SAINTS ACADEMY 29

LEICESTER DEVELOPMENT 26

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Franklin's Gardens

Friday, March 24, 2006

The entertainment lasted throughout the 80 minutes, with both sides running the ball at every opportunity. Nevertheless, it was Ben Patston's boot that opened the scoring with a third-minute penalty, before Leicester went ahead thanks to Ollie Dodge's searing run and try. Aiden McNulty converted, but the lead was short-lived.

Four minutes later and England U21 Grand Slam winner Dylan Hartley was at the bottom of a driving maul to score a try. Patston succeeded with the extras, and when Mark Hopley crossed in the Shrubbery Corner the Saints youngsters were back in front with an eight-point lead.

But Dodge created havoc and space in the Saints defence for Ryan Owen to dot down unchallenged between the sticks and with Rob Springall's conversion the game was finely poised at 15-14 after half an hour. The game was still poised at half-time, but with a four-point advantage to the visitors.

A lovely run by Mitchell Culpin down the right touchline and offload to Adam Bray - and a forward drive for the line on the left - were rewarded by Vavae Tuilagi's try. But once again the lead was only to last a few minutes.

Adam Barnard was involved twice in the scoring move six minutes after the break, firstly sending Steve McGuinness away down the left, then again by sprinting onto Dan Lavery's short pass to crash over. Patston converted this try, and Matt Grove's well-taken effort eight minutes later and Saints were a healthy 10 points in front.

But then it started to fall apart somewhat. Dylan Hartley's 64th minute yellow card was compounded nine minutes later when Craig Umblejer's direct running created space for Owen to dance over for his second try. And with Matt Smith's conversion Tigers were back to within three points.

Furthermore, when Dan Lavery turned the ball over and Dodge sprinted away from his own 22, alarm bells were ringing. But man-of-the-match Hopley was in the right place at the right time to help bundle the Leicester man into touch, and to win a vital last-gasp lineout that saw Patston clear and Saints win the spoils.

Teams:
Saints Academy - Patston; Fowler (McGuinness 8-16mins)(Welford 66mins), Amsbro, Barnard, Clarke (McGuinness 40mins); Lavery, Bishop (Stevenson 53mins); Beech (Laws 62mins), Hartley, Bassett, Powell, Rae, Burke (Cooper 49mins), Grove, Hopley (capt).

Leicester Academy - Owen (Springall 80mins); Culpin, Dodge, Smith, Tuilagi (Fletcher 40mins); McNulty (Wright 24mins), Springall (Umblejer 66mins); Cole, Bray (Whitehead 49mins), Boulton (Sammons 71mins), Herrington, Gillanders, Shaw (Burgess 66mins), Mundy (Humphreys 66mins), Pienaar (capt).

Scorers:
Saints Academy - Tries: Hartley, Hopley, Barnard, Grove; Cons: Patston (3); Pen: Patston.

Leicester Academy - Tries: Dodge, Owen (2), Tuilagi; Cons: McNulty, Springall, Smith.

Yellow card:
Hartley (64mins)

CLOCKWATCH:
3mins Saints: Pen Patston 3-0
6mins Tigers: Try Dodge Con McNulty 3-7
11mins Saints: Try Hartley Con Patston 10-7
24mins Saints: Try Hopley 15-7
28mins Tigers: Try Owen Con Springall 15-14
40+2mins Tigers: Try Tuilagi 15-19
44mins Saints: Try Barnard Con Patston 22-19
52mins Saints: Try Grove Con Patston 29-19
64mins Saints: Yellow card Hartley
73mins Tigers: Try Owen Con Smith 29-26

Justin Cassell scores for the Saints Old Boys

However entertaining the main event may have been however, the portents to a successful future were overshadowed somewhat by an hours worth of 'fun' enjoyed by 60-odd old-boys in a Saints versus England warm-up match.

This too was an entertaining offering, won 36-21 by the England Invitational XV. Chris O'Toole scored two tries, added to by Mark Mapletoft - who also slotted three conversions - John Mulraney and Brad Hepi. Justyn Cassell, Simon Foale and Rob MacNaughton replied with tries for the Saints Old Boys, together with one Barry Burgess and two Seb Tubb conversions.