Leicester's England stars turned on the style to increase their lead in the
Zurich Premiership with a glittering pre-Christmas second-half display at
battling Harlequins.
Two superb tries each from the enigmatic Austin Healey and England captain
Martin Johnson turned a 14-10 half-time deficit into an impressive victory.
Leicester could not have had a better start when Ireland international winger
Geordan Murphy kicked ahead and won the race to touchdown after just 30
seconds.
But the early running of Tim Stimpson, who converted Murphy's lightning
touchdown, disrupted them.
The England full-back was lead away with blood streaming from a bad gash near
his eye and while Leicester were reduced to 14 men Harlequin's fly-half Paul
Burke charged down a kick and exploited the defensive gap with a try.
Murphy moved to full-back and took over the goal-kicking duties but Burke had
kicked three penalties to ease Harlequins 14-7 ahead before he managed his first
success with a 35th-minute penalty.
Harlequins head coach John Kingston, who had been critical of his side
following three successive Premiership defeats can have had no complaints about
their commitment in the first half.
But there must be big question marks over the way they fell apart after
half-time.
Leicester who had fired a warning by applying pressure in the closing stages
of the first half, took just three minutes of the second to regain the lead when
Healey went effortlessly round Quins centre Chris Bell to leave Murphy an easy
conversion.
Ten minutes later Harlequins' defensive frailties were exposed again when a
five-man move, begun on the right by Freddie Tuilagi, finished on the left with
Back sending Johnson over to put them 24-14 ahead.
Tuilagi limped off to be replaced by Jon Dawson, who took over as stand off
with Healey switching to the right wing from where he produced a real moment of
magic.
He came face to face with fellow England winger Dan Luger on the touchline and
skinned him, sublimely dancing away from the challenge to race clear for a try
of the highest order. Murphy added the conversion and Leicester looked home and
dry.
But then they were reduced to 14 men when England prop Graham Rowntree was
sin-binned for a professional foul as he illegally stopped Harlequins from
moving the ball near his own line.
They were stopped short but the ball came out to replacement Scott Bernand who
forced his way over for Burke to convert.
But Johnson put the issue beyond doubt when he stormed in for his second and
Murphy was again on target.
With only half the season Leicester look to be on an unstoppable march to the
title but Harlequins desperately need a good result soon if they are realise
their top-six ambitions.
Teams:
Harlequins: O'Neill, Moore,
Greenwood, Bell, Luger, Burke,
M. Powell, Starr, Fuga, Leonard, Morgan, Codling, Winters,
Tamarua, Diprose.
Replacements: Bemand for M. Powell (61), Jewell for Starr (78),
Roddam for Fuga (72), Davison for Codling (58),
Mapletoft for Winters (79).
Not Used: Dawson, Alesbrook.
Tries: Burke, Bemand.
Cons: Burke.
Pens: Burke 3.
Leicester: Stimpson, Murphy, Smith, Kafer, Tuilagi,
Healey,
J. Hamilton, Rowntree, West, Nebbett, M. Johnson, Kay,
W. Johnson, Back, Corry.
Replacements: Booth for Stimpson (24), Goode for Tuilagi (57),
Ellis for J. Hamilton (80), Moody for Nebbett (60),
Balding for M. Johnson (79), Garforth for Corry (60).
Not Used: Cockerill.
Tries: Murphy, Healey 2, M. Johnson 2.
Cons: Stimpson, Murphy 4.
Pens: Murphy.
Sin Bin: Rowntree (67).
Att: 9,000
Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).
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