Opening try: Matt Smith scores for Tigers
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Leicester needed a late Horacio Agulla try to sneak past Northampton 30-25 in a thrilling Aviva Premiership clash at Welford Road on Saturday.
Leicester came out on top in a feisty East Midlands derby to record their first Premiership home win of the season .
Northampton made an encouraging start but, after settling for a Ryan Lamb penalty, it wasn't long before Leicester worked their way back into the game and regained parity through Toby Flood.
Things really heated up after 13 minutes though when Chris Ashton dragged Alessana Tuilagi into touch by his hair, sparking a mass brawl. Tuilagi received a straight red card for his reaction, seemingly a much lesser offence than his younger brother's on the same man in the same fixture at the end of last season when a yellow card was the punishment.
Northampton flanker and reported England captaincy candidate Tom Wood was also sent off though for his part in the melee, making it 14-a-side for the remainder of the match, and the Saints found it difficult to adjust a man light in the back row.
Ashton escaped the incident unscathed but was made to suffer moments later when Matt Smith ran straight through him, carrying him over the try-line before touching the ball down as close to the corner as possible for one of the finishes of the season so far.
The Leicester pack gradually began to dominate more and more and, after an attacking line-out, Steve Mafi powered through some half-hearted Northampton tackling to score the second try of the game.
Lamb did reduce the deficit slightly for the Saints but they found themselves 15-6 down after an action-packed first half.
Flood edged the Tigers further ahead just two minutes into the second period but Northampton, inspired by Jim Mallinder's team talk, responded immediately. After sucking Leicester's defence into the middle of the field, the ball was spun wide to the left wing for Ashton to apply the finish.
Ben Youngs scored the home side's third try in the 60th minute after a handling error and lack of concentration from the Saints' pack but again Northampton's reply was swift.
Two tries in the space of three minutes gave them a 25-23 lead in what was turning into another classic East Midlands derby. Veteran centre Tom May's score was followed by one from Phil Dowson after Ashton had expertly kept the ball in play out wide.
Further drama was yet to come though as, with less than five minutes remaining, Leicester attacked from deep inside their own twenty-two and created an overlap for Horacio Agulla to surge down the left wing to score and secure a first home Premiership win of the season.
The scorers:
For Leicester:
Tries: Smith, Mafi, Youngs, Agulla
Cons: Flood 2
Pens: Flood 2
For Northampton:
Tries: Ashton, May, Dowson
Cons: Myler 2
Pens: Lamb 2
Red cards: A. Tuilagi (Leicester - 13th min) ; Wood (Northampton - 13th min)
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy (capt), 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Steve Mafi, 5 George Skivington, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Dan Cole, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Ben Woods, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Scott Hamilton.
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 George Pisi, 12 Tom May, 11 Jamie Elliott, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Phil Dowson, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Samu Manoa, 20 Ben Nutley, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Jon Clarke.
Venue: Welford Road
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Comments
lawynd says...
@Grimmage - whether it's by the hair or the back of the collar, a tackle above the shoulders is illegal. To then compound the foul by using Tuilagi's hair to drag him into touch makes it several degrees worse, a true professional foul in my opinion. Ashton knew exactly what he was doing, the same as he did when he put two late shoulder charges in on Murphy and Flood earlier in the game that weren't spotted. Going on about Murphy, who by that token simply ran an interfering line and watched Foden go down like a wendyball player, is rather disingenuous without mentioning those other two incidents, and the countless little obstructions that players make every week. If it had been Foden obstructing Murphy whilst Ashton ran in a try I'd be willing to bet you'd not be making the same statements.
Posted 11:33 06th December 2011
Grimmage says...
Cue every player growing hair down to his ankles in order to gain an advantage. If your hair is so long that it covers you're shoulders and you get tackled by it so what? For once (and once only) I wouldn't mind the IRB taking a leaf out of the NFL's book and ruling that its the players fault for having long hair.
The officiating in that game was fairly rudderless, the action taken after the fight early on seem like a complete lottery. How on EARTH did Barnes not see Murphy take out Foden?? To say Foden was out play is rubbish, there's a reason he's coasting when he gets mullered off the ball by Murphy: He has both the pace and the angle to get there when the break is made. Unfortunately for Northants we'll never know for sure. 'Intelligent play' by Murphy? More like a prime example of the kind of rubbish that officials need to get a grip on, fast.
Posted 20:23 05th December 2011
Jediboy says...
Just read BBC sport site. Ashton has been charged with 'an act contrary to good sportsmanship.'
And rightly so I believe. There is no place for such things in rugby.
Like I said earlier, Ashton is a class finisher. Buts its gone to his head and I think he's lost the plot somewhat.
Posted 20:20 05th December 2011
crunchfit says...
@Ybgurrrrr
"10.4 (e) Dangerous tackling. A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.
Sanction: Penalty kick
A player must not tackle (or try to tackle) an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. A tackle around the opponent¿s neck or head is dangerous play.
Sanction: Penalty kick"
You could also say it was bad sportsmanship (10.4m).
Posted 19:45 05th December 2011
APV1 says...
I'm with Jediboy here - he's going downhill fast. I'm a Bath supporter, but have always enjoyed watching the Saint, with the likes of Foden, Ashton, Lawes and Dowson. But Ashton's "novelty" has quickly worn off. being a great finisher is only part of a winger's role and I'm beginning to think the shine's gone.
I'd like to see Sharples as the #1 choice with others (including Ashton) competing for the other starting berth and bench spots.
But anyone who pulls hair is not wanted. Although anyone brave enought to pull Tuilagi's hair has bigger balls than me!
Posted 13:23 05th December 2011
Ybgurrrrr says...
Is hair pulling really the big issue in this game? It isn't very rugby, but I'm not aware of the rule against it. I have short hair and it never gets pulled, if Alessana would like me to point him in the direction af a very reasonable barber I would be happy to do so.
Posted 12:41 05th December 2011
chubbylugs says...
lets be fair all of the england players are getting it in the neck - ashton is just continuing to be an idiot.
i only saw the ITV highlights, but it looked like an excellent game. I wish the same level of passion and intensity was shown by our national side - then perhaps we wouldnt all despise them so much
has ashton been cited? it would seem strange if he isnt
Posted 12:19 05th December 2011
RhinoProp3 says...
Ashton deserved everything he got, and a lot more besides. How the officials failed to see him dragging Alesana Tuilagi, carrying the ball, by his hair, god only knows.
The reaction was exactly what you would expect. If you read George Skivington's blog on Living Rugby he says about how they prepare for this local derby "In training, in the week leading up to the game, there is a real bite. That has been no different this week".
That bite seems to have fed through to the game, only shame is Ashton seems to have got away with it.
He will suit Saracens a lot better than Saints when he eventually gets there.
Posted 10:17 05th December 2011
Ybgurrrrr says...
I am so frustrated by rugby at the moment. This game was deeply affected by the failure of the officials and the union to punish the foul play the last time these two met. How the officials picked out the two player that they did this time is very confusing to me Lawes and Agulla were the first two to join the fight and cause it to escalate and Murphy threw several punches (not sure any of them landed).
Manu Tuilagi's stupidity at the world cup is what you would expect when there is no punishment in the sport.
Rugby really really needs to clean up at the moment and don't get me started on rucks or scrums!
Posted 08:36 05th December 2011
rockman says...
"Chris Ashton dragged Alessana Tuilagi into touch by his hair" My god is there any shred of decency or masculinity left in this guy? He gets pummeled by one Tuilagi and in the next game he pulls the other ones hair? Cop on Ashton YOU are what is wrong with rugby. A place where there is no room for your swan dives and hair pulling. All that you're missing now is fake tan.
Cue the English fans, "joint top try scorer at world cup response" yes true he was but look at who he scored against? Two against Georgia, three against Romania and one against a bad Scots side. If this idiot ever scores decent tries against top nations then i'll applaud and appreciate the talent that the English hype him up to be. Until then he'll remain the player who's swan dives started the end of Johnson's reign and a dismal world cup for the English.
Posted 07:13 05th December 2011
damo says...
murphy is pure class ashton is a loser and should have stayed playing league as that is a game worthy of his lack of talent or class
Posted 23:58 04th December 2011
lawynd says...
@Blumbus23 - whilst it doesn't excuse his actions, Murphy wouldn't have been lamping anyone if Ashton hadn't dragged Tuilagi around by his hair, or if the referee had penalised the two cheap shots he'd already made (one of them on Murphy).
Also, Foden was far too far away from the break down the left to stop the try, even without Murphy's intervention in my opinion; nevertheless, a sneaky piece of play like that (he didn't do anything other than get in Foden's way) is hardly comparable to Ashton's continual thuggish behaviour, something Manu was rightly lambasted for last season.
Posted 17:34 04th December 2011
crunchfit says...
@Blumbus23
Ashton has a fair few English caps and Heineken Cup caps under his belt. He has experience at higher levels than most wingers and is touted as world class by English media and fans. You'd expect him to do better than most wingers, yet he does worse. He had plenty of room and time to go for Smith's legs. If he made contact later, then I would be less harsh. And yes, Murphy shamelessly took out Foden who may well have stopped the try, but Ashton not being there left a straight run up the wing. You can't compare Murphy's intelligence with Ashton's laziness / inadequacy. Murphy did what was best for his team. Ashton on the other hand was busy not doing the less glamourous side of his job and it cost his team another game. Ashton has on numerous occasions showed complete disrespect to his opponents (e.g. I had hoped the petty scoring a try and shouting at / taunting Gcobani Bobo was a once off, heat of the moment thing, unfortunately it seems that it wasn't) , when he deserves none at all. He is abrasive and arrogant, even to his coach. It has nothing to do with him playing league or being from Wigan.
Posted 15:00 04th December 2011
lawynd says...
I don't really care either way about Ashton's abilities, if he has to make late shoulder charges on players and then pull hair like a girl in the playground to impose himself on a game then Northampton would probably do well to get shot of him. Did he forget the lesson Manu dished out to him last season?
Posted 11:31 04th December 2011
Blumbus23 says...
Woah! I think all this Ashton hate is a tad harsh. I agree he did have a shocker against the Scarlets but I felt he had a pretty good game yesterday and almost won his team the game with a well taken try and a classy piece of play to set up Phil Dowson. HIs tackle on Matt Smith was what you'd expect from most wingers (tis just that Matt Smith appears to be a brilliant finisher) and for those who blame his defence for the final try, Northampton had it covered until Geordan Murphy took Foden out of the ball!
I agree Ashton's attitude isn't the best, but there are far worse players going around. For example Geordan Murphy who is far and away the biggest **** in the game at the moment, yet no one gives him any trouble! He threw about 5 punches and got away with it! Why does no one give him a hard time???? If Ashton did that you guys would be all over him saying "he should stick to football" and stuff like that :S.
P.S. Despite what you may assume, I'm not an Ashton lover and my 6 nations wings would actually be Wade and Sharples, but I think it's just incrediblly unfair that Ashton gets all this critiscm for.. well being from Wigan I guess, cos I can't see any other reason for it :S
Posted 09:37 04th December 2011
nabberuk says...
@papachinzo
Guessing your welsh, they usually have issues against NH....
Posted 23:30 03rd December 2011
Jediboy says...
Danatthecorner - it's not about 2 bad performances. There's more to it than that.
I agree, hes a class finisher. There's no doubt about that. But his attitude is poor, his tackling weak and I don't think he always tries his best. Some of his decision naking is very suspect too!! And this is not based on two recent bad performances. I believe that no player is bigger than the club. My concern is that if Aston is not careful then he'll go this way. Which would be a shame.
Posted 18:39 03rd December 2011
crunchfit says...
It's funny how the English media and fans turn a blind eye to Ashton's utter lack of defensive abilities. They are truly shocking. Any other player would be shredded for such in adequacies but not the poster boy of attacking rugby is exempt. The only thing worse than his defensive skills is his arrogance.
Posted 18:14 03rd December 2011
crunchfit says...
@Danatthecorner
I'm not a Northampton fan (I'm a Leinster fan) and this has been my opinion of him for a long time. His actions just keep supporting my opinion of him.
And I wouldn't say he's "backing it up" if he's just cost his team their second game in three weeks. If you think he's the best in the Premiership, then you're probably just another fan brainwashed by the English media. I don't understand how Ashton could be considered the best when there are players who have scored more tries than him and they have also cost less tries than him. Alesana Tuilagi, Charlie Sharples and Christian Wade are three players I would consider better than Ashton. On attack alone, Ashton is probably the best. However, it doesn't matter how great an attacker you are if you have no defense. Unlike Ashton, they can score lots of tries without costing their team almost as many.
Posted 18:09 03rd December 2011
Danatthecorner says...
Interesting, two bad performances all year for his club and suddenly Ashton's own fans are turning against him. How fickle. I'll tell you what, you tell me who else in the prem is a better winger than he is and I'll pay for the transfer fee out of my own pocket. He's arrogant but I daresay he's backed it up this year.
You lost against Leicester away, no need to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Posted 17:42 03rd December 2011