A cold night in Leicester

By Leipziger
November 13 2007

The Falcons’ second string went down to a heavy defeat against a strong Leicester side at a freezing Welford Road in the East Midlands last night, conceding seven tries and scoring only once, through winger Rob McDermott at the start of the second half.

Fielding only two players with significant first team experience in Hall Charlton and captain Joe Shaw, the Falcons were no match or the home side’s fast and aggressive approach in front of a 7,000 crowd, higher than any of our league gates this season.

 

The Tigers went ahead after only six minutes, spreading the play right from a lineout on halfway and Vavae Tuilagi (yes, another one!) outran the defence to touch down.  The tone for the game was set, Sam Vesty powering into the 22, the Falcons holding Leicester up as they drove forward.

 

Three scrums followed, and from the third Ian Humphreys chipped through the defence from seven metres, and the ball bounced off Adam Dehaty’s arm into the hands of Tom Youngs, who scored easily and converted too.

 

Peter Browne and Phil Dawson made good runs as we attacked for the first real time, but lost the ball, then from a break by Charlton Browne almost got to the line in front of the posts.  The backs move ended when Tom Dillon, who had an absolute ’mare I’m sorry to say, dropped the ball.

 

Tuilagi almost grabbed his second try when he powered through from the 22 line, Gavin Beasley hardly trying to tackle before the winger was put into touch inches from the tryline.  Although we cleared to touch, from the lineout replacement Ben Youngs waltzed in on the left, as we left a gaping hole on the end of the defence.

 

In injury time, Humphreys sealed the bonus point with a solo score from 30 metres, before converting to leave us 26-0 down at the break.  To be honest, at this point we were lucky to have 0.

 

At least with it being cold though, the beer was good.

 

The second half began more encouragingly for the Falcons, Leicester knocking on from the kick-off and Ben Mercer went close on the left.  However, the hosts’ attack was merciless and when Tuilagi was tackled, the ball came inside to Nathaniel Lowers who scored the fifth try.

 

Mercer could have been in when standing free on the left with a one-on-one against Jack Cobden, but with him just begging for the ball, Dillon decided to turn back inside.  When the winger eventually did get a pass, the chance had gone and two defenders pounced quickly.

 

We weren’t to be denied a consolation (probably not the right word) score though, Rob McDermott being fed on the right from a scrum for an unconverted try.  Leicester camped in our 22 for most of the rest of the game, with some quick running and strong scrums.  It was from such a scrum under the posts that referee Dale Newitt awarded a penalty try.

 

Our defensive errors were summed up as Lewis Boyd, seconds after coming on as a replacement, waited to trap a high kick on his foot, only for the ball to go under it and into touch, although it could’ve been another try with an attacker not too far away.

 

The seventh and final try came with just over ten minutes to go, a scrum driving over and prop Dave Young scoring.  The conversion completed the hosts’ huge 47-5 win, and at full time I was glad to be able to go indoors and get warm.  The scoreline on its own suggests it wasn’t a great Falcons performance, although at this level the result obviously isn’t so important, and individual performances are more important than in the first team.

 

As such, I have to say that two first team squad members who did not impress at all were Dillon and Batty, although the latter obviously can’t take all the blame for the problematic lineout.  The back row, especially Dawson, did well when we had the ball, although couldn’t stop our pack being destroyed in the scrum by Leicester’s forwards.

 

Considering he was only on the pitch for a short while though, pint-sized scrum-half Dom Shaw looks lively and aggressive, and shrugged off a bone-crunching hit in the dying minutes.

 So at least one or two positives came out of the evening for us.