Tigers clinch play-off spot

Bonus-point win sends Leicester into post-season

Last updated: 10th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Tigers clinch play-off spot

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Leicester Tigers reached the Guinness Premiership play-offs with a 31-28 bonus-point victory over Harlequins on the final day of the regular season.

The win, combined with Sale's 17-7 defeat at home to London Irish, saw the Tigers clinch fourth spot and set up a semi-final against table-toppers Gloucester.

Tom Varndell's try with just two minutes remaining secured the result and also ended Harlequins' own play-off ambitions.

The winger made the score from nothing, chipping beyond Quins full-back Mike Brown before turning on the speed to win a the chase to the ball from 40 metres out.

The result was harsh on Quins, who finish the season in sixth place, after they played a full part in a nine-try feast full of passion, points and a wide open game littered with mistakes, bad goal-kicking and expansive rugby.

The visitors made an impressive start with Brown taking advantage of Chris Malone's delicate grubber kick to score the opening try in the third minute.

It seemed that Dean Richards' side would double their lead just three minutes later when Dave Strettle broke free from some weak Leicester tackling inside his own 22 and released skipper Will Skinner on a 60-metre burst.

Skinner denied

But Harry Ellis' last-gasp tackle proved a try saver, forcing Skinner to spill the ball just as he approached the try line.

The Tigers got back into the contest as Ellis released Ben Herring in space and the Kiwi swerved past Chris Brooker to go over.

And Leicester took the lead seven minutes later when Andy Goode shipped the ball out to Varndell and he skipped past Brown on his way to the line. Goode added the conversion.

Further defensive lapses allowed Danny Care to break free on 18 minutes and Skinner made no mistake this time after taking a pass and bursting to the line from 30 metres.

Things began boil over when Skinner and Goode became involved in a fracas, and shortly afterwards Quins' Chris Robshaw was sin-binned.

Despite their numerical disadvantage Quins extended their lead on the stroke of half-time, Tom Williams diving over and Malone converting.

But the Tigers made a strong start to the second half and reduced their deficit when Herring's delightful flick pass allowed Johne Murphy to crash over.

Goode missed the conversion but Malone also scuffed a penalty attempt minutes later to keep things tight.

The visitors looked to have killed the game on 62 minutes with their fourth try - Malone spotted Williams free on the left wing and he had time to let the ball bounce before picking up and out-running hooker Mefin Davies. Malone's conversion gave Quins a nine-point cushion.

But Leicester refused to lie down and Jordan Crane piled over to narrow the gap, before Varndell's sizzling pace stole the game with two minutes remaining.