Leicester preserved their four-year unbeaten home record after surviving a
frantic finish which saw them defend their line furiously deep into stoppage
time.
Harlequins, only five points behind, turned the screw in search of a try that
would have least given them a share of the spoils.
Quins have not beaten Leicester in nine successive league matches yet this
evening's game was a heaven sent chance for the visitors with the Tigers having
seven of their players in the England squad for Saturday's game against South
Africa.
Leicester came through at the end, in front of their largest crowd of the
season, 16,017, a fantastic effort for a Friday night.
They were rewarded by a vintage performance from Leicester full-back Tim
Stimpson who can consider himself unfortunate not to make the England squad
himself.
Stimpson gave a match-winning performance after a shaky looking Tigers side
had wobbled early on.
Stimpson quickly equalised a Paul Burke penalty. After that Leicester had to
defend like the proverbial Tiger as Quins threw everything at them in search of
a valuable away victory.
Burke missed two penalties for the visitors who were well on top in the first
half-hour until former All Black flanker Josh Kronfeld kicked into the end zone
for his full-back to come speeding up like an express train and diving over for
a spectacular try.
Stimpson's conversion from the touchline put a different complexion on the
game and, despite two further penalties from the visitors in the final few
minutes of the half, the home side could turn around a single point in front.
A further Stimpson try five minutes after the interval confirmed the Tigers
superiority, but once again the visitors will feel that they aided their
opponents.
The visitors lineout in the second-half fell to pieces and having conceded two
lineouts in their own 22 to cough up valuable possession that was turned into
points.
Stimpson and Burke exchanged penalties to maintain the home side's eight-point
lead before the visitors came back strongly on the hour mark after Burke hit
home his fifth penalty of the night.
Shortly afterwards Leicester were reduced to 14 men when lock forward Guy
Manson-Bishop was sent to the sin-bin for a gratuitous stamp on Harlequins
number eight Roy Winters.
But even with 14 men the Tigers proved hard to break down and four minutes
from the end Stimpson landed an enormous 52-yard penalty to secure the full
points for the home side.
However, a Burke drop-goal bang on 80 minutes set up an exciting finish but
the home defence what were not to be breached, and Leicester are now well placed
to march on to a possible fourth title.
Teams:
Leicester: Stimpson, Murphy, Lloyd, Kafer, Booth, Goode, J. Hamilton, Freshwater, Cockerill, Garforth, Manson-Bishop, Deacon, W. Johnson, Kronfeld, Balding.
Replacements: Smith for Lloyd (80), Short for J. Hamilton (60), Ellis for Deacon (57), Gustard for Kronfeld (40).
Not Used: Chuter, Nebbett, Gelderbloom.
Sin Bin: Manson-Bishop (62).
Tries: Stimpson 2.
Cons: Stimpson 2.
Pens: Stimpson 3.
Harlequins: Mapletoft, Moore, Burrows, Bell, Gollings, Burke, M. Powell, Starr, Tiatia, Olver, Morgan, Codling, White-Cooper, Tamarua, Winters.
Replacements: Bemand for M. Powell (56), Diprose for White-Cooper (41), Sanderson for Tamarua (74).
Not Used: Fuga, Douglas, Jewell, O'Neill.
Pens: Burke 5.
Drop Goals: Burke.
Att: 16,017
Ref: Robin Goodlife (RFU).
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