Rugby Union: Tigers in their element

Leicester 27

Richmond 0

THIS was a day for the fireside not the pitch side and with the game at Welford Road live on television, the home crowd was greatly reduced in numbers but not in enthusiasm for the Tigers brand of play which, given the raging gale and sheeting rain, was at times of an admirably high standard. Durability and resilience were always going to be more important than touch and technique but in some of their passages of play, understandably dominated by the forwards, Leicester possessed as much skill as they did character.

The conditions, of course, were ideally suited to their party piece, the catch, take and drive from the line-out inside the opposition 22. Twice in the first half with the wind at their back Leicester executed it to perfection and on both occasions scored tries, by Neil Back and Darren Garforth. Although the forwards were in the vanguard of every attacking manoeuvre, Leicester's backs were not just making up the numbers. Far from it. Joel Stransky's upbringing in the unpredictable climes of the South African Cape have turned him into a player for all weathers. He was quite at home, poking grubbers into the corners, setting up his back-row forwards with floated passes and occasionally sneaking through any gaps left by Richmond's defence.

Behind him the young fullback Geordan Murphy, deputising for the injured Tim Stimpson, played with maturity and composure. This was in contrast to the more exotic challenge of the Richmond halves Eril Va'a and Agustin Pichot, who were given a torrid time behind what was, admittedly, a rag- bag of a pack. Where Leicester drove forward with collective might and purpose Richmond lacked the same combined weight and control. Too often they lost the ball in critical positions, whereas Leicester's momentum was maintained by their speed and accuracy.

In the early stages, before adventurous passing became a counter-productive lottery, Leicester looked good from tee to green as it were. It was only their finishing that let them down. But with 17 minutes gone and their forwards parked in their favourite position on the east touch-line inside the Richmond 22, the Tigers struck with clinical efficiency. A clean take, a drive from the line-out and Back was over. Seven minutes later, from the opposite touchline, there was another line-out and although the initial thrust was held, Leicester moved the attack infield. There was the suspicion of a knock-on as Leicester drove forward but there was no doubt Pichot, standing on his own line, lost control of the ball and Ed Morrison, playing advantage, awarded Garforth the try. Stransky converted both tries and before half-time added a penalty when Richmond strayed offside.

Richmond's determined start to the second half, which lasted all of 10 minutes, was the only period of concern for Leicester. Richmond's rising spirits were crushed, however, when they opted for a scrum close to the line instead of a penalty. It was a case of the resistable force against the immovable object. The Tigers pack budged not an inch.

It was shortly after this that Leicester patiently built their best attacking move. It began deep in their own half, steadily gaining in momentum until James Overend broke free inside the Richmond 22 and was only prevented from scoring by Spencer Brown's covering tackle. When Leicester reached the final quarter of the match with not a blemish on their score sheet they knew they were home, if not exactly dry. They had successfully drawn the sting, such as it was, from their opponents and, with his second penalty, Stransky stretched Leicester's lead.

Thereafter there were almost as many skirmishes as there were mauls as dampness and frustration seeped into the system. By this time though Leicester were irresistible, twice forcing Richmond's scrum to concede penalties.

From the second such offence, Stransky flitted through Richmond's poorest defence for the try which he converted to finish with a total of 17 points from yet another hugely productive afternoon for the Leicester Tigers.

Leicester: G Murphy; L Lloyd (M Horak, 79), J Overend, J Stuart, N Ezulike; J Stransky (A Goode, 79), A Healey (G Becconsall, 79); D Jelley (P Freshwater, 68), R Cockerill (D West, 68), D Garforth, M Johnson (capt), N Fletcher (W Johnson 62), P Gustard, M Corry, N Back (L Moody, 74).

Richmond: M Pini; N Walne, J Wright, M Dixon, S Brown; E Va'a, A Pichot; D McFarland, B Williams, D Crompton, B Cusack, C Gillies, B Clarke (capt), S Quinnell, A Vander (R Hutton, 64).

Referee: E Morrison (RFU).