But things changed 15 minutes after the interval when the second new ball was taken.
The Tigers were beaten 26-12 by Bath on Tuesday night but were much-improved after the interval.
But it took the big Australian just four minutes after the interval to double the advantage.
The goal seemed to sap the visitors' confidence and they emerged with caution after the interval.
Five minutes before the interval, Roberto Ayala inadvertently deflected Daniel Alves' cross into his own net.
John Utaka burst through with the interval approaching but sent a dreadful effort way off target.
Stade stepped up the tempo after the interval as Saubade crossed for his side's first try.
Donald's conversion made it 10-13, and both fly-halves missed a further penalty opportunity before the interval.
Cunningham and Grayson traded a pair of penalties as Northampton went into the interval 18-6 up.
Christian Lewis-Pratt went over for Leeds before the interval to add to his two penalties.
Windass nearly equalised immediately after the interval, skipping around Enckelman but sending the shot wide.
And oftentimes, the interval between the decision and the result is measured in months.
Predicting his government's composition has become everyone else's favourite way of filling in the interval.
Glenullin dominated the first half but only led 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval.
It was just like the interval between the rounds in a friendly boxing match.
Keane coolly tucked home the penalty before Wigan wasted a glorious chance just before the interval.
Derby's Paul Boertien saw his goalbound effort blocked by John McGreal three minutes after the interval.
And Keatley punished them again by landing two more kicks between the posts before the interval.
After the interval he kicked two further penalties with Gower getting his second for Italy.
Brian O'Driscoll, Earls, Rob Kearney and Shane Horgan added further touchdowns after the interval.
Villa striker Peter Crouch squandered the best chance of the half two minutes before the interval.
The scoring dried up after the interval, although there was no lack of effort.
The same pattern of relentless home pressure continued after the interval, with Saha the biggest threat.
Inverness broke the deadlock a minute before the interval when Rooney netted from the penalty spot.
Birmingham kept pressing forward and seven minutes before the interval they took the lead.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Premiership | Blackburn 3-3 Birmingham
Martins almost ended the stalemate 10 minutes before the interval when Danny Guthrie's persistence created an opening.
As Quins desperately sought a score before the interval, scrum-half Danny Care pulled a drop-goal attempt wide.
An O'Gara penalty five minutes before the interval gave his side a slender one-point advantage at half-time.
Cameron Phelps extended their lead after the interval before Joe Westerman and Jordan Turner crossed the line.
Not that Blackpool were above making illegal challenges and just before the interval Adrian Forbes was booked.
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