Just Like The Goode Old Days

By Ian Birks
December 28 2003

Leicester Tigers welcomed back good ol’ boy, Andy Goode, to Welford Road in this Christmas home fixture against the visiting Yorkshire team from Leeds.

Before the game was over, Goode scored 14 points and we saw the Tigers claim their first winning bonus points this season with tries from Healey, Rowntree, Freddie Tuilagi, Back and Baxter.

Leeds took the first points of the game from the boot of Gordon Ross in the sixth minute of the match, but this was cancelled out by Goode’s penalty conversion just three minutes later, followed by another three pointer as the Tigers piled on the pressure as the forwards took the ball onwards in a series of strength sapping mauls.

The Tykes made it 6-6 after a penalty and a yellow card were awarded against Leon Lloyd for a high tackle.

Goode, playing as if he had never been away, controlled and mixed up this game: he kicked well, took the tackles to set up the next phase and used his pass to good effect.

The first try of the day came from Healey, who capitalised on some good work from Henry Tuilagi. The try was converted by Goode to take Leicester to 13-6.

The Tigers forwards then took the game on with Leeds forced to stand up or get pushed around the park by the power of the Leicester scrum. A series of rolling mauls resulted in the first try of the season from loose-head Rowntree.

The third try of the half came from Freddie Tuilagi who touched down into corner following some good interplay between van der Westhuyzen and Ollie Smith. An excellent conversion from the touch line saw the Tigers go in at half time 26-6 up.

The try to give Leicester their bonus point came in the fourth minute of the second half from Neil Back as yet another rolling maul was steered towards the Leeds line, resulting in a typical Backy try, again converted by Andy Goode. This took the score to 32-6.

But this was preceded by a second Freddie try being disallowed as referee Dave Pearson judged that there had been a forward pass.

As expected, the visitors never gave up on the game and were rewarded for their tenacity when Cardey ran in for the Tyke’s only try of the match in the left hand corner.

A 55 metre attempted drop goal from van der Westhuyzen had the legs but was just wide of the upright. The fifth try for Leicester came in the final minutes of the game when Neil Baxter ran in under the posts and Goode converted, taking the score to 39-11.

Apart from the return of Andy Goode, Leicester also fielded a second new signing of the week: Welsh number eight Andrew Powell who came on for his debut, and performed well in front of the capacity Welford Road crowd, just hours after his arrival at the club was announced.

Half Time Score: 26-6

Final Score: 39 - 11

Teams

Leicester: van der Westhuyzen, Baxter, Lloyd, Smith, F. Tuilagi, Goode, Healey, Rowntree, Richards, Morris, L. Deacon, Kay, W. Johnson, Back, H. Tuilagi.
Replacements: Vesty on for Smith (47), Myring on for Healey (67), Chuter on for Richards (73), Nebbett on for Morris (73), M. Johnson on for L. Deacon (70), W. Skinner on for Back (70), Powell on for H. Tuilagi (50).

Tries: Healey, Rowntree, F. Tuilagi, Back, Baxter.

Cons: Goode 4.

Pens: Goode 2.

Sin Bin: Lloyd (19).


Leeds: Cardey, Albanese, Snyman, Davies, Christophers, Ross, Stuart-Smith, Shelley, Holt, Powell, Hooper, Murphy, Salter, Persico, Rigney.
Replacements: Cusack on for Holt (49), Palmer on for Murphy (49), Hyde on for Persico (49).
Not Used: Kyriacou, Walker, Walsh, Botham.

Tries: Cardey.

Pens: Ross 2.

Attendance: 16,815

Referee: Dave Pearson