Saints winning hard-fought east midlands derby
Saints 12 Leicester 3 FOUR Stephen Myler penalties put Saints on course for a second east midlands derby win in three weeks at a wet Franklin's Gardens
Jon Clarke failed a fitness test and was replaced at outside centre by Joe Ansbro and it was Leicester who started the better of the two sides.
Leicester put the early pressure on after Paul Diggin couldn't deal with a Jeremy Stainton up-and-under. Staunton turned down a shot at the posts to go for a lineout drive but Saints repelled it and when Tigers spilled it Paul Diggin kicked ahead, but was taken out by Geoff Parling.
The lock was lucky to stay on the pitch after a talking to from referee Nigel Owens, but the penalty gave Myler a shot at the posts from 35m which he took after eight minutes.
But from the restart Saints were penalised for not rolling away, but from 45m in front of the posts the Tigers fly-half didn't catch it well and the kick fell under the bar.
For the first quarter though Saints were pinned in their own half, but stout defence led by Juandre Kruger kept Tigers out and a great scrum from the home pack saw them win a penalty and finally clear.
Leicester finally drew level when Lee Dickson took a ferocious hit in front of his own posts and Neil Best was penalised for lying on the ball. Staunton made it 3-3 after 23 minutes.
Four minutes later though Myler made it 6-3 from in front of the posts, not much territory for the home side but they were still in front.
And Myler was the given the chance to extend the lead on 31 minutes when he was speared to the ground by Craig Newby. The Leicester skipper was shown the yellow card and from 24m Myler made it 9-3.
Five minutes before the break the Saints scrum hit top gear as the rain sheeted down. They powered Leicester back 5m to win a penalty in front of the posts. Saints were lucky to get the scrum as Scott Hamilton was harshly adjudged to have knocked-on from another mighty Bruce Reihana kick. Myler landed the three points to make it 12-3.
Saints - Reihana; Ashton, Ansbro, Downey, Diggin; Myler, Dickson; Tonga'uiha, Sharman, Mujati; Fernandez Lobbe, Kruger; Lawes, Best, Dowson (capt)
Reps - Long, Dreyer, Morris, Cannon, Easter, Dickens, Geraghty, Mayor
Leicester Tigers - Hamilton; Tuilagi, Smith, Allen, Tuqiri; Staunton, Youngs; Ayerza, Davies, White; Parling, Kay; Newby (capt), Woods, Crane
Reps - Chuter, Stankovich, Harris, Green, B Deacon, Grindal, Vesty, J Murphy
Referee:
Nigel Owens (WRU)
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Friday 10 February 2012
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