Northampton Saints were making the short trip to Welford Road to face their arch rivals in the biggest fixture in the Aviva Premiership, the East Midlands derby. Saints were the underdogs going into the game with Leicester having been victorious in the last nine fixtures. They hadn't won at Welford Road since 2007, were they about to make history? Both sides had won three out of their four matches as they headed into round five of the Aviva Premiership. With Saints one place above Tigers, was this all the motivation Leicester needed to produce a repeat of the premiership final or were Northampton going to use this as a platform to prove a point, with skipper Dylan Hartley determined to tackle the Tigers as they entered the den.
Tension was running high and the adrenaline was rushing. In the first twenty seconds Blaine Scully took a high ball and it was Sam Dickinson's high straight arm that stopped the clock. It was anyone's guess how this match would unfold. The first half saw a handful of handling errors, knock-ons and the first of many penalties was awarded to Leicester after two minutes, but Flood failed to convert. Tigers put in a monstrous drive in the first scrum showing sheer domination. legal scrummaging gave Logovi'i Munipola the upper hand over Tom Mercey. Could Northampton compete?
Saints’ defence was exceptional and with composure and control enabling them to gain possession, a penalty was awarded. Stephen Myler converted 7 minutes in, taking the score to 0-3. Tables turned swiftly in the scrum enabling Saints to get their hold, set and remain strong but they couldn't get comfortable just yet. The first yellow card of the game was seen when Luther Burrell spear-tackled Anthony Allen 14 minutes in. He landed safely on his back but after TMO review, referee J P Doyle sent Burrell to the sin bin. The penalty was converted by Flood to take the game to 3-3.
The rivalry with Sam Dickinson got the better of Jordan Crane as he was pinged for coming in from the side, enabling Myler to kick the Saints ahead 18 minutes in, 3-6. The Tigers' discipline was poor and the Saints' body language showed they’d come here to win and were putting up a good fight. Their scrummaging had become very stable and powerful, and Tigers conceded another penalty when they rose up, then forward in the scrum. Myler's boot made it 3-9, with 14 minutes to half time. Tigers came straight back and Flood responded, to narrow the margin to just three points with a penalty in the 28th minute.
The pressure on Northampton was escalating, especially in their defence. They had power at the breakdown and their commitment to tackles was exceptional. Despite the slender lead, Saints looked the better drilled team going into the changing rooms at half time. Panic hadn't set in, even with Burrell off. It was only Saints illegal scrummaging that was keeping Tigers in the game.
With the continued absence of Richard Cockerill in the Leicester changing room, it was anyone's guess how the second half dynamic might change. Could Northampton win? This was the question on every spectator's mind.
.png)
Saints came back out with phase after phase of play that was concise, hard graft by the forwards. They put in the work and six minutes after running out the tunnel, it was Alex Corbisiero who scored the first try of the game. Myler converted taking the score to 6-16.
The on-going penalty rate against Northampton was uncomfortably high and that continued to keep Tigers in the game. Was this going to be Northampton's downfall? Flood kicked another ten minutes after the restart and Leicester were edging their way back, 9-16.
Northampton turned up the power and Dickinson crossed the try line but the ball was held up. Tigers had spent almost no time in Northampton's half but over a third of possession had been in their 22. Who would come out on top at Welford Road,? Was history going to repeat itself or could Saints keep their lead?
The 63rd minute saw replacements for Mercey, Corbisiero and Dowson with Gareth Denman, Alex Waller and Calum Clark taking to the field. The Saints scrum resistance held out enabling Myler to extend Northampton's lead to 9-19.
Northampton then lost the exceptional Luther Burrell, who'd had a storming game and left the pitch in the 69th minute with a shoulder injury and was replaced by James Wilson.
The match dynamic didn't drop for one minute and just when you thought no more cards could come out of
J P Doyle's pocket, he sent Courtney Lawes off for not rolling away and Louis Deacon joined him for shouting back.
J P Doyle's pocket, he sent Courtney Lawes off for not rolling away and Louis Deacon joined him for shouting back.
The tension started to heat up when Flood converted a penalty with ten minutes left to play. Tigers knew that if the score remained 12-19, their pride and reputation would be damaged and they suddenly upped their game. Ed Slater flew over the try line with Flood converting instantly to bring the scores level with 5 minutes to go. Tigers had clawed their way back and the intensity had everyone on the edge of their seats. Flood attempted a drop goal but it was charged down, killing their chances of winning. A scrum 7m out to Tigers was the last play of the game but Lee Dickson managed to steal the ball out of the side of the scrum, with Jamie Elliot kicking to touch. The whistle blew and the only thought on my mind was WHAT....A....GAME!
Welford Road is an exceptionally hard stadium to play at. It's a high-adrenaline cauldron, self appointed referees in the Crumby stand shout their advice but credit to the strength of J P Doyle as he enabled two top teams in the Premiership to properly battle it out in the East Midlands derby rightly earning it the title of
'game of the season' so far.
'game of the season' so far.
It really was where pride met passion today and Northampton will be disappointed not to have won at
Welford Road. But their work at the breakdown, line speed and tackling really showed them for the quality side that they are. Credit where it's due to a side that have gone from strength to strength, showing composure and tenacity but Tigers were determined to go undefeated at home.
Welford Road. But their work at the breakdown, line speed and tackling really showed them for the quality side that they are. Credit where it's due to a side that have gone from strength to strength, showing composure and tenacity but Tigers were determined to go undefeated at home.
With the first draw of the season a talking point for a long time to come, how will Stuart Lancaster pick his fly half? With Toby Floods kicking rate at approximately 60% and Stephen Myler at 85%, consistency has to be key, surely?