A top of the table clash between Leicester Tigers and Saracens didn't fail to produce drama and excitement as Saracens managed to inflict a rare home defeat on Leicester by beating them by a slender margin of 15-14 infront of just over 22,000 at Welford Road.
The home side had a number of returning players with George Skivington taking his place in the second row whilst England international Tom Croft returned alongside Captain Craig Newby and Thomas Waldrom. Martin Castrogiovanni also made a return for the Tigers how he started on the bench. Leicester were looking to make it four from four during the Six Nations period.
Saracens on the other hand only made one change from the team that beat London Wasps 26-15 last time out with Mouritz Botha taking his place in the second row. Kelly Brown returned from the Scotland squad as he took his place on the bench with Hugh Vyvyan looking set to break the record for all- time premiership appearances if he comes off the bench.
First Half
Saracens set their intent as they from the off put the home side under deep pressure in their own 22 and they were rewarded for their efforts with Alex Goode kicking over to put Saracens infront in the 5th minute. Leicester 0 - 3 Saracens. Both the forward packs looked very equal in weight and strength as they neither of the teams managed to use them to their advantage. Leicester then equalised from a penalty from fly half Jeremy Staunton in the 8th minute. Leicester 3- 3 Saracens. From the re-start Leicester looked sloppy as winger David Strettle almost capitalised on some ball watching from the Leicester forwards which went out of play for a line out to Saracens in the Tigers 22. The visitor's line outs looked solid as they forced the home side into a mistake which gifted Goode another penalty in the 15th minute which he managed to convert to put Saracens ahead. Leicester 3- 6 Saracens. The Leicester backs looked edgy and nervous on the ball as they weren't able to create any inroads through Saracens defence but Staunton again kept the home side in the tie converting another penalty in the 21st minute to bring the scores all square again. Leicester 6- 6 Saracens.
Saracens captain and former England captain Steve Borthwick continued to use his invaluable England experience in the scrums and line outs as the visitors continued to pressure Leicester in their own 22 but to no avail as Leicester in the 29th minute with Manu Tuilagi going over to shock Saracens. A quick line out from the home side switching the ball from right to left with Tuilagi evading two weak challenges on the wing to ground in the corner to put Leicester ahead for the first time in the game. A hard conversion attempt followed with Staunton unable to get the distance on the kick stopping Leicester from pulling out an even bigger lead. Leicester 11-6 Saracens. The try looked to have re-energized the home side as they then added to their score in the 34th minute with Staunton again kicking over to increase their lead. Leicester 14-6 Saracens. However just before the break, Goode kicked over to decrease the score to five points. Leicester 14-9 Saracens. As the half time whistle went, the game was still all to play for with the score at 14-9 to Leicester and Alex Goode's consistently good kicking would prove crucial to Saracens in the second half.
Second Half
With Saracens chasing the game, they made some swift changes in the early stages of the second half with Rodd Penney being replaced by Adam Powell and Rhys Gill coming off for former England international Matthew Stevens in the hope that fresh faces might improve the visitors performance and chances of winning the game. For the first 25 minutes of the half both teams cancelled each other out with the only highlight from that being Hugh Vyvyan setting the all-time record for Premiership appearances coming on to replace Mouritz Botha. Saracens then managed to produce a good spell in the Tigers 22 with over 20 phases of play but their hard work was wasted as they conceded a penalty to halt their attack. Minutes later, Alex Goode then reduced the deficit to two points when he converted his fourth penalty. Leicester 14-12 Saracens.
This meant for a nervy last 15 minutes to the game as both sides continued to push for the win. Leicester were then given the chance of increasing their lead with just over 10 minutes to go but he failed with his penalty attempt which he would later regret come the final whistle. With six minutes of normal time to play, a successful fifth kick from Goode gave Saracens a slim lead going into the last five. Leicester 14-15 Saracens. This put the home side on the back foot and Scott Hamilton didn't help their cause by sloppily knocking the ball on to put Leicester under pressure deep in their own 22. With the clock ticking over onto 79 minutes Saracens hooker Schalk Brits conceded a penalty inside their own half and it looked to be that Billy Twelvetrees, who had only just come on, would win the game for the home side with the last kick of the game. However, in a final twist to a tightly contested game, Twelvetrees managed to put the penalty wide and condemn Leicester to their first in four games. Leicester 14-15 Saracens.
Full Time
Leicester will rue the two penalties missed which would have effectively put the game out of the reach for Saracens but for some good resilience from the visitors who managed to keep the game pace slow in the second half which suited them best.
Man of the Match
Alex Goode, for his consistently good kicking which kept Saracens in with a shout throughout the game.
Leicester Tigers
Tries: Tuilagi
Penalties: Staunton (3)
Saracens
Penalties: Goode (5)
Thoughts
Leicester didn't really get going in the first 25 minutes but they were kept in the game by mistakes from Saracens in their own half. An uninspiring second half performance stopped the home side from building on their lead as a well disciplined Saracens hardly conceded many penalties and when they did Leicester failed to take them. Their gap at the summit has now been cut to two points after today's defeat as they travel to Bath next time out.
Saracens were very lucky to win the game as Leicester should have converted the two penalties in the last 15 minutes but besides that, their possession game in the first half didn't really reward them as they spent alot of time inside the home teams 22 only to run into a resilient Tigers defence. At the end of the day, Alex Goode's kicking was precise and accurate throughout as it won them the game which in turn meant that Saracens did the double of Leicester. Today's win continues their good form as they look forward to playing host to Newcastle Falcons.
