Perfect send off for Moody

Guinness Premiership Final

Twickenham 29/05/10
Leicester Tigers 33, Saracens 27

THE life of a loose forward might not get any sweeter than the one led by Lewis Moody.

His last outing as a Leicester Tiger came and went in this year’s Guinness Premiership final, and he leaves behind the only side he has ever known with a seventh championship medal hung proudly around his neck.

And although England’s tour captain did not see out the full eighty at Twickenham on Saturday, he surrendered to the sidelines after 68 minutes with his fingers crossed that his teammates could hold on to their five point cushion over Saracens.

Craig Newby was unleashed in his place with the scores at 26 – 21 in Leicester's favour, as was Dan Hipkiss who was on for opening try-scorer Matt Smith.

For both club and country, Moody knows too well that nothing is for granted.

Saracens had not been in a final at Twickenham since Moody was still establishing himself as a young Tiger 12-years-ago.

But, while Moody, now 31, packs up for a move to Bath next season with another honour to his collection, the man whose boot he’d chased down in the final at Twickenham has now left the game for good.

Glen Jackson, also looking to go out with a bang, stepped up to slot home a gifted penalty moments after Moody took his seat, and rest assure another to put Saracens ahead by a point with only four minutes to go.

To say destiny would decide this final would have been stating the obvious.

Saracens took the lead twice early on through two Jackson penalties and then again with a try from captain Ernst Joubert – never one to amble over the try line like most eights, only to hit it hard and fast like a winger.

His try on 18 minutes countered Leicester’s opener moments earlier which was executed beautifully through the hands of Scott Hamilton and Anthony Allen to set up Smith.

And, while Jackson continued to exchange penalty kicks with Toby Flood, the Saracens lead was short lived when they allowed Leicester’s Ben Youngs to saunter in under the posts on 28 minutes.

Returning Steve Borthwick retired not long after the break.

But, when Toby Flood stroked another penalty through the uprights to make matters worse, Super Bok Joubert ran in over the whitewash once again on 49 minutes to put his side back in contention.

Jackson completed the comeback with time on Saracens’ side and a first championship in 12 years well and truely in their sights.

Flood kicked high from the restart while Moody, unable to do anything but watch, probably couldn’t bring himself to do even that.

His trademark chase from the kickoff was on ice at the time that it was so badly needed.

Only to visualise him plucking the ball from the air to set up Leicester’s final attack for a game saving try.

Moody or no Moody however, that’s exactly what happened.

Hamilton gathered as the ball was grounded, and without presence or mind, frantically switched it inside to substitute Dan Hipkiss who could only crash into a mêlée of bodies.

Whether it was poor tackling or pure determination, Hipkiss came out the other side unscathed and the 2010 Guinness Premiership title resting on his terms.

Saracens responded quickly. Mere seconds after Flood converted to give Leicester the lead, a penalty fell to Jackson in the Leicester half with 20 seconds still on the clock.

Leicester’s lineout bossed throughout, but the only chance left was to push for the corner with six points the deficit.

But in the same length of time it took for Leicester to bounce back from Jackson’s earlier effort, the game was over.

Geoff Parling leapt to steal the Saracens lineout one last time this season, and with it any hope for a final twist.

Parling padded down to Youngs - Youngs, a meter from touch, drove the ball back eighty seats into the stand.

Leicester retain their trophy. Mad dog Moody leaves Welford Road with the job complete.