Tigers keep Cup hopes alive

Premiership leaders slump to fourth defeat in six matches

Last updated: 28th January 2012  

Tigers keep Cup hopes alive

Ben Pienaar: Scored the try and secured Leicester's win

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Leicester retained their hopes of a place in the semi-finals of the LV= Cup after scoring a 19-9 win over Premiership leaders Harlequins at The Stoop on Saturday.

Ben Pienaar's second-half try secured the Tigers' win after a tight opening period in which Andy Forsyth's converted try had given them a 7-3 lead.

Rory Clegg had kicked Quins' first-half points with a penalty and although he later landed two more, tries from 20-year-old winger Alex Lewington and Pienaar pulled Leicester clear to inflict what is Quins' fourth defeat in six games.

Both sides suffered exits from the Heineken Cup last week and there were multiple changes in the starting XVs.

Right from the start Leicester's fly-half George Ford was willing to let his backs run from deep and after Clegg had found touch in the visitors' 22, they set the tone by breaking out.

Quick

The Tigers spread the ball quickly for centre Forsyth to out-pace the home defence and go in under the posts, with Ford converting.

Quins responded in the 12th minute when a clever Clegg chip that was gathered by Luke Wallace forced Leicester to infringe at the breakdown in their 22.

Clegg then had a simple kick for the three points.

In the 22nd minute, Clegg's attempted cross-field kick for Sam Stegmann was plucked out of the air by Tigers full-back Niall Morris, allowing Leicester to clear their lines.

Although Tom Casson and Rob Buchanan made powerful runs for the hosts, it was the Tigers who looked more likely to score the next try.

It almost came after 29 minutes when winger Alex Lewington scorched through Quins' backline before offloading to Morris, only for a good covering tackle to prevent a try.

Second-best at half-time, Quins made a fast start to the second half with their pack earning a penalty from a scrum just outside the Tigers' 22.

Clegg slotted the points to take the home team to within a point.

Skilful

But Leicester responded with their second try after 55 minutes as Lewington produced a skilful piece of wing play.

Hugging the touchline, he sent a grubber kick past Ross Chisholm and ran around to collect and score in the corner.

Ford could not add the extras from a tight angle and Clegg kept Quins in touch with his third penalty to leave the score at 12-9.

The visitors, however, had the final say in the 68th minute when a good passing move along the Tigers' backline found Pienaar lurking by the touchline. He took two defenders with him but carried sufficient momentum over the line.

Ford converted and despite a late missed kick from Clegg, Quins were unable to respond.

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