Premiership champions Leicester ended their League campaign on a high at
Welford Road on Saturday with a crushing victory over Harlequins.
Any hopes the Londoners might have harboured of qualifying for the inaugural
Zurich championship - the end-of-season play-off competition - were ruthlessly
wiped out by the all-conquering Tigers.
By half-time the home side had racked up a 25-0 lead with tries from Geordan
Murphy, Pat Howard and Austin Healey.
And although they took their foot off the gas after the break, Dean Richards'
men were still in full control adding touchdowns from Neil Back and Leon Lloyd.
Harlequins struggled to make any sort of impression on the match as they
battled in vain to breach Leicester's solid defence and only had a Rob Jewell
try to show for their afternoon's effort.
The game started six minutes late as ground staff were sent scampering after
the remains of a lengthy fireworks display and the delay appeared to have an
effect on the players with errors littering the opening exchanges.
But Tigers full-back Tim Stimpson settled his team with two penalties shortly
after Lloyd had been bundled into touch just short of the line.
A fantastic individual try from England international Healey saw him break
from within his own 22 before chipping ahead and winning a chase to the line,
pushed Leicester further ahead.
By the 18th minute, however, the home side were down to 14 men after prop
Graham Rowntree was sent to the sin-bin for stamping - an incident which sparked
a brawl between the two sides.
But the yellow card dismissal did little to knock Leicester off their stride
and moments later Irish full-back Murphy showed his footballing skills to claim
an opportunist try which was improved by Stimpson.
It was proving a dismal afternoon for Harlequins who had little ball to play
with and when they did get possession they could not crack the Tigers' defence.
Murphy, who has become a vital cog in the Leicester wheel in recent months,
left the field clutching his shoulder four minutes before the break and was
replaced by Glenn Geldereloom.
A converted try from Howard completed the first half scoring as the
Midlanders entered the interval with a healthy lead.
Harlequins' second row Garrick Morgan was sin-binned shortly into the second
period, also for stamping.
And the visitors were dealt a further blow when hooker Keith Wood - a
candidate for the captaincy of this summer's Lions tour to Australia - had to be
helped from the pitch.
After Woods' departure the Londoners enjoyed a period of domination as Tigers
were forced onto the retreat.
But the offensive came to nothing and then it was Leicester who notched the
next score with a Neil Back pushover try - Stimpson added the two points. A
searing break from Leon Lloyd saw him touch down for a five pointer before
Jewell claimed a consolation try seconds before the final whistle - ending a
miserable day for his side.
Man of the match: Austin Healey
Teams:
Leicester: Murphy, Stimpson, Lloyd, Howard, Stanley, Goode, Healey, Rowntree, West, Garforth, M. Johnson, Kay, Corry, Back, W. Johnson.
Replacements: Gelderbloom for Murphy (37),
O'Reilly for Healey (67), Chuter for West (55),
Nebbett for Garforth (64), Moody for Back (64),
Gustard for W. Johnson (70).
Not Used: Jelley.
Sin Bin: Rowntree (18).
Tries: Healey, Murphy, Howard, Back, Lloyd.
Cons: Stimpson 3. Pens: Stimpson 2.
Harlequins: Gollings, O'Neill, Greenwood, Jewell, O'Leary,
Burke, M. Powell, Leonard, Wood, Dawson, Morgan, Codling,
Sanderson, Wilson, Winters.
Replacements: Jennings for Greenwood (72),
Chalmers for Burke (61), Starr for Leonard (61),
Rudzki for Morgan (72).
Not Used: Roddham, Jenkins, Friday.
Sin Bin: Morgan (43).
Tries: Jewell.
Att: 16,006
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
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