Leicester continued their climb up the Zurich Premiership table after
full-back Tim Stimpson booted them to victory over Wasps in a no-frills
encounter at Welford Road on Saturday afternoon.
Stimpson slotted three penalties from six attempts - not a great return from
the usually reliable England back.
Leicester's pack often had the edge up front, forcing the London club to deal
with situations in anyway they could, with former All Black flanker Josh
Kronfeld in commanding form.
With Tigers looking to make ground with every touch of the ball, Kronfeld kept
his side moving forward and was comfortably the best player on the pitch.
But the result was always going to be determined by the boot and although
Wasps' Mark van Gisbergen managed two penalties - missing just one - Leicester
ensured the visitors' record of never having won at Welford Road in the league
remained in tact.
The wet conditions meant free-flowing rugby was never really an option and the
best, and only try-scoring chance of the first half came as early as the first
minute.
Leicester made a blistering start with Sam Vesty chasing a Geordan Murphy bomb
which landed tantalisingly in front of the post, but when Jamie Hamilton
gathered up possession he was forced back by a clutch of Wasps players with the
line begging.
Fly-half Van Gisbergen stroked over an eighth-minute penalty to give Wasps an
unexpected lead as Leicester continued to see more of the ball.
The slippery conditions were taking their toll as the game levelled out in to
a series of scrums, line-outs and penalties which neither team could take
advantage of.
Simpson booted a tricky penalty in the 18th minute to draw the Tigers level,
but the usually dependable full-back missed two more in quick succession.
However, he was being given plenty of opportunities thanks to Wasps' terrible
lack of discipline and he slotted another six points, only for van Gisbergen to
pull one back in the 36th minute.
Quality ball was in short supply for both sides but Leicester did enjoy a
period of ascendancy shortly before the break but their tactics of sending
centre Glenn Gelderbloom on successive crash balls gave little award.
Vesty, filling in at number 10 in the absence of the injured Austin Healey
looked dangerous at times but there was a chronic shortage of space to work in,
and the half finished 9-6 in Leicester's favour.
Wasps winger Josh Lewsey had a clear run to line in the 42nd minute but he was
cut down by his opposite number Steve Booth whose searing pace made short work
of the space between the two players.
Gelderbloom did manage to make some yards in the 50th minute but referee Chris
White called back play for crossing at the next break down.
With the ball slipping around like a bar of soap the remaining 30 minutes
became a tense affair but there were no further scores as Leicester hung on for
their fifth victory of the league season.
Leicester: Stimpson, Murphy, Lloyd, Gelderbloom, Booth, Vesty,
J. Hamilton, Freshwater, West, Garforth, M. Johnson, Kay,
Kronfeld, Back, Corry.
Not Used: Balding, W. Johnson, Chuter, Tournaire, McMullen,
Naufahu, Short.
Pens: Stimpson 3.
Wasps: Sampson, Rudd, Waters, Denney, Lewsey, van Gisbergen,
Wood, Dowd, Leota, Molloy, Shaw, Beardshaw, Dallaglio, Volley,
Scrivener.
Not Used: Howley, Logan, Abbott, Gotting, Lock, Birkett,
W. Green.
Att: 16,045
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
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