Leicester recovered from a shaky opening period to secure a deserved Heineken
Cup win over Glasgow Caledonians at Welford Road.
Needing a victory to ensure a home quarter-final next weekend, the Tigers took
control in the second half with Jamie Hamilton and teenage centre Oliver Smith
both crossing before Richard Cockerill sealed the triumph in injury-time.
Leicester started well, Tim Stimpson slotting over his first penalty inside
two minutes, the first addition to a points total which finished at 21.
But with four England men missing, Neil Back and Leon Lloyd with a virus,
Austin Healey a calf problem and Martin Johnson to suspension, the Tigers were
always likely to be vulnerable.
It should not have been as easy as Shaun Longstaff made it look when he
sidestepped his way to the line after taking James McLaren's short pass but it
was clear that if victory was to be obtained, it would be done through attack
rather than defence.
By the time hooker Dorian West was driven over from a typical Tigers' close
range line-out move, Reds fly-half had already steered the visitors into a
seven-point lead, adding a penalty to the conversion of Longstaff's try.
The Cook Islander then added two more penalties - the second from the halfway
line - to put his team in front again, although Leicester replied before the
interval.
Scrum-half Jamie Hamilton appeared to have taken the wrong option when he went
for the line himself rather than using a three-man overlap. But the decision
proved to be inspired as he wriggled his way over.
Stimpson's conversion and a penalty from inside his own half as the opening
period entered injury-time gave the Tigers a five-point lead at the break.
Leicester clearly held a decisive edge in set-piece situations, which should
have brought them more reward when Stimpson pumped another penalty into the
corner.
This time though, the Reds defence held firm, forcing the Tigers' back
division to utilise their talents.
Murphy looked the most incisive attacker but his team seemed reluctant to use
the full width of the pitch and were fortunate to receive a penalty from which
Stimpson increased the lead to two scores for the first time.
The enthusiasm shown by the Scottish side before the interval was still in
existence but their work was almost entirely defensive as Leicester mounted a
concerted assault on their opponents line.
Yet again a close range drive was repelled, with Oliver Smith blowing the
scoring chance by knocking-on under the Glasgow posts.
But the 18-year-old did not wait long to make amends, skipping in from close
range, Stimpson adding the conversion.
The score almost certainly ended the visitors hopes and when skipper Andy
Nicol was sin-binned on the hour for deliberately killing the ball, the Reds
visibly sagged.
Stimpson landed yet another penalty from 30 metres, only for replacement
winger Alan Bulloch to mark his entrance with a try for the Reds to briefly
raise their hopes of a dramatic comeback.
When Gordon Simpson added another two minutes from time, the Reds really were
back in it - or they would have been had Hayes converted.
Instead, he failed. Leicester launched one more drive and Cockerill emerged
with the ball and the plaudits after scoring his team's fourth try.
Teams:
Leicester: Stimpson, Murphy, Smith, Howard, Stanley,
Goode,Hamilton, Freshwater, West, Garforth, Deacon, Kay, W. Johnson,
Moody, Corry.
Not Used: Grindal, Gelderbloom, Balding, Newmarch, Rowntree,
Cockerill, Short.
Tries: West, Hamilton, Smith, Cockerill.
Cons: Stimpson 3.
Pens: Stimpson 5.
Glasgow Caledonians: Shepherd, Steel, McLaren, Stewart,
Longstaff, Hayes, Nicol, Hilton, G. Bulloch, McIlwham, White,
Griffiths, Simpson, MacFadyen, Petrie.
Not Used: Di Ciacca, Watt, Campbell, Reid, Stott, A. Bulloch, Craig.
Sin Bin: Nicol (60).
Tries: Longstaff, A. Bulloch, Simpson.
Cons: Hayes.
Pens: Hayes 3.
Att: 12,260
Ref: Antonio Lombardi (Italy).
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