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**dudeabides** · 05-16-2010, 03:34 PM

In the 2nd semifinal,

Leicester v Bath:

Quote:

Leicester booked a Guinness Premiership Final date with Saracens with a hard-fought 15-6 victory over Bath in their semi-final showdown at Welford Road.

Five penalties from the boot of Leicester fly-half Toby Flood carried the defending champions into their sixth straight season finale after a dominant second half display strangled the life out of Bath's season. Two penalties from centre Olly Barkley saw Bath enter the break all-square but having weathered a first-half storm from their long-standing rivals, Leicester took control of the contest with Flood the beneficiary of a powerful forward effort and clinical lineout performance.

The Tigers' victory sets up a mouth-watering showdown with Sarries following their upset win at Northampton earlier in the day. The Twickenham showpiece on May 29 is also set to have an added edge after Sarries ended Leicester's proud unbeaten home record last weekend. The aftermath of that game also saw Saracens rugby director Brendan Venter charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game after allegedly pushing a female Leicester supporter and making inappropriate comments and gestures to spectators at Welford Road. His disciplinary hearing takes place in London on Tuesday.

Defeat for Bath means they remain without a win at the home of their bitter rivals since November 2003, with their only two defeats in their last 13 Premiership fixtures coming at Welford Road.

Leicester made three changes from the side beaten last time out with Flood back at fly-half. Lock Louis Deacon and number eight Jordan Crane also returned. Bath, meanwhile, preferred Australian Matt Carraro to England squad member Shontayne Hape at centre.

In a breathless opening, an early chip from Bath fly-half Butch James almost put fullback Nick Abendanon into space in the Leicester 22 but Tigers centre Anthony Allen was there to snuff out the danger. But there was no let-up in the pace of the game with both sides carving out opportunities and first Leicester fullback Scott Hamilton and then Bath hooker Lee Mears found space but not sufficient support.

Bath eventually opened the scores when Leicester were penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown which allowed Barkley to put his side ahead. Bath's expansive approach brought more reward with another penalty on the quarter hour that also sparked the game's first flashpoint as tempers boiled over. Referee Chris White restored order as Barkley lined up his second kick at goal but his latest effort sailed wide of the posts.

A big scrum from Bath on the Leicester 22 then had the Tigers on the back foot and winger Matt Banahan powered towards the line only to be felled just short. But their disappointment was short-lived as play came back for a penalty against the hosts that Barkley slotted to double Bath's lead. Leicester gave the ball some air in response and although Hamilton's handling let him down, an offside penalty against Bath allowed Flood to put the home side on the board from straight in front.

Leicester were soon pressing again with Bath penalised for pulling down an ominous-looking driving maul but a superb tackle from scrum-half Michael Claassens following the resulting scrum relieved the pressure and forced the turnover. Leicester reasserted themselves at scrum time as the half drew to a close and a penalty offered Flood the chance to level the game - which he did although it required a trip to the TMO to confirm the score.

Both sides opted to play the territorial game in the early stages of the second half but failed to capitalise with defence coming to the fore at every turn. Frustration led to another clash- this time between rival hookers Mears and George Chuter - but not before a penalty had gone the way of the Tigers. Flood could only pull his kick wide of the posts but he made no mistake a few minutes later when the Leicester pack drew another penalty at scrum time.

Leicester continued to exert control over proceedings and a lineout steal from flanker Tom Croft, one of several poached by the England international, eventually saw Bath penalised once again and Flood gave his side a bit more breathing room with his fourth penalty.

Bath struggled to find the rhythm that has served them so well in recent weeks as Leicester turned the screw and that pressure led to an inevitable penalty at a scrum time on the visitors' 22 that Flood set through the uprights to put Leicester within sight of victory. An early tackle on James offered Bath a glimmer of hope but Barkley failed to find the target with his kick to leave his side a mountain to climb in the last five minutes.

Tempers threatened to boil over once more as the game reached its conclusion and although Bath played until the final whistle they had no answer the relentless Tigers who were not to be denied another Twickenham appearance.

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**dudeabides** · 05-29-2010, 02:39 PM

Final match: Leicester v Saracens:

Quote:

Leicester retained the Guinness Premiership crown with a pulsating 33-27 victory over Saracens at Twickenham.

A try from replacement centre Dan Hipkiss three minutes from the end of a thrilling encounter propelled the Tigers to their seventh Premiership success and an unprecedented ninth English League title. Tries from centre Matt Smith and scrum-half Ben Youngs put the Tigers in control in a breathless first half but it was the boot of fly-half Toby Flood that guided the Tigers home with 18 points courtesy of four conversions and three penalties.

Two tries from captain Ernst Joubert and the boot of No.10 Glen Jackson kept Sarries in touch and a late penalty gave them the lead with just five minutes to go. But Leicester showed their class to conjure a late turnaround with a dramatic lineout steal from lock Geoff Parling finally snuffing out Saracens' brave challenge.

Saracens opened the scores with a Jackson penalty after Leicester loose-head Marcus Ayerza was penalised at an early scrum but the Tigers were soon back on level terms with Flood pouncing on some indiscipline from Jacques Burger at the breakdown.

Saracens continued to pepper the Leicester defence with the boot of scrum-half Neil de Kock probing for gaps and that pressure drew the next penalty from the Tigers - this time for offside - that Jackson slotted with ease to give his side the lead once more.

Back came Leicester with Youngs pouncing on a loose ball before sparking a lively break that was let down by some poor handling. Prop Marco Castrogiovanni and No.8 Jordan Crane then combined well down the shortside to create an opening that was snuffed out by a big tackle from Sarries lock Hugh Vyvyan on Tigers flanker Tom Croft. But Leicester were not to be denied with a powerful run from winger Alesana Tuilagi laying the platform for a slick move that put Smith away out wide and the centre showed great pace to notch the first try of the game.

Saracens responded with a well-worked try of their own with Jackson stretching the Tigers' defence before feeding Burger who found his captain Joubert who had the strength to hold off the tackle of Leicester fullback Geordan Murphy and touch down in the corner. Jackson could not add the difficult conversion but they had the lead - but not for long.

The scoreboard continued to tick over with Flood adding his second penalty just a minute or so later when Sarries were again penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown. The tit-for-tat exchange continued with Leicester the next to feel the wrath of referee Dave Pearson and as they pondered their growing penalty count, Jackson stroked over his third penalty.

Some excellent close handling from Leicester then had Saracens scrambling in defence with Crane, centre Anthony Allen and Castrogiovanni all involved before a neat step from Youngs took carried him into space and over for the try under the posts. Saracens claimed that Pearson had obstructed play in the build-up but their protests were dismissed as Flood made no mistake with the simple conversion to give the Tigers a little breathing room.

The impressive pace of the game in the opening period appeared to have taken its toll as the first half drew to a close although the lively-looking Goode did his best to conjure the next score.

Borthwick made way early in the second half for Mouritz Botha as the forwards came to the fore and a big scrum from the Tigers saw Saracens penalised and Castrogiovanni saluted the crowd in celebration as Flood extended his side's lead from the kicking tee.

But as was the pattern of the game, Saracens offered an immediate reply with Joubert grabbing his second try. Centre Adam Powell drew two tacklers in midfield and then found flanker Andy Saull who came inside on a great line before feeding Joubert who had the pace to reach the line ahead of a helpless Leicester defence. Jackson's conversion made it a two-point game but a late challenge from Saracens winger Michael Tagicakibau on Murphy moments later offered Flood the chance to add to his tally. But his effort was short and wide which was perhaps just after replays appeared to suggest Pearson had got it wrong. There was more woe for Saracens at the next scrum and this time there was no mistake from Flood.

The Tigers continued to control proceedings at scrum time but Flood was unable to make Saracens pay for their shortcomings as the game reached the hour mark - pushing his penalty wide of the posts. Jackson was also off-target from long-range a couple of minutes later after Leicester lock Geoff Parling strayed off side.

A rare mistake from Murphy under the high ball then gifted Saracens possession in the Tigers' half and an excellent grubber from centre Brad Barritt opened up the defence but first hooker Brits and then replacement Rhys Gill failed to capitalise. But Leicester's eagerness at the breakdown soon handed them another opportunity and Jackson's fourth penalty brought his side to within two points with less than ten minutes left in the game.

Saracens pressed forward in search of the lead and they were rewarded for their efforts when Leicester lock Louis Deacon was penalised for coming in from the side at the breakdown in the shadow of his own posts. Jackson stepped up and slotted the kick to give his side a one point lead with only three minutes left.

But there was more drama to come with a high tackle on replacement Hipkiss at the re-start drawing the latest penalty but they did not need it as the centre wriggled free as Saracens stopped and ran in for the match-winning try. Flood kicked the conversion to edge the Tigers towards victory but there was still time for one more foray into the Leicester 22 following another penalty. The kick went to the corner for the lineout but Parling stole the lineout and with it the title.

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