Aviva Premiership: Tigers secure play-off spot with Worcester win
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 30/04/16 8:07pm
Leicester ran out 31-17 winners over Worcester to secure a Premiership play-off place for the twelfth consecutive season.
The Tigers bounced back from last week's Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Racing 92 to score four tries in a 31-17 bonus-point win, which puts them 10 points ahead of fifth-placed Sale, who lost to Gloucester on Friday night.
The Tigers' tries came from Vereniki Goneva, Opeti Fonua, Telusa Veainu, and Will Evans, with Owen Williams contributing 11 points with the boot.
Worcester, who are safe from relegation, scored two tries through Bryce Heem and Andy Symons.
Worcester started well, with the forwards dominating up front before Ryan Mills gave them an eighth-minute lead with a long-range penalty, but the lead lasted just six minutes as Goneva intercepted a pass from Chris Pennell near half-way to run in an easy try.
However, Worcester were 10-7 ahead five minutes later after Heem's try, which was started by No 8 GJ Van Velze's crunching tackle on Leicester hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini, who spilled the ball. Francois Hougaard then timed his pass perfectly for Heem to outstrip the cover and score in the right corner, with Tom Heathcote adding the conversion.
Fonua restored Leicester's lead early in the second quarter, using all his substantial weight to barge past two defenders close to the line.
Leicester looked in control until the Warriors pack drove them back and won a penalty. The visitors kicked to touch, drove to Leicester's line and with little cover out wide, Symons had an easy run-in to the posts for a 17-14 lead.
The score looked to remain that way into the break but with with 53 seconds of the half left, Tigers hit back. Veainu crashed through three tackles after some terrific sleight of hand from his team-mates in the build-up. Williams kicked the touchline conversion for a 21-17 Leicester lead at half-time.
With sunshine having turned to sleet, the second half became a battle of attrition, and Heathcote missed a regulation opportunity to put Worcester within a point of the Tigers when he hit the upright with a penalty from close range.
Leicester replaced their entire front row and then Veainu missed a chance to put Leicester further ahead on the hour, spilling the greasy ball five metres out.
In the 64th minute, however, Leicester got their fourth try and a bonus point. They demolished Worcester's scrum, kicked to touch and, with some of the backs joining in, drove the resulting over the line, with replacement Evans touching down.
Williams converted and Leicester held out for an important win that sees them still with a chance of winning the Premiership this season.
