NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 19

LEICESTER TIGERS 24

Guinness Premiership round 20

Franklin’s Gardens

Friday, April 14, 2006

Leaving the field safe in the knowledge that they had played a full part in possibly the Guinness Premiership game of the season will be scant consolation for Saints this Easter. They had a fair number of chances throughout a pulsating match and with two Bruce Reihana penalties at the start of the second half edging them into a comfortable

Tom Vandell’s second try put paid to that thought however, and with replacement Andy Goode pulling the strings Leicester were steered home to victory.

Vandell’s first came in the third minute, and in a game of superb accuracy of execution from both sides it was typical that the score should have come from a wayward kick. Reihana missed touch and found Alex Tuilagi. The 110kg-plus winger has a reputation for forceful running, and with 20 metres of space he worked up a head of steam to bounce Jon Clarke off with ease. Scott Bemand was in support, and with Saints’ defence scrambling, Varndell glided over. Sam Vesty’s conversion made it seven-nil.

Ben Cohen’s strength prevented a five-metre scrum in the seventh minute, but it was a mere sideshow as East Midlands hostilities spilled over. Graham Rowntree landed a shot on Carlos Spencer – which won a penalty through which Reihana cleared – but the former All Black retaliated and both spent 10 minutes on the sidelines.

The period certainly favoured Saints, as two Reihana penalties – in the 12th and 18th minutes – pulled them back to within a point. There were also two fantastic chances thanks to a typical Clarke break and an over-the-top pass from Daniel Browne that Paul Tupai could not hold onto.

However, Reihana’s two successes sandwiched a Tuilagi ‘try’ pulled back for a Dan Hipkiss forward pass, and was followed three minutes later by a missed Vesty penalty. Then in the 29th minute Saints struck.

Reihana’s break on the right was followed by Clarke’s on the left. But it was through midfield that the try came thanks to the play-making skills of Sean Lamont that took full advantage of an overlap to put Daniel Browne over. Reihana converted and Saints were ahead for the first time, 13-7. Nevertheless, Leicester were edging the possession and only a superb tackle on Varndell by David Quinlan prevented a try. The visitors would still score before the break though.

Both sides’ handling was reflecting the perfect conditions. Yet the try was scant reward for a wayward Geordan Murphy pass that Lamont came close to intercepting. But he failed to do so, leaving space for Tuilagi to collect and race in from 60 metres. Vesty converted and the scores at the end of a breathless half was 13-14.

Reihana’s 46th-minute penalty re-took the lead, but Saints’ backline would have been greatly disappointed when Cohen’s fumble ended a flying move. However his forwards saved the day, winning the scrum and setting up the move for Reihana to extend the lead by another three points. Saints co-captain followed this with a superb run from deep for which turned-over ball and a Vesty penalty was scant reward.

The introduction of Sam Harding and Ben Lewitt threatened to accelerate an already speedy game, and with fellow back-rower Browne’s break Saints nearly had a score. But Leicester’s defence scrambled and cleared and in the 63rd minute they were ahead once more.

Vesty’s break – helped by Goode’s blocking run when retreating – tore the Saints defence asunder. And though Bemand looked to have wasted the opportunity on the far right there were men over on the left and Varndell strolled over for his second. Goode added the extras and Leicester were five points up.

Despite plenty of ball Saints struggled to find a way through, courtesy of disrupted line-outs and suffocating Leicester defence. Harding’s break with 10 minutes to go, and Reihana’s combining with Spencer immediately after were as close as Saints came, despite Michael Holford’s 78th minute sin-binning.

Yet another capacity crowd was roaring them home, and Saints won a lineout 10 metres out. But Damien Browne was bundled into touch, Leicester won another turnover as the clock ticked to zero and the game was gone.

Teams:
Northampton Saints – Reihana (co-capt); Lamont, Clarke, Quinlan, Cohen; Spencer, Robinson; Smith, Thompson (co-capt), Barnard (Budgen 62mins), Damien Browne, Lord (Gerard 68mins), Tupai (Lewitt 58mins), Fox (Harding 58mins), Daniel Browne.

Leicester Tigers – Murphy (Smith 40mins); Tuilagi, Hipkiss (Gibson 51mins), Vesty, Varndell; Healey (Goode 55mins), Bemand; White, Chuter (Buckland 40mins), Rowntree (Holford 41mins), Cullen, Kay (Hamilton 66mins), Deacon (Holford 9-18mins), Moody (Jennings 62mins), Corry (capt).

Scorers:
Northampton Saints – Try: Daniel Browne; Con: Reihana; Pens: Reihana (4).

Leicester Tigers – Tries: Varndell (2), Tuilagi; Cons: Vesty (2), Goode; Pen: Vesty.

Yellow cards:
Spencer (7mins)
Rowntree (7mins)
Holford (78mins)

Guinness Premiership man of the match:
Louis Deacon

Attendance:
13,493