The match started well for Tigers with steady possession and ground leading to a 40 meter penalty landed by Ireland who was to have a very good day with the boot. With a big edge at scrum time and Monks pace off the base prominent, Tigers scored the first try after a break by Outram feeding Wallace to score under the posts. 10 - 0 with ten minutes gone.

However, South began to find themselves with a solid maul and showed an ability to move the ball very quickly from one side of the pitch to the other. From a wide position, astute handling from the forwards put their classy scrum half Adam Shaw in space on the 22, and he finished competently to score under the posts, converted by Aley. 10- 7.

With Tigers retaining control at the scrum, possession was good for the home side, but with South perhaps harshly penalised for mugging Outram just inside their half, Ireland again capitalised from the tee. Again, South rallied with their sharp, wide breakout game but Ireland pushed them back with a fine territorial kick and from the ensuing lineout South were penalised for pulling back and Ireland never looked like missing the posts. Thirty minutes gone, Tigers are 16 -7 up

The final section of the half showed South’s ability to pick up the game and win penalties, but their patchy set piece let them down and they failed to put together any really harmful plays. However, a rather telegraphed phase play by Tigers was intercepted by South forward Joe Collingham who scored under the posts, converted by Aley
Half Time Tigers 16 South Leicester 14

Early pressure from South Leicester was relieved by a good box kick from Holmes and a typically fine chase by Monks. Tigers then pressured after winning a penalty in the South 22, but the midlanders resisted. Then, in the 52nd minute, a remarkable scrum pick up and 40 metre blast to the line by Monks just failed to reached the chalk, South happily cleared their lines from the scrum.

South then attacked hard and with more purpose, but they were interrupted by Broadley challenging in the tackle and then kicking on for fifty metres lifting his team. On 60 minutes another strong Tigers attack finally released Packard who linked intelligently with Walker in the South 22, but the attack was stopped illegally and a yellow card given to the South Leicester miscreant. However , the 10 metre lineout from Tigers was defended well by the Wigston troop and a great 40 metre break out by Luke Crampton the South Wing forward set up quick ball for the South ten to kick accurately for south Fullback Brandon Boshi, to streak in for a fine try. This was converted and South Leicester were ahead for the first time 16- 19.

To their credit, the Tigers did not appear flustered and heavy carrying by Walker quickly earned another penalty for Ireland to show his quality, 19 - 19 on 70 minutes. Crucially, The South restart went straight in to touch and Tigers had an attacking scrum, bang centre of the pitch. With a strong scrum holding the South loose forwards the ball was fed along to Broadly on the right wing. He had work to do, but solid pace and a very strong fend left two greens on the ground and the coach scored under the posts. At last, Tigers had the slight breathing space they probably deserved; 26- 19 to the Door Moor Dodgers. South Leicester rallied and came back hard knowing time was short, but they were resisted by Thornton over the ball and Ireland gained good ground with the resulting penalty.

The final minutes were marked with a hardy South rally but as they tried to engineer a breakout for their snake hipped winger, Tigers powerfully defended and rightly earned a penalty in front of the South posts, converted with aplomb by Ireland. The game was safe at 29 -19 and a consolation three points for South gaining them a losing bonus point could not spoil a super afternoon for the Tigers.

Final Score Tigers 29 South Leicester 22
Author: Dick Knowles

South Leicester Rugby Football Club

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