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The GP Match Report Thread
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<blockquote data-quote="Bullitt" data-source="post: 67043"><p>28/04/06</p><p></p><p><strong>Sarries edged out by Tigers</strong></p><p></p><p><img src="http://images.skysports.com/images/playerpics05_06/RugbyUnion/varndell_tom2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Guinness Premiership, Vicarage Road, Friday April 28th</p><p></p><p>Saracens' hopes of playing European rugby next season have taken a severe dent after going down 13-12 in a tight Guinness Premiership encounter with Leicester.</p><p></p><p>The Tigers - who have guaranteed their own play-off place with the result - should perhaps have won by more, missing chances in a physical game that had allowed the set-play superiority of the home side to build them an early 9-0 lead.</p><p></p><p>But the second-placed side were making plenty of opportunities also, Tom Varndell's 13th Premiership try of the season allowing the Tigers to pull the deficit back to just two points by half-time.</p><p></p><p>The visitors finally took the lead in the second-half - but only by a single point - with both sides then wasting chances in a gripping final 25 minutes.</p><p></p><p>After Kyran Bracken - retiring at the end of the season - had led Saracens out for his final home game, Leicester could have taken the lead in the very first minute, but Andy Goode hooked a penalty opportunity to left of the post.</p><p></p><p>The start was a lively one and, after a sustained period of Saracens aggression, the home side went ahead on 13 minutes courtesy of Glenn Jackson's penalty.</p><p></p><p>Leicester then spurned a golden opportunity when, following a superb cross-field counter-attack featuring Varndell and Goode, Alex Tuilagi chose to ignore a three-man overlap and instead went for glory.</p><p></p><p>That decision meant that Tuilagi had to take on fellow winger Tevita Vaikona and, to the obvious dismay of Tigers coach Pat Howard, he then dropped the ball as he strove to touch down.</p><p></p><p>Such profligacy was punished on 24 minutes when another Jackson penalty saw the home side go 6-0 up, the hat-trick coming just two minutes later.</p><p></p><p>Leicester thought they had scored on 28 minutes when a break, inspired by Harry Ellis and progressed by Varndell and Geordan Murphy, ended with Lewis Moody touching down just short of the line.</p><p></p><p>Moody then went over, the video referee judged that, rather than scoring, the flanker should instead have released the ball.</p><p></p><p>The score finally came on the half-hour when a low cross-field kick from Goode that Dan Scarborough failed to deal with was easily touched down by Varndell, with Goode then converting.</p><p></p><p>Tempers frayed on the stroke of half-time when Ellis went in dangerously, the scrum half diving head first to take Jackson's leg away as the latter cleared to touch.</p><p></p><p>But Ellis came off second best, receiving treatment for a facial wound.</p><p></p><p>Saracens made an aggresive start to the second half with a maul that rolled straight into the left-hand post of Leicester's goal.</p><p></p><p>A loss of discipline by Austin Healey, briefly on at half-time for Ellis, then allowed Jackson to score his fourth penalty of the evening.</p><p></p><p>Two Goode penalties in the space of six minutes allowed Leicester to edge into a 13-12 lead on 55 minutes.</p><p></p><p>A infringement by Julian White on 58 minutes presented Jackson the chance to once again hand Saracens the lead.</p><p></p><p>But the Kiwi missed and Leicester should have extended their lead on 62 minutes when, with the ebullient Murphy breaking, the full-back's pass slipped through the hands of Moody.</p><p></p><p>Saracens were now looking for a try, with a chance created two minutes later following a break from Kevin Sorrell being spurned.</p><p></p><p>But Leicester were spurning more and should have made the most of a cute Goode sidestep, with Tuilagi again wasting a golden opportunity moments later.</p><p></p><p>Still only one point behind, Saracens' then pushed for the win with the last, frantic, play of the game.</p><p></p><p>But, despite almost finding a way through with a break by Ben Johnston, Leicester's defence remained unbreached.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bullitt, post: 67043"] 28/04/06 [b]Sarries edged out by Tigers[/b] [img]http://images.skysports.com/images/playerpics05_06/RugbyUnion/varndell_tom2.jpg[/img] Guinness Premiership, Vicarage Road, Friday April 28th Saracens' hopes of playing European rugby next season have taken a severe dent after going down 13-12 in a tight Guinness Premiership encounter with Leicester. The Tigers - who have guaranteed their own play-off place with the result - should perhaps have won by more, missing chances in a physical game that had allowed the set-play superiority of the home side to build them an early 9-0 lead. But the second-placed side were making plenty of opportunities also, Tom Varndell's 13th Premiership try of the season allowing the Tigers to pull the deficit back to just two points by half-time. The visitors finally took the lead in the second-half - but only by a single point - with both sides then wasting chances in a gripping final 25 minutes. After Kyran Bracken - retiring at the end of the season - had led Saracens out for his final home game, Leicester could have taken the lead in the very first minute, but Andy Goode hooked a penalty opportunity to left of the post. The start was a lively one and, after a sustained period of Saracens aggression, the home side went ahead on 13 minutes courtesy of Glenn Jackson's penalty. Leicester then spurned a golden opportunity when, following a superb cross-field counter-attack featuring Varndell and Goode, Alex Tuilagi chose to ignore a three-man overlap and instead went for glory. That decision meant that Tuilagi had to take on fellow winger Tevita Vaikona and, to the obvious dismay of Tigers coach Pat Howard, he then dropped the ball as he strove to touch down. Such profligacy was punished on 24 minutes when another Jackson penalty saw the home side go 6-0 up, the hat-trick coming just two minutes later. Leicester thought they had scored on 28 minutes when a break, inspired by Harry Ellis and progressed by Varndell and Geordan Murphy, ended with Lewis Moody touching down just short of the line. Moody then went over, the video referee judged that, rather than scoring, the flanker should instead have released the ball. The score finally came on the half-hour when a low cross-field kick from Goode that Dan Scarborough failed to deal with was easily touched down by Varndell, with Goode then converting. Tempers frayed on the stroke of half-time when Ellis went in dangerously, the scrum half diving head first to take Jackson's leg away as the latter cleared to touch. But Ellis came off second best, receiving treatment for a facial wound. Saracens made an aggresive start to the second half with a maul that rolled straight into the left-hand post of Leicester's goal. A loss of discipline by Austin Healey, briefly on at half-time for Ellis, then allowed Jackson to score his fourth penalty of the evening. Two Goode penalties in the space of six minutes allowed Leicester to edge into a 13-12 lead on 55 minutes. A infringement by Julian White on 58 minutes presented Jackson the chance to once again hand Saracens the lead. But the Kiwi missed and Leicester should have extended their lead on 62 minutes when, with the ebullient Murphy breaking, the full-back's pass slipped through the hands of Moody. Saracens were now looking for a try, with a chance created two minutes later following a break from Kevin Sorrell being spurned. But Leicester were spurning more and should have made the most of a cute Goode sidestep, with Tuilagi again wasting a golden opportunity moments later. Still only one point behind, Saracens' then pushed for the win with the last, frantic, play of the game. But, despite almost finding a way through with a break by Ben Johnston, Leicester's defence remained unbreached. [/QUOTE]
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