Leicester Tigers struggle past London Welsh in Aviva Premiership
Last Updated: 25/04/15 10:02pm
Leicester Tigers boosted their hopes of a top-four finish with a workmanlike bonus point 38-17 win at home to Aviva Premiership whipping boys London Welsh, who finished the game with 14 men.
Leicester fought back from a shock 10-7 half time deficit to score 31 points in a one sided second half against the relegated Welsh who had No 8 Chris Hala'ufia sent off for a bad tackle and foul play.
Captain Ben Youngs scored Leicester's first try in the third minute and five more followed after the interval from Laurence Pearce (two), Sam Harrison, Jamie Gibson, and Tom Youngs. London Welsh's tries came from Koree Britton and Opeti Fonua.
Leicester had started the match with a bang, scrum half and captain Ben Youngs sauntering over for an easy try
in the fourth minute from a line-out with the Welsh defence having gone missing.
Freddie Burns' conversion made it 7-0 and the crowd sat back and expected an avalanche of points against a side already relegated, having gained just one bonus point all season and shipped 869 points before this match.
But Welsh roared back with a try after a surging run from Hala'ufia set up hooker Britton who dived under the posts, with replacement Will Robinson adding the conversion. Chris Elders' earlier penalty ensured Welsh left the field ahead.
Leicester were booed and whistled off by a section of the Welford Road crowd who were unhappy with a lethargic, error-strewn performance from their team.
It was the first time the Welsh had led at half time in the Premiership this season and, while they did not play well, they fought for everything and scored a well-deserved try in the 38th minute.
Turnaround
The Exiles' lead did not last long because Leicester scored three minutes after the break, No 8 Laurence Pearce getting the touchdown after a rolling maul, the decision coming from the TMO. Pearce got his second seven minutes later, finishing off a lovely outside break by Mathew Tait to make it 17-10, although Burns missed both conversions.
Things got worse for the Welsh in the 55th minute when Hala'ufia was sent off for a shoulder charge that halted Pearce in his tracks.
The bonus point try came in the 65th minute after a brilliant counter from full-back Niall Morris. Although hauled down just short of the line, replacement scrum half Harrison dummied before stretching over a pile of bodies to get the touchdown which Burns converted.
Flanker Gibson got the fifth, his strength taking him over in the right corner, which replacement Tommy Bell converted.
With seven minutes left giant replacement Fonua got the Exiles second try from a tap penalty near the line. Robinson converted.
Replacement hooker Tom Youngs scored Leicester's sixth with two seconds left and Bell converted.