From the Archives - East Midlands Derby 2002

By From the Archives
November 28 2002

In the last look back in to an all too brief archive this week its back to the corresponding fixture last season. A lifeless game on a cold February day at Welford Road when it snowed on the pitch and rained in Gold Black n Green hearts........again.

Saints feel icy blast as they slip at Leicester

By Rich on the Wireless
Date: 24/2/2002

Very rarely are these local derbies a thrilling affair and Sky telly's decision to give it a miss was in hindsight quite wise. The crowd was unusually quiet even for the unspoken ones, who are to excitement what Bernard Manning is to feminism.

To be fair, it was an awful day for a game of rugger, icy cold, and fierce biting wind and snow showers which added to Mr Spreadburys erratic refereeing gave not a very good afternoons entertainment.

The awful result of 17-6 to Leicester hurts deeply but in context it does not signal a mini crisis. To win at that famous old stadium is never easy and better teams than the current Saints side have faired worse.

The first passage of play promised so much. The Saints stormed into enemy territory and Grayson kicked the Saints into the lead from the inevitable penalty.

Perhaps the first nail in Saints coffin was the loss of Grayson as the Saints played the first half with a gale at their backs. Larry's cultured boot would have revelled in pinning the Tigers back in their own half and creating the sort of pressure that is needed to throw them off their game. He went off first to the blood bin but only returned briefly and was finally replaced by Saints 'jack in a box' Brooks on 28 minutes.

Goode tied the scores on 6 minutes.

Then Saints had some good pressure but another of the afternoon's coffin nails was being driven home. At any level of rugby you can't win games without set piece possession and after all the talk of improved lineouts they once again were the nightmare that will keep Smudger awake at night.

The third coffin nail was poor handling and with freezing hands and a ball swirling it can probably be excused to a point but a lot of good work yielded nil points.

The final nail was the simple art of tackling. On 27 minutes the Tigers prop Perry Freshwater waltzed through four Saints tacklers for an unconverted score. Nick Beal took over the kicking duties to reduce the deficit on 30 minutes with a monster wind assisted kick but the Saints got no closer than that. At half time Tigers led 8-6.

Into the second half and with the wind at their backs it was feared that the Tigers would cut loose. When searching for cold crumbs of comfort, the fact that they scored no more tries is to Saints defensive credit.

Brouzet replaced Phillips and managed to get sent to the bin on 54 minutes. Meanwhile the clinically efficient (though really quite dull,) Tigers banged over three penalties from Goode to take the score to17-6 at the end.

Saints had their chances but in a familiar tale against this particular opposition they went begging through knock ons and poor decision-making.

In his post match interview Smudger talked about pride in the shirt and commitment to teammates. He said that they would need to look at what went well and how to do those things for longer. He also said to dwell on this loss would drive anyone insane and in 24 hours time the preparation must start in earnest for the cup game against Falcons.

Smudger said the supporters don't win matches and the Saints should not expect a result just because it's at home. I think that's sound advice for the team but we should ignore it. We're part of the club and we can lift the players. So everyone take up sign language for the next two weeks so that your voice is at full strength for March 9th.

All in all a very dull match that does not warrant a lengthy report but chins up because it's all still to play for. Smudger will not let his good work go to waste and with this hellish fixture out of the way the Saints should look towards building another run of good results. The Powergen cup and a big day out still beckon. A top four finish should secure Europe and who knows?

We all awoke on Sturday morning with hopes as a high as kites, some went up the road, others made do with the fractured wireless coverage and once again we happy few inhabited the chat room. Those hopes were shattered but where sweeter to get our revenge than at Twickenham in the play off final?

Heads up! I'd still rather be a Saint than a Tiger.

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