Martin Corry scored one of the quickest tries in Zurich Premiership history as
Leicester collected a five-point maximum at the Madejski Stadium.
But the Tigers, despite outscoring their opponents 5-1 on touchdowns, were
still given a scare by prolific Irish goalkicker Barry Everitt before pulling
away in the final quarter.
Number eight Corry's try, after just 26 seconds following a handling blunder
by his opposite number Kieran Roche, gave Leicester the perfect start.
It got better just eight minutes later when Tigers' Fijian wing Seru Rabeni
waltzed over from close range, suggesting that Irish were in for a tough
afternoon despite holding an early one-man advantage when Martin Johnson was
sin-binned.
Johnson's spell on the sidelines lasted almost 14 minutes, instead of the
regulation 10, for no obvious reason, but when he eventually returned, Leicester
just could not stop conceding penalties.
Everitt, after an early strike, kicked four further penalties between the 20th
and 39th minutes as Irish briefly led 15-12.
And it took a flash of individual brilliance from Leicester's Irish
international full-back Geordan Murphy to resume normal service.
Murphy ran powerfully out of his own half and kicked ahead towards the Irish
line. Although the home side got defensive numbers back, it was not enough as
Tigers' flanker Brett Deacon supported Murphy and dived over.
Fly-half Andy Goode, who finished with 19 points, slotted the conversion and
Leicester trooped off at half time with their noses just in front following a
fast and furious opening period.
Leicester, who uncharacteristically failed to win a trophy last term and only
just sneaked through the Heineken Cup qualification door, mean business under
coach John Wells.
Although Irish had their moments, and Everitt kicked six out of six shots at
goal to finish with 17 points, the visitors always looked capable of stepping up
a gear.
A Goode penalty on 52 minutes opened up a 22-15 advantage before the fly half
administered what was a telling scoring blow.
A superb Leicester move was started by Goode's slashing midfield break, and
outstanding support work from flanker Neil Back and hooker George Chuter enabled
the move to continue and Goode rounded it off with a try that gave Leicester a
bonus point.
Australian Scott Staniforth, comfortably Irish's most dangerous attacker, gave
the home side a glimmer of hope with a well-worked 63rd minute touchdown, but
Leicester were in no mood to give anything away.
Former England flanker Back was again heavily involved in Leicester's fifth
and final try, which was scored by wing Austin Healey after some intricate
passing between Corry, Back and scrum half Harry Ellis.
Goode added the conversion and then kicked a 75th minute penalty, and although
Leicester finished with Chuter in the sin bin - like Johnson, he was yellow
carded for a technical offence - it made no difference to the final outcome.
Leicester, with confidence high, can now look forward to a sell-out Midlands
derby against Northampton next Saturday, but Irish, on the back of two
successive league defeats, face a tall order when they visit reigning champions
Wasps.
Teams
London Irish: Armitage, Sackey, Appleford, Catt, Staniforth, Everitt, Edwards, Hatley, Flavin, Hardwick, Kennedy, Casey, Strudwick, Dawson, Roche.
Replacements: Mapletoft for Armitage (66), Hodgson for Edwards (60), Murphy for Roche (47).
Not Used: Durant, Paice, Danaher, Mordt.
Tries: Staniforth.
Cons: Everitt.
Pens: Everitt 5.
Leicester: Murphy, Healey, Smith, Gibson, Rabeni, Goode, Ellis, Rowntree, Chuter, White, M. Johnson, L. Deacon, B. Deacon, Back, Corry.
Replacements: A. Tuilagi for Gibson (59), Kay for L. Deacon (80).
Not Used: Buckland, Morris, Abraham, H. Tuilagi, Bemand.
Tries: Corry, Rabeni, B. Deacon, Goode, Healey.
Cons: Goode 4.
Pens: Goode 2.
Sin Bin: M. Johnson (6), Chuter (76).
Att: 9,472
Ref: Wayne Barnes (Twickenham).
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