Daryl Gibson provided the cutting edge and record-breaker Martin Johnson the
exemplary leadership to earn Leicester their first win since parting company
with coach Dean Richards.
Gibson, whose direct running from centre caused London Irish problems all day,
forced his way over for a vital first-half try, with full-back Andy Goode adding
a conversion, four penalties and a drop-goal.
Irish had the visitors on the ropes early on but failed to break through after
Graham Rowntree and then Ollie Smith were sent to the sin-bin and could only
manage three Mark Mapletoft penalties in reply.
The victory was Leicester's first in the Zurich Premiership since December and
a fitting way for Johnson to celebrate leading the side for a record 164th time
to pass the mark set by Percy Lawrie in 1923.
Johnson lined up in a pack boasting four World Cup winners, including England
reject Neil Back, who now has a player-coach role under caretaker boss John
Wells.
Ollie Smith returned at centre while Ireland's Geordan Murphy was on the bench
after a nine-month absence with a broken leg.
Irish have undergone few such traumas this season and were chasing a top-three
finish after starting the day eight points and two places behind third-placed
Northampton.
They were more dynamic in the opening half-hour, stretching the Tigers across
the full width of the field.
Rob Hoadley and Justin Bishop launched their best attack down the right before
Mark Mapletoft opened the scoring with a 12th-minute penalty, and they went
close to a try after Chris Sheasby stole line-out ball from Marin Corry and
Leicester were exposed down the right.
All the visitors had to show were a couple of trademark driving mauls before
Andy Goode's opening penalty only for Mapletoft to restore the Irish lead with a
straightforward shot after 28 minutes.
Suddenly, though, Leicester found another gear after Johnson had hammered his
way into the 22.
Fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen combined with Gibson, who put Freddie Tuilagi
close to the line before retrieving the ball and forcing his way over in the
corner.
Goode added a touchline conversion and then missed one penalty, but landed
shots in the 35th and 40th minutes - the latter from just inside his own half -
to seize a 16-6 lead at the break.
He made it 19-6 after 10 minutes of the second half, after being hit by a high
tackle from Paul Sackey, before Mapletoft replied with 25 minutes remaining when
Rowntree was yellow-carded by Bristol referee Steve Leyshon for infringing at a
ruck.
That should have been the cue for an Irish resurgence - but instead Leicester
seized control.
Their forwards had gained the upper hand and another driving maul gave Goode
the time and space to drill over a 63rd minute drop-goal as his side started to
make the game safe.
The final 10 minutes were not without alarms, though, after Smith was the
second visiting player sin-binned, this time for failing to release a tackled
player, and Johnson had been replaced by his brother Will.
Leicester certainly pushed the laws to the limit in defence by conceding a
string of penalties near their own line - but Back led a magnificent defensive
action and Irish were smothered by tacklers whenever they got within striking
distance.
Teams:
London Irish: Armitage, Sackey, Appleford, Hoadley, Bishop,
Mapletoft, Edwards, Hatley, Drotske, Wheatley, Strudwick,
Casey, Danaher, Dawson, Sheasby.
Replacements: Everitt for Mapletoft (66),
Barrett for Edwards (86), Flavin for Drotske (79),
Roche for Casey (79).
Not Used: Gustard, Cannon, Paice.
Pens: Mapletoft 3.
Leicester: Goode, Hipkiss, Smith, Gibson, F. Tuilagi,
van der Westhuyzen, Tierney, Rowntree, West, Morris,
M. Johnson, L. Deacon, Corry, Back, H. Tuilagi.
Replacements: Gelderbloom for Hipkiss (12),
Murphy for F. Tuilagi (72), W. Johnson for M. Johnson (48),
Nebbett for H. Tuilagi (60).
Not Used: Richards, Hamilton, Jones.
Tries: Gibson.
Cons: Goode.
Pens: Goode 4.
Drop Goals: Goode.
Att: 10,836
Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).
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