London Irish Mauled By Tigers

13/05/02. Heineken Cup holders Leicester Tigers showed their well-being ahead of the final, in under a fortnight’s time, with an impressive 34-16 defeat of London Irish yesterday

The impressive Tigers completed their Premieship programme with a five try blitz of Irish to record their 18th League victory. Without the injured Brendan Venter Irish lacked creativity in the backs particularly in the second half when Leicester upped the pace.

The game really only came alive when Leicester found themselves trailing 16-10 after referee Maybank had awarded Irish a try, penalising Leicester for pulling down a maul. The Tigers then showed their true mettle with Neil Back forcing his way over from a line-out won in the right corner, before Martin Corry picked up at the base of a ruck and sprinted 15 metres to score at the posts.

Then came a second penalty try, this time against the Irish for persistent offside – wing Paul Sackey was sin-binned for the same offence – before Lloyd broke from half-way, cleverly kicked ahead, and won the race to the touchdown.

Leicester Tigers. Stimpson (Murphy, h-t); Lloyd, Smith, Gelderbloom, Tuilagi; Goode, Healey (Hamilton, 62); Freshwater (Jelley, 65), West (Cockerill, 61), Nebbett, Johnson (capt), Kay, Moody, Back (Kronfeld, 53), Corry.
Scorers: Tries: Lloyd 2, Back, Corry, penalty try. Cons: Stimpson, Goode 2. Pen: Stimpson.

London Irish. Horak; Sackey, Appleford, Hoadley, Bishop; Everitt, Edwards; Hatley (Wheatley, 70), Drotske (Kirke, 48), Hardwick (Halford, 48), Delaney, Fahrensohn, Halvey, Phister, Strudwick (capt). Scorers: Try: Penalty try: Con: Everitt. Pens: Everitt 3.
Sin-bin: Sackey, 62.

Referee: R Maybank (London).