KO
Dylan Hartley leads out the Saints. A good number of Saints have made the short journey up the M1 and give the visitors a decent reception. But inevitably at a sold-out Welford Road it's 'Smoke on the Water' which brings the home crowd to life as they welcome out Toby Flood and the Tigers. Stephen Myler kicks off, with the Saints playing left to right as we look
TIGERS 0 SAINTS 0
1min
This is the first time that a referee has changed out of his Aviva yellow, JP Doyle instead clad in white to avoid a clash with the Saints' kit. There's no such clash between Ben Foden's boots and his shirt, which match perfectly. However all this frivolity pales compared to the concern showed for wing Blaine Scully, who has stayed down after being tackled by Sam Dickinson after catching the kick off. 21 seconds on the clock and the physics are on already. Scully comes off for Dan Bowden, and with the Kiwi going into the centres Vereniki Goneva moves out to the right wing
TIGERS 0 SAINTS 0
3mins
First shot at goal to the Tigers. Play restarts after Scully's treatment with a scrum, from which Leicester win a penalty. The lineout is won and Saints come offside, giving Flood a sight at the uprights five metres inside the visitors' half. But he draws the kick left, and play restarts with a drop-out
TIGERS 0 SAINTS 0
7mins
The big hits are coming in already, and despite worrying signs at the scrum - Tigers winning another penalty on Saints' first put-in - the defence is solid. Luther Burrell does brilliantly to first tackle and then win a turnover, and after Saints go through some phases they win a penalty just inside Leicester's half. Up steps Myler, and the flags go up!
TIGERS 0 SAINTS 3
11mins
Big call! After holding up the Tigers at the third scrum Phil Dowson wins the ball back to spark a superb counterattack, George Pisi making plenty of metres. A tackle off the ball sees Saints awarded a penalty, and Myler kicks to the corner. The pack gets a drive on, but Leicester's defence is solid and wins a scrum
TIGERS 0 SAINTS 3
14mins
There are big match-ups across the park, none more so than in the front rows. At the third time of asking both sets pop up, with Leicester awarded the penalty. The lineout brings another penalty and then as Anthony Allen charges forward he's upended by Burrell. Mr Doyle calls for an opinion from the TMO, and if this is a penalty it's certainly harsh, as the Saints centre retained complete control throughout the tackle
TIGERS 0 SAINTS 3
16mins
It's not just a penalty but a yellow card for Burrell, and this time Flood makes no mistake from the tee to tie things up
TIGERS 3 SAINTS 3
18mins
Such a shame for Burrell, who had started the game really well. But so has Sam Dickinson, and after a barnstorming run from a Saints scrum - the visitors having recovered the kick off - Mr Doyle awards Saints a penalty. This time Myler goes for goal, making no mistake
TIGERS 3 SAINTS 6
21mins
A let off for Saints, and a good feather in the cap for the pack, too. Ben Foden's kick from inside his 22 had looked brilliant, until it bounced over the dead ball line. Tigers get the scrum, and Saints opt to go to six men with Dowson moving into midfield. Then when the nudge comes on Tigers drop it and Saints get the penalty to clear
TIGERS 3 SAINTS 6
25mins
Another unfortunate break for Saints. After Dickinson, Hartley and Pisi make good metres in midfield George North comes off his wing. He bounces off the first tackle and hits the deck at the second, only to not let go of the ball and be penalised. It was a decent position for Saints, but Tigers can clear
TIGERS 3 SAINTS 6
27mins
Burrell returns to the fray, just in time to see Myler kick his third penalty from the 10-metre line, Tigers not releasing in a tackle
TIGERS 3 SAINTS 9
29mins
The tempo is definitely stepping up a notch, and although Saints look dangerous from deep they turn the ball over. Logovi'i Mulipola has a couple of bursts, and while Dowson fells him with an excellent tackle the flanker is ruled to not have rolled away in time. Flood pulls three points back
TIGERS 6 SAINTS 9
33mins
There's nothing quite as loud as a Welford Road crowd feeling aggrieved. And they certainly are after a couple of decisions which have gone the Saints' way. A pass just outside the home 22 drifts forward, and then as Saints attack up the near side the ball pinballs around and the visitors are awarded a scrum. Flood's arms are raised in disbelief, as are the majority of those in the Crumbie Terrace. Nevertheless it's Saints ball and a decent position
TIGERS 6 SAINTS 9
35mins
Saints couldn't make the most of the opportunity, Tigers' defence holding firm to win a lineout and give Ben Youngs the platform to clear to halfway
TIGERS 6 SAINTS 9
37mins
This time it's Tigers' turn to waste a good position. Saints held on in a tackle and Flood kicked to 10 metres away from the visitors' line. But not only is the maul held twice, but Scully - who's come back on after a spell in the concussion bin - is then pinged as Saints counter-ruck superbly. A penalty gives Myler the chance to clear, which he duly does
TIGERS 6 SAINTS 9
39mins
This has been a game with plenty of action but it's taken this long for there to be a genuine try scoring opportunity. Foden sends a kick into the home 22, and with North chasing a score looks on. But the ball bounces kindly for the hosts, and the winger knocks on. Youngs tries to spark a counter-attack, only for Burrell to snatch the ball in midair, so we come back for the fumble
TIGERS 6 SAINTS 9
HALF-TIME
That was the last meaningful action of the first half, and Saints go into the break with a three-point lead. They've done plenty of good things this half, but there's plenty that needs to improve, too, not least the penalty count (which at half-time was 6-10 in favour of Leicester). However the visitors have had the better opportunities and the more eye-catching performers. It's a gripping East Midlands derby which is very much still in the balance
TIGERS 6 SAINTS 9
42mins
Elliott ensures Flood's restart goes out on the full but after a couple of reset scrums, it's the Tigers skipper kicking at the posts as the Saints front row goes down. But like his first attempt in the first half, this one too goes left of the posts and Myler sends a long drop-out over halfway
TIGERS 6 SAINTS 9
46mins
Try for Saints!! The visitors get the first breakthrough, and while the score itself may have been from close range it came on the back of some excellent running, not least from Dickinson down the far side. Courtney Lawes and Samu Manoa both come close, but after a couple of goes around a breakdown are held up it's Alex Corbisiero's quarter back sneak which earns the prop his first Saints try. Myler converts superbly from the touchline
TIGERS 6 SAINTS 16
50mins
No Tigers side is ever going to lie down at home, and although Saints' defence holds the runners a lime green shirt is pinged for there being no arms used in a tackle. Flood goes for goal from five metres inside the visitors' half, and this time makes no mistake
TIGERS 9 SAINTS 16
55mins
TMO time! Although Tigers held Saints out to force a fumble and win a scrum, an early push hands the visitors a free kick. Lee Dickson taps, Mr Doyle marches Tigers back 10 metres and Dickson taps again. Saints go left and right, Pisi, Manoa and Lawes all making metres. But it's Dickinson who comes closest, driving over from close range
TIGERS 9 SAINTS 16
56mins
'Held up' is the decision, and while Saints have the scrum an early engagement gives Flood the chance to clear from a free kick. It's a good kick, which goes out midway inside Saints' half. Meanwhile Calum Clark is on for Dowson
TIGERS 9 SAINTS 16
58mins
Another pair of lucky breaks for Saints. North is ruled to have kicked the ball ahead rather than fumbled, then a Tigers clearance kick goes straight into touch after play was taken back into the home 22. However Saints can't make the most of the position, conceding a penalty at a breakdown. Flood sends play 50 metres downfield
TIGERS 9 SAINTS 16
60mins
Saints aren't making the most of their chances, but neither are Tigers, as Jordan Crane sends what would have been a scoring pass directly into touch. Dickson clears, but Tigers win a penalty at a lineout and the pressure comes on again, Flood kicking play midway inside Saints' 22
TIGERS 9 SAINTS 16
62mins
Saints pull down a maul, before defending manfully during the advantage. Nevertheless we're coming back and Flood kicks to touch again
TIGERS 9 SAINTS 16
64mins
Again Tigers try a maul, and then go through the phases. Niall Morris tries to combine with Adam Thompstone, and Crane goes up the middle, but when the ball hits the deck Saints recover and clear to midfield. A couple more subs, Gareth Denman and Alex Waller on for Tom Mercey and Corbisiero
TIGERS 9 SAINTS 16
67mins
Tigers may have the lineout, but it's Saints' defence which holds firm. Not only do they force a fumble, but the new props get one over the home scrum, winning a penalty. Myler extends the lead from 35 metres
TIGERS 9 SAINTS 19
71mins
Loads of drama in quick succession! Saints come close repeatedly, only to be held out. Then Goneva makes a break up the middle which has home fans on their feet before being felled by Manoa. Lawes is yellow carded for not holding away, then Deacon also sees yellow for dissent (we assume). Flood brings Tigers back to a seven-point deficit and we have several new players to see out the final 10 minutes. Phew!
TIGERS 12 SAINTS 19
75mins
Tigers have definitely edged these past few minutes, and are now getting the rub of Mr Doyle's decisions, too, especially at the breakdown. Flood, sensing blood, kicks for touch and Saints have more defending to do!
TIGERS 12 SAINTS 19
76mins
Try for Leicester, and it's been coming. Julian Salvi sent a quick pass from a lineout to Flood, who is pulled down close by Manoa and North. But the ball is recycled quickly and Ed Slater crashes over. Flood ties things up with the conversion and we've got another grandstand finish on our hands!
TIGERS 19 SAINTS 19
79mins
Tigers are going for drop goals now, but Flood fumbles in the pocket and David Mele has a poor attempt from similar range. Foden touches down for a 22-metre drop-out, which Myler sends 60 metres upfield
TIGERS 19 SAINTS 19
80mins
A long kick ahead puts Saints under pressure with a lineout five metres from their own line. They think they've done enough, but Mr Doyle has awarded a free kick for a fake throw. Tigers go for the scrum, but when the ball comes out Dickson snatches it to set off upfield. He finds Elliott, whose kick ahead goes into touch. And that's that - a draw!
TIGERS 19 SAINTS 19
FULL-TIME
Had Saints lost this game it would have been particularly unfair, given how well they'd played for large portions. But given how Leicester came back into the game the visitors deserve considerable credit for the way they defended, not least at the last scrum. A fair result? You decide. But nevertheless Saints' eight-game losing streak against the Tigers has been snapped!
TIGERS 19 SAINTS 19
TEAMS
LEICESTER Morris; Scully, Goneva, Allen, Thompstone; Flood (capt), B Youngs; Mulipola, T Youngs, Cole, Deacon, Kitchener, Slater, Salvi, Crane
Reps - Briggs, Stankovich, Balmain, de Chaves, Waldrom, Mele, Williams, Bowden
SAINTS Foden; Elliott, G Pisi, Burrell, North; Myler, Dickson; Corbisiero, Hartley (capt), Mercey, Manoa, Lawes, Wood, Dowson, Dickinson
Reps - Haywood, A Waller, Denman, Van Velze, Clark, Fotuali'i, Wilson, K Pisi
REFEREE JP Doyle
TIMELINE
2mins TIGERS Miss pen Flood
7mins SAINTS Pen Myler 0-3
14mins SAINTS Yellow card Burrell
15mins TIGERS Pen Flood 3-3
18mins SAINTS Pen Myler 3-6
26mins SAINTS Pen Myler 3-9
28mins TIGERS Pen Flood 6-9
HALF-TIME TIGERS 6 SAINTS 9
42mins TIGERS Miss pen Flood
46mins SAINTS Try Corbisiero Con Myler 6-16
50mins TIGERS Pen Flood 9-16
67mins SAINTS Pen Myler 9-19
70mins TIGERS Yellow card Deacon
70mins SAINTS Yellow card Lawes
71mins TIGERS Pen Flood 12-19
76mins TIGERS Try Slater Con Flood 19-19
FULL-TIME TIGERS 19 SAINTS 19
