Leicester finally got their first away win since February as they inflicted
yet another defeat on Zurich Premiership basement boys Rotherham at Millmoor.
Both sides scored three tries apiece, but the predictability of the Rotherham
attack, with persistent cross-field bombs raining down on the Leicester back
three ultimately saw them fail to make vital breaks in key areas.
While Leicester captain Martin Johnson may have lifted the World Cup hours
earlier, his replacement in the Tigers' number four jersey, Stewart Campbell,
lasted only nine minutes before being led from the field after a bang to the
head.
Leicester's Italian fly-half Ramiro Pez, a Rotherham player until this season,
missed with a penalty and then a drop goal attempt in a scrappy opening 20
minutes.
Rotherham centre Mike Umaga opened the scoring on 26 minutes when the Samoan
took a crash ball and ploughed through the tacklers to dive over at pace for the
try.
Leicester applied pressure and went close when centre Daryl Gibson spun out of
two tackles and off-loaded to hooker Jim Richards, who was held up over the
line.
Pez finally got the visitors on the scoreboard with a long penalty just before
the half-time break.
Just before the half-time whistle he ran in a well-taken try, feigning right
and going for the line before converting to give the visitors a 10-5 interval
lead.
Six minutes into the second half they extended that lead, Dan Lyle succeeding
in his second attempt at planting the ball down after an inside pass from Louis
Deacon. Pez converted.
Full-back Sam Vesty parried a Jones kick to prevent a Rotherham try in the
right corner, but seconds later the hosts did cross as right-wing Anthony
Elliott won the race to a loose ball after a hack downfield.
With the game now much more open, Austin Healey was the next scorer as he
dribbled ahead following Pez's canny stab through for Leicester's third try as
Pez converted for a 14-point lead,
Rotherham responded by earning a penalty try after Elliott kicked forward a
loose pass in the Leicester midfield. Jon Benson converted.
Pez nailed a long penalty for the visitors, before Healey was held up over the
line.
Rotherham resorted to long drop goals to try and secure a bonus point, but in
the end they slumped to their 11th consecutive defeat of the season and remain
rooted to the bottom of the table.
Teams:
Rotherham: Benson, Elliott, Jorgensen, Umaga, Ewens, Jones,
Raulini, Lloyd, Johnson, Noon, Kenworthy, Gross, Greeff,
Spence, Lewis.
Replacements: Pritchard for Umaga (51),
Harrison for Raulini (66), Smyth for Johnson (66),
Bunting for Noon (71), Earnshaw for Spence (70).
Not Used: Pendlebury, Keyter.
Tries: Umaga, Elliott,
Penalty.
Cons: Benson.
Leicester: Vesty, Healey, Smith, Gibson, F. Tuilagi, Pez,
Ellis, Rowntree, Richards, Morris, L. Deacon, Campbell, Lyle,
Kronfeld, Balding.
Replacements: W. Skinner for Campbell (7).
Not Used: Chuter, Nebbett, H. Tuilagi, Tierney, Gelderbloom,
Holtby.
Tries: Pez, Lyle, Healey.
Cons: Pez 3.
Pens: Pez 2.
Att: 2,900
Ref: R Goodlisse (RFU).
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