Triple champions Leicester proved why they are unlikely to be denied a fourth
successive Zurich Premiership crown this season with a crushing Welford Road-win
over Saracens.
Deprived of skipper Martin Johnson with a broken arm, six regulars on Six
Nations duty with England and three more on the injured list, the rampant Tigers
still had too much class for a Saracens side who were expected to be serious
challengers to their title.
Aussie centre Rod Kafer was the architect of the win, scoring his first try
for the club and helping the home side make the most of their clear superiority
up front.
Leicester were already ahead when Kafer darted across the pitch following Will
Johnson's drive over halfway.
The former Wallaby still looked second favourite when he accelerated towards
his own delicate chip. But the ball bounced favourably, taking two Saracens
defenders out of the game, and Kafer strode over.
Steve Booth grabbed a second shortly before the interval and Tigers added two
more after the break to leave Saracens, themselves missing six men to an
on-going injury crisis and England commitments, firmly anchored in mid-table.
The famously staunch Leicester support turned out in numbers once again and
were rewarded when their side went in front almost immediately when Tim Stimpson
landed his first penalty from two metres inside his own half.
With both sides so depleted, it was little surprise that the opening exchanges
were scrappy.
Andy Goode kept Saracens on the back foot with a couple of deep touch-finders
but neither side attacked with complete confidence, even though conditions were
almost perfect.
Kafer's good fortune helped the Tigers extend their lead but Saracens' own
Australian recruit, Tim Horan, was at the centre of all the visitors' most
promising moves and predictably, he set up their opening score.
Ollie Smith slipped attempting to cut Adryan Winnan down close to the Saracens
line, allowing the full-back space to advance downfield.
Horan took the ball over halfway with an arcing run to the touchline, then
produced a basketball pass inside which was taken by Jannie de Beer, who cut
inside, then sidestepped Stimpson for a clear run to the line and the first try
Leicester have conceded on home soil all season.
Stimpson then landed two penalties either side of a single de Beer effort
before Booth's pace created Leicester's second touchdown.
Space was at a premium when Glenn Gelderbloom took possession close to the
left touchline but his neat chip kick allowed Booth to storm past de Beer, seize
the bouncing ball and crash over in the corner.
Eight minutes after the interval, Leicester were over again, taking the
traditional route.
Stimpson's penalty punt into the corner allowed England discard Ben Kay to
take a clean catch at the line-out and in the absence of Neil Back, prop Derek
Jelley was on hand to burrow his way through the pile of bodies.
Replacement forward Adam Balding had barely been on the field for two minutes
when he was yellow-carded for not allowing Saracens to release the ball from a
ruck.
But it didn't seem to affect the Tigers too much, Josh Kronfeld's charge down
setting up a home counter attack with Saracens were fortunate to survive.
Goode's drop goal merely emphasised Leicester's dominance and the icing on the
cake was Booth's fourth try, dancing through from 30 metres to collect the extra
bonus point.
Leicester:
Stimpson, Booth, Gelderbloom, Kafer, Smith, Goode,
Hamilton, Jelley, Chuter, Garforth, Deacon, Deacon, Kay,
W. Johnson, Kronfeld, Short, Holtby.
Replacements: Holtby for Stimpson (80),
Ellis for Hamilton (74), Freshwater for Garforth (69),
Holtby for Deacon (70), Manson-Bishop for Deacon (80),
Balding for W. Johnson (59), Gustard for Kronfeld (79),
Deacon for Holtby (80).
Not Used: Cockerill.
Tries: Kafer, Booth 2, Jelley.
Cons: Stimpson 2.
Pens: Stimpson 3. Drop Goals: Goode.
Sin Bin: Balding (62).
Saracens:
Winnan, Sparg, Horan,
Sorrell, O'Mahony, De Beer,
Walshe, Harbut, Russell, Phillips, A. Benazzi, Roche,
Cheesebrough, Roques, Cole.
Replacements: Halsey for Harbut (55),
Peacey for Cheesebrough (58).
Not Used: Cairns, K. Benazzi, Hampson, Smith, Haughton.
Tries: De Beer.
Cons: De Beer.
Pens: De Beer.
Att: 13,762
Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook