Tigers happy with display

O'Connor admits Leicester were always in control

Last updated: 28th November 2009  

Tigers happy with display

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Leicester backs coach Matt O'Connor admitted he was pleased with the side's first-half performance despite being held 6-6 by Leeds at the break.

Toby Flood exchanged penalties with Joe Ford but the score did not reflect the Tigers' dominance before the break, failing to add to their total despite heaping pressure on Leeds in the final 22.

However, the hosts came out with bad intentions in the second-half and eventually ran away with the points, winning 39-6.

"Despite the score we were happy with our performance in the first half and it was just a little bit of inaccuracy which prevented us scoring," reflected O'Connor, standing in for the suspended head coach Richard Cockerill.

Confident

"The boys were happy at half-time and we knew if we kept doing what we did in the first half only a little bit better then the scores would come.

"We were quite confident that it was only a matter of time and when we scored two tries early in the second half our confidence was lifted.

"Leeds did defend very well, full credit to them but we did blow a few chances."

O'Connor paid tribute to Flood, who returned a personal haul of 17 pooints on his first start since injuring his Achilles last season.

"He brings slightly different things than Jeremy Staunton," he added. "He had a great game today and is over that injury.

"He is a world class number 10 and England will have a tough decision to make. I would pick him, but I'm biased."

Lost control

Leeds Carnegie director of rugby Andy Key was disappointed his players allowed Leicester to run riot in the second half.

"We did well to be 6-6 at half time but we did have to defend really hard and it took a lot out of the boys," he said.

"We had a bad start to the second half, we didn't put a name on the restart kick and we lost all control of the game.

Leicester were awarded a crucial penalty try after 43 minutes and Key added: "I've had a look at the slow motion replay.

"I couldn't see anything wrong, it seems that it may have been awarded more on the first half rather than that particular scrum."

Leeds announced after the match that former England hooker Andy Titterrell, who has been without a team since leaving Gloucester in the summer, has agreed to bolster the squad with a three-month loan spell at Headingley.

Head coach Neil Back said: "We are delighted to have brought in a player of the quality and experience of Andy Titterrell. His signing has filled a gap in our squad and it will strengthen the team."