, Tiziano Pasquali and Tom Price now in the engine room the scrum surged forwards and as the Gloucester players were spit out the side Gamage put them out of their misery and raced under the posts for the penalty try.
Gloucester responded well with Billy Burns, younger brother of Freddie, now introduced to the fray they went quick from one of the only "holding on" penalties given all match. This length of the field breakaway whilst down to 13 men will be some consolation for the Gloucester boys.
With the benches now emptied and the villain Lokotoi returned the Gloucester scrum was not improved. A promising Tigers move was pulled back for the final pass being forward but it mattered not. A huge 8 man shove drove the Cherry 'n' White pack back at a rate of knots. With the scum now our put in a try was inevitable. This time Gloucester let Michael Noone ground it for an old fashioned push over rather than cheat and gift us the conversion. Steele nailed it anyway. 38-16.
And that was the game really.
Steele would be my Man of the Match (Man of Steele?) for his calm performance once robbed of his half back partner but as ever the likes of Purdy and Noone were impressive. Benjamin showed well in his first run but will require time to build up the fitness required for 80 minutes of Premiership rugby.
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
Taff Students Fill in Blanks for Tigers Sevens
Tigers have hit the phones hard to rustle up a side for this Friday's J.P. Morgan 7s Finals Day after 7 of the side from the heats traveled with the rest of the main squad to Switzerland ahead of this Friday's fixture with Montpellier.
Captain Scott Steele will once again lead the side after last Friday's heroic performances where Tigers not only won their first game but beat Northampton to clinch a spot in Finals Day. He is joined by scrum half George Tresidder, winger and now world famous singer Tahir El Mahdi, flanker Jake Farnworth and Friday's final try scorer city school boy David Williams.
Coming into the side from the Academy is hooker Harry Thacker, so of Troy Thacker, who made his first team debut away to Saracens in last season's LV Cup.
Richmond flanker Steve Woods played in the 2012 Finals Day for eventual champions London Welsh and was a regular for the National League 1 phoenix club.
The rest of the side has a distinctly Welsh and particularly Student feel to it.
Ollie Turton and Steff Andrews are both ex-Bryanston public school boys, Turton appears to be from Devon and went to Glamorgan University whilst Andrews is currently playing for Aberavon in the Principality Premiership.
Steff Jones is a Welsh winger from Bristol University who has played 7s for GB Universities and for Welsh Students in the XVs game. I think Rhodri Davis is in fact Rhodri Davies who played at scrum half for the Welsh Students and is currently at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
James Thomas is a Bedwas number 8, who captained Cardiff University in their "Varsity" match with Swansea this April. He has captained Wales at Under 20s level.
Historically a bunch of ring ins hasn't worked out too well for Tigers in the 7s but at least this lot are young, hungry and 7s specialists.
Tigers Squad for J.P. Morgan 7s Finals Day at Bath, Friday August 9th
1 David Williams
2 Jake Farnworth
3 Steve Wood
4 Ollie Turton
5 James Thomas
6 Stef Jones
7 Rhodri Davis
8 Steff Andrews
9 George Tresidder
10 Tahir El Mahdi
11 Scott Steele (c)
12 Harry Thacker
------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: James Thomas has pulled out and has been replaced by Tom Pointer, a scrum half/winger from Loughborough University, studying Fine Art of all things. Pointer has been involved with both Wasps and London Irish's academies.
Captain Scott Steele will once again lead the side after last Friday's heroic performances where Tigers not only won their first game but beat Northampton to clinch a spot in Finals Day. He is joined by scrum half George Tresidder, winger and now world famous singer Tahir El Mahdi, flanker Jake Farnworth and Friday's final try scorer city school boy David Williams.
Coming into the side from the Academy is hooker Harry Thacker, so of Troy Thacker, who made his first team debut away to Saracens in last season's LV Cup.
Richmond flanker Steve Woods played in the 2012 Finals Day for eventual champions London Welsh and was a regular for the National League 1 phoenix club.
The rest of the side has a distinctly Welsh and particularly Student feel to it.
Ollie Turton and Steff Andrews are both ex-Bryanston public school boys, Turton appears to be from Devon and went to Glamorgan University whilst Andrews is currently playing for Aberavon in the Principality Premiership.
Steff Jones is a Welsh winger from Bristol University who has played 7s for GB Universities and for Welsh Students in the XVs game. I think Rhodri Davis is in fact Rhodri Davies who played at scrum half for the Welsh Students and is currently at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
James Thomas is a Bedwas number 8, who captained Cardiff University in their "Varsity" match with Swansea this April. He has captained Wales at Under 20s level.
Historically a bunch of ring ins hasn't worked out too well for Tigers in the 7s but at least this lot are young, hungry and 7s specialists.
Tigers Squad for J.P. Morgan 7s Finals Day at Bath, Friday August 9th
1 David Williams
2 Jake Farnworth
3 Steve Wood
4 Ollie Turton
5 James Thomas
6 Stef Jones
7 Rhodri Davis
8 Steff Andrews
9 George Tresidder
10 Tahir El Mahdi
11 Scott Steele (c)
12 Harry Thacker
------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: James Thomas has pulled out and has been replaced by Tom Pointer, a scrum half/winger from Loughborough University, studying Fine Art of all things. Pointer has been involved with both Wasps and London Irish's academies.
Saturday, 3 August 2013
7s Heaven Tiger Cubs Win Through to Final Stages
In the week that the RFU dismissed their efforts as meaningless the Tiger cubs showed just what wearing the famous jersey meant to them as they roared to not only their first ever victory in this event but also into next weekend's final series in Bath.
Michael Noone and Oli Bryant had pulled out from the initial selection injured and were replaced by David Williams and Tahir El Mahdi.
First up were the Sale Sharks, the aggregate score over the last three years between the sides was 130-15 to the Cheshire side. With Canadian international Phil Mackenzie and regular first team player Nathan Fowles leading Sale no one gave the young Leicester lads much chance.
To begin with the doubters were being proved right as Sale dominated territory, pinning the Tigers back in their 22m cage, and possession, starving the Tigers of the ball. From a quick tap Nathan Fowles had the Tigers back pedaling and USA 7s specialist Blaine Scully could do nothing as Fowles stepped about 5m laterally to round him for the try.
But the fighting spirit so often associated with the club was once again to the fore as the Tigers fought back valiantly to keep a toe hold in the competition.
Scully made a long striding break to get up to halfway, the ball was spread to Pasqualle Dunn the school boy Kiwi Rugby League International who stood still, inviting, daring, challenging the Northern hordes on to him to tackle him, to down him. They came at him but beat one man, beat two, beat three to set the Tigers up on the 22. The 7 minutes was now up, one mistake and its was Nil Points at half time, and Tigers lost it. All Sale needed to do was win the ruck and kick it out. But they couldn't. Harry Wells was on top of them jackaling the ball away and putting Jake Farnworth into the corner for the score.
Tigers started the second half brightly, with Scully almost freeing Perry Humphrys but failing to free his hands from the tackle. Lucas Guillaume went close but was turned over inches from the line. Will Cliff, Sale's experienced Premiership operator, took out George Tresidder late and earned himself a 7s-style 60 second sin binning. With the Sharks down to 6 men the Tigers had an attacking scrum on the left hand flank. The ball was centered to late call up Tahir El Mahdi, with a continental football style nickname of "Cookie" on his back. He did an underrated tactic in 7s. He ran at the defence with commitment and pace. "Tackle me, if you can" he said. One little brush off against Tom Brady, another Premiership campaigner, and he was through for the winning try!
Victory! For the first time in the J.P. Morgan 7s Tigers had returned with a win.
Leicester had no time to rest on their laurels though as they had to back up with a match against 2011 Champions Newcastle. Harrison Collins stepped inside Harry Wells for Newcastle's first try and dove straight through a ruck a meter out for the second. Tom Catterick made it 19-0 at half time after bludgeoning over from a quick tap penalty.
Normal service resumed? Not a bit of it. The Cubs came out fighting and won the second half 10-0 as they showed they were no pushovers. Good pressure defence from the Tigers forced the Newcastle error and George Catchpole was on hand to turn it inside to Pasqualle Dunn who trotted to the line for the score after only 30 seconds of the second half. Newcastle are a quality 7s side and attacked again, Blaine Scully the Californian on trial at the club pulled off a miraculous classic cover tackle to force the Falcons into touch, before a NFL-style throw released Henry Purdy on the far side of the posts to break out and turn defence into attack. Leicester's competitiveness at the breakdown went too far once too often and Jake Farnworth was shown the yellow card. Newcastle couldn't take advantage of the 6 man Tigers though as it was Leicester who had the final word.
Henry Purdy pilfered the pill at a midfield ruck, allowing Tresidder to race away down the right hand flank. He passed inside for Jake Farnworth to scuttle his way over from the 22. Tigers had a conversion to earn the bonus point but with no kicker in the team it was not to be.
That meant the final game against Northampton was winner takes all. The victor would move on to the Finals Series played at the Wreck, Bath, whilst the loser would go home to think again.
The St.James crowd was in fine voice as the match began but it was Tigers who started better with Jake Farnworth wrestling the ball free in the first tackle. Watching on from the stands were first teamers Julian Salvi, Graham Kitchener and Niall Morris and they looked on approvingly as Tigers benefited from a classic piece of 7s rugby. It was Northampton on the attack and they looked all set to score after rounding El Mahdi, but scorching across the August turf was the American Scully to put in another trademark cover tackle. Scully and Steele turned it over and Tresidder played it outside to the rapid El Mahdi. He turned the defence inside out as he raced away for the try.
El Mahdi was the man again for Tigers second try, Purdy picked and went through the middle of the ruck drawing defenders like flies to honey, Tresidder drew the last man and it looked like an easy run to the line. But "Cookie" had other ideas as he turned back towards and the posts and monstered past three defenders before reaching out and grazing the line with ball on the limits of his finger tips. He'd have been shot if he'd messed it up but when you score there are no questions to answer just praise for the finish.
Northampton pulled it back to make it a one score game as Alex Day pounced on Ryan Glyn's chip through to make it 10-5. The Saints had their tails up now and were sniffing a finals place.
Tigers defence hassled, harried and hustled the Saints into a litany of errors. Disruptive breakdown work from Purdy allowed captain Scott Steele to steam through the middle of the ruck and kick the ball loose. George Catchpole was on hand to clear up the mess and he found David Williams, a 17 year old from the city's Lancaster Boys School, who sealed Tigers place at the Rec with the try.
Afterwards Tahir El Mahdi impressed us all with his singing voice in an interview with Craig Doyle:
Michael Noone and Oli Bryant had pulled out from the initial selection injured and were replaced by David Williams and Tahir El Mahdi.
First up were the Sale Sharks, the aggregate score over the last three years between the sides was 130-15 to the Cheshire side. With Canadian international Phil Mackenzie and regular first team player Nathan Fowles leading Sale no one gave the young Leicester lads much chance.
To begin with the doubters were being proved right as Sale dominated territory, pinning the Tigers back in their 22m cage, and possession, starving the Tigers of the ball. From a quick tap Nathan Fowles had the Tigers back pedaling and USA 7s specialist Blaine Scully could do nothing as Fowles stepped about 5m laterally to round him for the try.
But the fighting spirit so often associated with the club was once again to the fore as the Tigers fought back valiantly to keep a toe hold in the competition.
Scully made a long striding break to get up to halfway, the ball was spread to Pasqualle Dunn the school boy Kiwi Rugby League International who stood still, inviting, daring, challenging the Northern hordes on to him to tackle him, to down him. They came at him but beat one man, beat two, beat three to set the Tigers up on the 22. The 7 minutes was now up, one mistake and its was Nil Points at half time, and Tigers lost it. All Sale needed to do was win the ruck and kick it out. But they couldn't. Harry Wells was on top of them jackaling the ball away and putting Jake Farnworth into the corner for the score.
Tigers started the second half brightly, with Scully almost freeing Perry Humphrys but failing to free his hands from the tackle. Lucas Guillaume went close but was turned over inches from the line. Will Cliff, Sale's experienced Premiership operator, took out George Tresidder late and earned himself a 7s-style 60 second sin binning. With the Sharks down to 6 men the Tigers had an attacking scrum on the left hand flank. The ball was centered to late call up Tahir El Mahdi, with a continental football style nickname of "Cookie" on his back. He did an underrated tactic in 7s. He ran at the defence with commitment and pace. "Tackle me, if you can" he said. One little brush off against Tom Brady, another Premiership campaigner, and he was through for the winning try!
Victory! For the first time in the J.P. Morgan 7s Tigers had returned with a win.
Leicester had no time to rest on their laurels though as they had to back up with a match against 2011 Champions Newcastle. Harrison Collins stepped inside Harry Wells for Newcastle's first try and dove straight through a ruck a meter out for the second. Tom Catterick made it 19-0 at half time after bludgeoning over from a quick tap penalty.
Normal service resumed? Not a bit of it. The Cubs came out fighting and won the second half 10-0 as they showed they were no pushovers. Good pressure defence from the Tigers forced the Newcastle error and George Catchpole was on hand to turn it inside to Pasqualle Dunn who trotted to the line for the score after only 30 seconds of the second half. Newcastle are a quality 7s side and attacked again, Blaine Scully the Californian on trial at the club pulled off a miraculous classic cover tackle to force the Falcons into touch, before a NFL-style throw released Henry Purdy on the far side of the posts to break out and turn defence into attack. Leicester's competitiveness at the breakdown went too far once too often and Jake Farnworth was shown the yellow card. Newcastle couldn't take advantage of the 6 man Tigers though as it was Leicester who had the final word.
Henry Purdy pilfered the pill at a midfield ruck, allowing Tresidder to race away down the right hand flank. He passed inside for Jake Farnworth to scuttle his way over from the 22. Tigers had a conversion to earn the bonus point but with no kicker in the team it was not to be.
That meant the final game against Northampton was winner takes all. The victor would move on to the Finals Series played at the Wreck, Bath, whilst the loser would go home to think again.
The St.James crowd was in fine voice as the match began but it was Tigers who started better with Jake Farnworth wrestling the ball free in the first tackle. Watching on from the stands were first teamers Julian Salvi, Graham Kitchener and Niall Morris and they looked on approvingly as Tigers benefited from a classic piece of 7s rugby. It was Northampton on the attack and they looked all set to score after rounding El Mahdi, but scorching across the August turf was the American Scully to put in another trademark cover tackle. Scully and Steele turned it over and Tresidder played it outside to the rapid El Mahdi. He turned the defence inside out as he raced away for the try.
El Mahdi was the man again for Tigers second try, Purdy picked and went through the middle of the ruck drawing defenders like flies to honey, Tresidder drew the last man and it looked like an easy run to the line. But "Cookie" had other ideas as he turned back towards and the posts and monstered past three defenders before reaching out and grazing the line with ball on the limits of his finger tips. He'd have been shot if he'd messed it up but when you score there are no questions to answer just praise for the finish.
Northampton pulled it back to make it a one score game as Alex Day pounced on Ryan Glyn's chip through to make it 10-5. The Saints had their tails up now and were sniffing a finals place.
Tigers defence hassled, harried and hustled the Saints into a litany of errors. Disruptive breakdown work from Purdy allowed captain Scott Steele to steam through the middle of the ruck and kick the ball loose. George Catchpole was on hand to clear up the mess and he found David Williams, a 17 year old from the city's Lancaster Boys School, who sealed Tigers place at the Rec with the try.
Afterwards Tahir El Mahdi impressed us all with his singing voice in an interview with Craig Doyle:
Monday, 29 July 2013
7 Hells, Tigers give cubs baptism of Fire
Tigers name another team of cubs for J.P. Morgan 7s as the search goes on for the Tigers first ever win in the competition. Coming in with an average age of only 19 Tigers have certainly once again given youth its head in what will be the club's first appearance on the new BT Sport channel.
Captaining the side is Scotland Under 20s scrum half Scott Steele, who first played for the club in the 2011 7s at Stockport. Steele is an old head in the squad having celebrated his 20th birthday last week. Joining him in the "experienced" bracket is 23 year old Irishman Michael Noone, who made a huge impression in last seasons A League and LV Cup, and 22 year old French flanker Lucas Guillaume.
The only truly experienced player in the squad is also the only unusual name to Tigers fans ears. Blaine Scully is a 25 year old winger-cum-full back whose trial with the club was exclusively revealed by the UltraSubMarines on our twitter account two weeks ago. Scully took up rugby whilst at UCLA and has represented the USA at both 7s and the full fat version, including playing for the Eagles at the 2011 World Cup.
Forward Harry Wells and back Henry Purdy were both part of England Under 20s squad which won the World Cup for the first time this summer; both also made their first team debuts in last seasons LV Cup and were impressive for the A team.
George Catchpole and Pasqualle Dunn are both centres who can play on the wing, Catchpole is originally from Norfolk whilst Dunn is originally from New Zealand and has a background in Rugby League.
Jake Farnworth, George Tresidder, Oliver Bryant and Perry Humphreys were all part of the Academy's Under 18s side which won 6 out of 6, all with try bonus points, in the inaugural Academy League. Farnworth is a flanker/#8 fro Staffordshire who scored 5 tries in that league campaign from 2 starts and 4 appearances from the bench. Bryant was the team's captain, fly half and goal kicker so unsurprisingly top scored the side; Bryant is originally from Redruth in Cornwall. Perry Humphreys is a full back from Lincoln and George Tresidder spent much of last year out with injury but returned to play for England Under 19s and made the final game of the Under 18s league, he is from Derby.
As a fan who likes to remember that we are still called Leicester Football Club there is a part of me that is sad that none of this squad is from our fair city, or even the county.
Leicester Tigers (JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens, Friday, August 2, Franklin's Gardens, kick-off 7.15pm)
1 Michael Noone
2 Jake Farnworth
3 Lucas Guillaume
4 Harry Wells
5 Blaine Scully
6 George Catchpole
7 Pasqualle Dunn
8 Henry Purdy
9 George Tresidder
10 Oliver Bryant
11 Scott Steele (c)
12 Perry Humphreys
Northampton name Russian test winger Vasily Artemyev in their squad alongside long serving club man Paul Diggin. Alex Day was part of the World Champion Under 20s this summer. Older fans will recognise the name of Olver, fly half Sam is the son of long time Saints hooker John Olver. Saints also pick Andy Robinson's son Andy who is playing as a "guest" from Moseley along with Buster Lawrence.
Northampton Saints: Vasily Artemyev, Tom Collins, Alex Day, Ryan Glynn (c), Will Hooley, Sam Olver, Tom Stephenson, Harry Bett, Paul Diggin, Sam Harry, Buster Lawrence, Olly Robinson
Dean Richards names previous Falcon's coach Alan Tait's son Michael in his squad alongside Milky Bar Kid look-a-like Joel Hodgson and schoolboy wing sensation Zack Kibirige. First teamer Kiwi back row Richard Mayhew captains the squad.
Newcastle Falcons: Harrison Collins, Ben Morris, Richard Mayhew (c), Glen Young, Michael Tait, Tom Catterick, Zach Kibirige, Chris Harris, Andy Davies, Joel Hodgson, Sean Brown, Tom Penny
Sale Sharks select one time Tiger James Doyle in their squad alongside Canadian international Phil Mackenzie, a summer singing from London Welsh, and experienced Premiership campaigners Will Cliff, Tom Brady (not that one) and Nathan Fowles. Doyle came off the bench in the win against Harlequins in the 2012 LV Cup group stage.
Sale Sharks: Cameron Neild, James Doyle, Jason Hill, Jack Allcock, Luke Wishnowsky, Will Cliff, Nathan Fowles, Tom Brady, Phil MacKenzie, James Mitchell, Josh Fowles, John O’Donnell
Captaining the side is Scotland Under 20s scrum half Scott Steele, who first played for the club in the 2011 7s at Stockport. Steele is an old head in the squad having celebrated his 20th birthday last week. Joining him in the "experienced" bracket is 23 year old Irishman Michael Noone, who made a huge impression in last seasons A League and LV Cup, and 22 year old French flanker Lucas Guillaume.
The only truly experienced player in the squad is also the only unusual name to Tigers fans ears. Blaine Scully is a 25 year old winger-cum-full back whose trial with the club was exclusively revealed by the UltraSubMarines on our twitter account two weeks ago. Scully took up rugby whilst at UCLA and has represented the USA at both 7s and the full fat version, including playing for the Eagles at the 2011 World Cup.
Forward Harry Wells and back Henry Purdy were both part of England Under 20s squad which won the World Cup for the first time this summer; both also made their first team debuts in last seasons LV Cup and were impressive for the A team.
George Catchpole and Pasqualle Dunn are both centres who can play on the wing, Catchpole is originally from Norfolk whilst Dunn is originally from New Zealand and has a background in Rugby League.
Jake Farnworth, George Tresidder, Oliver Bryant and Perry Humphreys were all part of the Academy's Under 18s side which won 6 out of 6, all with try bonus points, in the inaugural Academy League. Farnworth is a flanker/#8 fro Staffordshire who scored 5 tries in that league campaign from 2 starts and 4 appearances from the bench. Bryant was the team's captain, fly half and goal kicker so unsurprisingly top scored the side; Bryant is originally from Redruth in Cornwall. Perry Humphreys is a full back from Lincoln and George Tresidder spent much of last year out with injury but returned to play for England Under 19s and made the final game of the Under 18s league, he is from Derby.
As a fan who likes to remember that we are still called Leicester Football Club there is a part of me that is sad that none of this squad is from our fair city, or even the county.
Leicester Tigers (JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens, Friday, August 2, Franklin's Gardens, kick-off 7.15pm)
1 Michael Noone
2 Jake Farnworth
3 Lucas Guillaume
4 Harry Wells
5 Blaine Scully
6 George Catchpole
7 Pasqualle Dunn
8 Henry Purdy
9 George Tresidder
10 Oliver Bryant
11 Scott Steele (c)
12 Perry Humphreys
Northampton name Russian test winger Vasily Artemyev in their squad alongside long serving club man Paul Diggin. Alex Day was part of the World Champion Under 20s this summer. Older fans will recognise the name of Olver, fly half Sam is the son of long time Saints hooker John Olver. Saints also pick Andy Robinson's son Andy who is playing as a "guest" from Moseley along with Buster Lawrence.
Northampton Saints: Vasily Artemyev, Tom Collins, Alex Day, Ryan Glynn (c), Will Hooley, Sam Olver, Tom Stephenson, Harry Bett, Paul Diggin, Sam Harry, Buster Lawrence, Olly Robinson
Dean Richards names previous Falcon's coach Alan Tait's son Michael in his squad alongside Milky Bar Kid look-a-like Joel Hodgson and schoolboy wing sensation Zack Kibirige. First teamer Kiwi back row Richard Mayhew captains the squad.
Newcastle Falcons: Harrison Collins, Ben Morris, Richard Mayhew (c), Glen Young, Michael Tait, Tom Catterick, Zach Kibirige, Chris Harris, Andy Davies, Joel Hodgson, Sean Brown, Tom Penny
Sale Sharks select one time Tiger James Doyle in their squad alongside Canadian international Phil Mackenzie, a summer singing from London Welsh, and experienced Premiership campaigners Will Cliff, Tom Brady (not that one) and Nathan Fowles. Doyle came off the bench in the win against Harlequins in the 2012 LV Cup group stage.
Sale Sharks: Cameron Neild, James Doyle, Jason Hill, Jack Allcock, Luke Wishnowsky, Will Cliff, Nathan Fowles, Tom Brady, Phil MacKenzie, James Mitchell, Josh Fowles, John O’Donnell
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
10 to watch in 2013
As Christmas and the New Year approaches we here at the UltraSubmarines are being constantly asked "Who do you think are the Top 10 to watch during 2013"? In the supermarket people are stopping us beside the fish counter, in the pub people are jostling to the bar to talk our ears off and Christmas shopping has become a nightmare as shoppers from Fenwicks to John Lewis are desperate to talk Tigers. So to save us the bother and give us 5 minutes of respite from the onslaught of queries our panel of experts have come up with the definitive list of 10 players to watch during 2013.
1. George Ford
An obvious one, after all what self respecting pundit isn’t proclaiming
him the best thing since sliced bread? We’d
temper expectations just a bit by saying he reminds us more of a young Andy
Goode than Dan Carter or Jonny Wilkinson; capable of moments of sumptuous
genius that have a Houdini like ability to unlock the tightest of defences but
also capable of the downright stinking. Still
a young man at 19 it is 4 seasons since he made his debut away to Leeds in the
LV cup, which made him the youngest player in Leicester’s history and that of
professional rugby, he has come so far but still has a long way to go. People keep saying next year will be his year;
well 2013 will be his year!
2. Fraser Balmain
The Geordie prop has come from nowhere to make a big impact jumping ahead
of Ryan Bower and Kieran Brookes in the young prop stakes. Balmain made his league debut in the recent
game away to Wasps and acquitted himself well, but the game that really
announced him to the Rugby world was the Maori match 12 days earlier where he
was part of a dominant scrum. Last year
he wasn’t even getting starts in the A team but a 2 month spell on loan to
Clermont seems to have made a man of him and he has been a different beast ever
since. Signed at 18 after Newcastle
passed on him the Newcastle Royal Grammer School graduate chose Tigers over our
rivals the Saints and in 2013 we are just about to see the benefits.
3. Jimmy Stevens
Cornish hooker Jimmy Stevens joined the academy at 17 from Redruth and
hasn’t looked back. Terrific in the
loose and accomplished at the set pieces Stevens has earned comparisons with
his veteran club mate George Chuter.
Stevens has made 6 first team appearances since his debut against Aironi
in the Heineken Cup last January and has looked comfortable in them all. He has made 4 appearances this season
including his first two Premiership appearances; against Exeter at home and
then away to Sale the next week.
Originally from St.Ives Stevens will look to oust Rob Hawkins from third
choice at hooker and also look at over taking George Chuter to become Tom
Youngs understudy by the end of 2013.
4. Michael Noone
Nicknamed Perfect (as in No one’s perfect) and capable of playing both 6
& 8 Noone made an immediate impression after joining the club from
Doncaster over the summer. Man of the
Match in his first game for the Extras he scored 3 tries in 4 games at that
level before grabbing another try on his first team debut away to Saracens and
setting one up at home to London Irish, both in the LV Cup. An Irish international throughout the age
groups the Killiney man played for Leinster A but never cracked the main side
which prompted the move to Doncaster. Standing
well over 6 foot he carries like a wrecking ball and looks like another great
bit of scouting by the club.
5. Joe Cain
20 year old Joe “Co” Cain is a second row with a burgeoning
reputation. He grabbed a try on his
first team debut in the LV Cup, like so many in this list away to Saracens, to
go along with 4 starts for the Extras this year and 3 the year before. From just across the county border into
Derbyshire, the Burton boy is a nephew of football manager Phil Brown and came
through Melbourne’s junior system. A
great reader of the game he always seems to be in the right place at the right
time. 2013 might be a bit early for him
as he finds his way in the game but he is sure to go far.
6. Scott Steele
Scottish Under 20s scrum half Steele made a big impact last season after
a successful summer trial. The Dumfries
man had been over looked by Glasgow when Tigers stepped into the breach to
sweep him up. A typically physical
Scottish scrum half Steele has an accurate pass and a boot that could kick the
chaps off a cowboy. He came off the
bench in last year’s LV Cup semi final against Bath and also made his
Premiership debut against Newcastle during the 6 Nations. Son of an international referee his immediate
aim will be to make the Under 20 World Cup after missing last years with a
cruel leg break; after that he will have his eyes firmly set on taking Sam
Harrison’s spot in the match day 23 and also getting full Scotland caps.
7. Andy Symons
Originally a Saracens minis player during a stint in New Zealand with Christchurch’s
High School Old Boys he came on to Tigers radar thanks to his coach in New
Zealand, one Aaron Mauger! He made a
strong early impression and earned a debut away to Llanelli in the LV Cup, only
to break his leg and miss the rest of the season. A huge specimen he stands over 6 foot and
weighs in at 16 and a half stone, with that obviously comes strong ball
carrying but the polish applied to his game in Christchurch is evident with his
wide range of passes. Defensively sound,
he has a tough job to get ahead of Dan Bowden and Anthony Allen but he has all
the skills and just requires some game time.
8. Javiah Pohe
Born in New Zealand to a Cornish mother the family moved back to the
Duchy when Pohe was 11. Like Stevens he
played for Redruth before making the move up to the Midlands at 15. His father now coaches Melton’s first team
and is a Tigers community coach. Pohe
impressed in England colours during last year’s FIRA-AER Under 18 championship with
his swashbuckling runs which he has also shown during his limited game time in
the second team. A strong centre
reminiscent of a young Manu Tuilagi he has all the attributes of a modern
centre and could be a bolter in 2013 as physically he is already up to the man’s
game, not surprising given he was a prop when playing Rugby League in New
Zealand.
9. Henry Purdy
A summer signing from Wasps 18 year old Purdy made an immediate impact
for the second team as he bagged 6 tries in 4 starts from the right wing. Purdy is equally comfortable at centre where last
season he played for England U-18s against Leicester and combines devastating
pace with impressive physicality in contact.
As his stats bear out his best attribute is his nose for a try, he has
the knack of finding his way to the line is like a pig has for finding
truffles. A former schoolboy at
Cokethorpe, near Oxford, he made his first team debut in the LV Cup away to
Saracens and will be looking to push on to England U-20 honours and more first
team games in 2013.
10.Niall Morris
2013
could be Morris’s year to establish him in the Tigers first choice back
three. Injuries to his rivals and
Geordan Murphy’s presumed impending retirement have given him the chance and he
has taken it with both hands. He has
pace to burn as he showed on his debut against Exeter, where he bagged a brace,
and is also comfortable on the wing. As
befits an Irish full back he is secure under the high ball and posses a raking
kick. At Leinster he found it hard to
break through due to the quality ahead of him despite scoring 3 tries in 3
starts but since the move to Leicester he has blossomed under countryman
Geordan Murphy’s expert eye and 2013 looks set to be his year.
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Scott Steele takes part in Scotland Under 20s camp
Last week Scott Steele took part in a three day camp as Scotland Under 20s prepare for the Six Nations and the IRB Junior World Championship.
Steele missed last years World Championship with injury so will be hoping for better luck this time around.
Steele missed last years World Championship with injury so will be hoping for better luck this time around.
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