Leicester put themselves in a good position to reach the Heineken Cup
quarter-finals after coming from behind to beat a battling Ospreys side and earn
a crucial bonus point at Welford Road.
Not even the first appearance of the season from Welsh hero Gavin Henson in
the centre could inspire Ospreys to victory.
It now means they will have to win all their remaining three matches to have
any hope of reaching the last 16.
Within minutes of the start Henson waltzed through the Leicester midfield and
looked certain to score before cutting inside where he was snapped up by British
Lions colleague Ollie Smith.
Former Welsh prop Darren Morris then began a period of Leicester pressure
which eventually resulted in fly-half Andy Goode opening the scoring with a
penalty on 21 minutes.
That lead was short-lived as the Ospreys fought their way down the pitch into
the Leicester 22.
Scrum-half Jason Spice moved the ball from a ruck and Henson put fellow centre
Sonny Parker in for the opening try of the game. Shaun Connor added the
conversion and the Tigers seemed rattled.
However, Leicester are not double Heineken Cup champions for nothing and they
quickly forced another penalty which Goode struck home from 30 yards.
A second Ospreys try, when flanker James Bater went through a gap on the
Leicester 22 only to be caught on the line, was ruled out by the video referee.
Leicester were helpless to deny full-back Adrian Cashmore however after Connor
had split the English side's defence for a terrific try. Connor missed the
conversion but the Welshmen still went into the break 12-6 in front.
Leicester came out with all guns blazing in the second half, flanker Brett
Deacon eventually overcoming brave resistence from Ospreys on their own line.
Goode missed the conversion but Leicester went in front when England and
Tigers' captain Martin Corry broke clear and set up Harry Ellis to score.
This time Goode converted and his cross-kick was collected by hooker George
Chuter to fall over the line from a third home try.
Goode's conversion put his side 13 points ahead and home as the brave Welshmen
wilted.
And as the the game entered injury time Austin Healey went over for the
decisive fourth try to secure the bonus point.
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