| Leicester: (26) 33 |
| Tries: Montoya, Wigglesworth, Potter, Reffell, Wiese Cons: Burns 4 |
| London Irish: (14) 31 |
| Tries: Ratuniyarawa, Penalty, Rogerson, Hassell-Collins, Pearson Cons: Jackson 2 |
Leicester Tigers held on for a tense victory towards backside facet London Irish in a 10-try Premiership thriller.
Julian Montoya, Richard Wigglesworth, Harry Potter and Tommy Reffell scores put Tigers 26-14 up on the break, with Api Ratuniyarawa’s landing and a penalty attempt conserving Irish in contact.
Second-half Matt Rogerson and OIlie Hassell-Collins tries restored parity.
Paddy Jackson’s failure to transform Tom Pearson’s attempt after Jasper Wiese edged Tigers forward proved to be decisive.
The bonus-point win lifted champions Leicester as much as fifth within the desk, whereas the bonus factors collected in defeat moved Irish to inside two factors of nearest rivals Bristol Bears.
The sport was the Tigers’ first within the Premiership at residence for 50 days – a protracted break led to by the monetary collapse of rivals Wasps and Worcester and the ensuing cancellation of fixtures towards each.
Earlier than kick-off there was a minute’s applause in reminiscence of former Scotland worldwide Doddie Weir, who died aged 52 on Saturday – six years after being recognized with motor neurone illness.
Montoya, again from worldwide responsibility with Argentina, made a direct affect on his return by barging over for the sport’s first attempt, within the fourth minute.
Ratuniyarawa hit again for the guests simply minutes after being held up over the road, however Tigers rapidly restored their lead by way of Wigglesworth.
An intercept and intelligent kick from Matt Scott set Potter up for Leicester’s third attempt, which Freddie Burns transformed to convey up 1,500 Premiership profession factors.
Reffell picked up the try-scoring bonus level for Tigers when he dived over on the half-hour mark for a Leicester facet that completed the half a person down, with Olly Cracknell sin-binned for bringing down the maul on the road which resulted within the penalty attempt.
Nemani Nadolo – who began in his forty third and closing look for Tigers earlier than leaving to return to Australia – left the sector to a heat ovation, earlier than Irish pulled one other attempt again by way of Rogerson and Hassell-Collins raced away for a surprising rating to make it 26-26 within the 51st minute.
Again-rower Wiese – on as a substitute – edged the hosts forward once more, and whereas the relentless guests discovered one other response by way of Pearson, the failure of Jackson to transform the attempt crucially left them trailing with 20 minutes remaining.
Leicester Tigers: Watson; Ashton, Potter, Scott, Nadolo; Burns, Wigglesworth; Whitcombe, Montoya, Cole; Martin, Inexperienced, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell.
Replacements: Clare, Van Wyk, Heyes, O. Chessum, Wiese, Edwards, Atkinson, Porter.
London Irish: Parton; Loader, Joseph, Janse Van Rensburg, Hassell-Collins; Jackson, Powell; Fa’aso’o, Rogerson, Pearson; Ratuniyarawa, Munga, Chawatama, Creevy, Gigena.
Replacements: Willemse, Hoskins, Fischetti, Caulfield, Gonzalez, Cunningham-South, White, Morisi.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe.
