Skipper Martin Johnson found himself in the sin bin as Heineken Cup holders
Leicester began the defence of their title with an unconvincing victory over
Llanelli at Welford Road tonight.
The Tigers were forced to rely on four Tim Stimpson penalties and a defiant
defensive performance to repel Llanelli, who were on top for long periods but
were unable to breach the home line.
Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones booted home three penalties to keep his side
in front for most of the opening period but could not add to his tally after the
interval, leaving the visitors to curse a missed opportunity.
Leicester entered the game as favourites to become the first side to
successfully defend the trophy but from the opening stages it was Llanelli -
semi-finalists in 2000 - who looked the more likely victors.
Tigers' cause was not aided by the loss of their captain to the sin bin midway
through the opening period.
Johnson's notoriously fragile temper failed him again when Martyn Madden
deliberately loitered offside at the tackle area. He was caught by a swift swipe
round the throat, which brought a predictable yellow card from referee David
McHugh.
Jones took the opportunity to land the second of his three first-half
penalties, a figure matched by Leicester full-back Stimpson, who also missed
from halfway.
Though Leicester's problems were largely self-inflicted, Llanelli could point
to pure bad luck for their ills.
They lost back-row duo Simon Easterby and David Hodges to injury, both
suffering as they attempted to stop punishing Leicester attacking raids.
Easterby's damage looked worst, flattened by the on-rushing Lewis Moody and
groggily making his way to the touchline after lengthy treatment.
Leicester's normally assured execution of the basics failed them and they
repeatedly lost possession on their own line-out throw.
Austin Healey appeared to be trying too hard as he attempted to divert
attention away from his never-ending Lions controversies, while Madden was
causing huge problems as he dragged his stocky frame across the pitch, usually
with a couple of Leicester tacklers clinging on.
Andy Goode and Jones both failed with drop goal attempts either side of the
interval and Leicester were forced to resist a severe spell of pressure before
Steve Booth broke clear from well inside his own half.
A try looked certain but first Neil Boobyer hauled down Freddie Tuilagi, then
Matt Cardey came across to crunch Goode at full speed, the Leicester man hit so
hard he too was forced out of the action.
Healey switched to stand-off to accommodate 19-year-old Harry Ellis in the
scrum-half role and the change immediately sparked Leicester to life.
They probably should have gained more reward than a fourth Stimpson penalty
when Tuilagi ran at the Llanelli defence with a three-man overlap.
But the pass to Graham Rowntree went astray and Leicester were forced to
settle for three points which at least put them in front for the first time.
It should have been the signal for the Tigers to tie up the game, as they have
done so often in the past, instead Llanelli laid siege to the home line.
Salesi Finau combined with Cardey to put Jones into the smallest of gaps but
the fly-half could not cling on to possession.
It proved to be Llanelli's last chance, for though they continued to batter
away from all areas of the field, try-scoring opportunities just would not
come.
Teams
Leicester: Leicester: Rowntree, West, Garforth, M. Johnson, Kay, Moody,
Back, Corry, Healey, Goode, Tuilagi, Kafer, Gelderbloom, Booth,
Stimpson.
Replacements: Ellis for Goode (62), Smith for Booth (36).
Not Used: Chuter, Deacon, Nebbett, Naylor, W. Johnson
Pens: Stimpson 4.
Sin Bin: M. Johnson (20).
Llanelli: Llanelli: Madden, McBryde, J. Davies, Gross, Wyatt, D. Jones,
S. Easterby, Hodges, G. Easterby, S. Jones, Finau, L. Davies,
Cardey, Proctor, B. Davies.
Replacements: Cooper for S. Easterby (34),
I. Boobyer for Cardey (56).
Not Used: John, M. Thomas, Morgan, Peel, G. Bowen.
Pens: S. Jones 3.
Att: 15,170
Ref: D. McHugh (RFU).
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