Leicester Tigers took their revenge for last week's Heineken Cup defeat at
Pontypridd with a hard-fought victory in wet conditions at Welford Road.
Western Samoan winger Freddie Tuilagi, playing in his first game for
Leicester, made an instant impact following his switch from Rugby League.
His new employers look to use his powerful running at every opportunity as
they repeatedly brought him in from the left wing to make large inroads into the
Pontypridd defence.
Leicester's pack, with captain Martin Johnson at the head, were in fine form
and it was their work up front which earned Leicester victory.
But Pontypridd played their part in an entertaining, though not always
free-flowing, match.
They pushed the English Premiership champions all the way and were still in
the game in the last 10 minutes, before Leicester's pack took control and
snuffed out any chances of a late comeback.
Pontypridd dominated the opening stages of the match and took the lead in the
second minute through a Lee Jarvis penalty.
Tigers full-back Tim Stimpson levelled the score three minutes later with a
penalty from in front of the posts.
Leicester began to settle and, in the 14th minute, they were awarded a penalty
try after some good work from the rampaging Tigers pack.
Stimpson added the conversion before extending his side's lead to 13-3 in the
19th minute with another penalty.
But Pontypridd fought back just two minutes later when some quick ruck ball
was spun left to second-rower Robert Sidoli. He out-stripped the Leicester cover
to touch down in the corner, but Jarvis missed the conversion.
Stimpson tried his luck with a penalty from deep inside his own half four
minutes before half-time, but the kick sailed wide and the Tigers entered the
break with a 13-8 lead.
Ponty were dealt a blow five minutes into the second period when, deep in the
Tigers' half, Jarvis saw his kick charged down.
Leicester fly-half and man-of-the-match Austin Healey was the first to react
as he punted the loose ball down the field before out-pacing the visitors'
defence to touch down in the right corner.
Stimpson failed with a conversion attempt but he added a penalty in the 50th
minute to give Leicester a 21-8 lead.
Pontypridd hit back moments later when open side flanker Richard Parks rounded
off a fine attacking move by running in for a try in the corner, but Jarvis
missed the conversion.
A hand in the ruck from Pontypridd gave Stimpson an easy penalty chance in the
59th minute, which he kicked to increase Leicester's lead to 24-13.
Jarvis reduced the deficit with a couple of three-pointers in quick succession
and, with 12 minutes to go, the visitors looked capable of snatching victory.
But Healey gave Leicester some breathing space in the 74th minute with a drop
goal.
Pontypridd's hopes were finally dashed as the Leicester forwards took control
of the ball deep in the visitors' half and ground out the remaining minutes of
the match.
Teams:
Leicester: Stimpson, Murphy, Lloyd, Howard, Tuilagi, Healey,
Hamilton, Rowntree, Cockerill, Garforth, M. Johnson, Kay,Gustard, Back, Corry.
Not Used: Goode, Smith, Nebbett, Jelley, Short, Moody, West.
Tries: Penalty, Healey.
Cons: Stimpson.
Pens: Stimpson 4.
Drop Goals: Healey.
Pontypridd: Davey, Woodard, Parker,
Bryant, Colderley, Jarvis,
John, Loader, Evans, Graham, Cockbain, Sidoli, McIntosh,Parkes, Owen.
Not Used: Neville, C. Williams, J. Lewis, G. Thomas, Taufo'ou,James, Lloyd.
Tries: Sidoli, Parkes.
Pens: Jarvis 3.
Att: 13,913
Ref: David McHugh (Ireland).
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