Leicester 0-43 Glasgow: Warriors run riot against sorry Tigers

Glasgow qualified for their first-ever Champions Cup quarter-final courtesy of a 43-0 thrashing of Leicester Tigers.

The Warriors secured a four-try bonus point in the first half thanks to scores from Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett and Jonny Gray to go with a penalty try. Gregor Townsend's men then compounded affairs when Ryan Wilson and Tim Swinson crossed after the break as the Scottish side ran riot at Welford Road.

The victory means Glasgow qualify for a runner-up spot in the play-offs, with Munster's victory over Racing 92 at Thomond Park handing the Irishmen top spot in Pool 1 as well as a home quarter-final.

It was two-time European champions Leicester's heaviest defeat in the tournament - their previous worst came against Ulster five years ago, when they lost 41-7, and also Glasgow's record European win.

Glasgow were under pressure to secure a last-eight spot, but they started brilliantly, denying Leicester possession and going through a remarkable 27 phases of play before securing an opening try.

The visitors showed great composure and patience with ball in hand, and Leicester were powerless to keep them out as Seymour popped up in midfield and broke centre Peter Betham's tackle to claim a try that Russell converted.

Leicester could not get out of their own half, and after Russell kicked a penalty it went from bad to worse for the Tigers during a miserable nine-minute spell.

Full-back Mathew Tait was yellow-carded for a late tackle on Glasgow wing Lee Jones, and the rampant Scottish outfit immediately increased their advantage when French referee Mathieu Raynal awarded them a penalty try that Russell converted after Leicester's forwards illegally collapsed a maul.

Even when Leicester had a chance to score, they failed to deliver as fly-half Freddie Burns missed two penalties in quick succession, before Glasgow scored their third try after cutting the Tigers open from deep through slick handling by backs and forwards.

And it was Bennett who finished off a brilliant move by touching down in the corner, before Russell's conversion made it 24-0.

Leicester, though, showed no sign of waking from their nightmare, and imperious Glasgow skipper Gray added a bonus-point try four minutes before the break when Tigers' defence was again smashed to all parts. Russell's conversion took Glasgow past 30 points.

Glasgow were in no mood to rest on their laurels, and they added a fifth try within six minutes of the restart when Wilson powered over from close range and Russell's fifth successful conversion piled more misery on Leicester.

The majority of a crowd just under 20,000 looked on in disbelief as Swinson rounded off yet another spell of Glasgow pressure, and the only question to be answered during the final quarter was whether or not the visitors would hit 50
points.

The half-century did not materialise, but Leicester could not even finish with a full of complement of players after England Six Nations squad member Ellis Genge was sin-binned.