Tigers strike late to tame Quins

Leicester closed to within one point of Harlequins at the top of the Aviva Premiership as they produced a superb display to beat the Londoners 43-33 at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday.

Late tries from Alesana Tuilagi and Thomas Waldrom, his second, clinched a dramatic bonus-point victory for the Tigers who had found themselves 13 points down at one stage in the first half.

Quins scored three tries of their own through Ugo Monye, Nick Easter and George Lowe, but were unable to withstand a late push from the visitors for whom Steve Mafi also scored.

But Leicester's win owed much to the intelligent promptings of Toby Flood who, as well as kicking 23 points, produced a masterful display at fly-half - particularly in the second period.

The Tigers opened the scoring on five minutes when they were rewarded for a show of ambition after Flood opted to kick a penalty to touch deep in Harlequins territory. Tom Croft claimed the subsequent line-out and from the ensuing drive Waldrom powered his way over - Flood adding the conversion.

Harlequins responded five minutes later through an Evans penalty after the visitors had been caught offside, although Flood quickly restored the 10-point cushion as Quins were pinged for going in at the side of a ruck.

Evans slotted another three-pointer when Dan Coles failed to roll away and, moments later, the hosts hit the front as Moyne latched on to a loose Flood pass to scorch clear from inside his own half for an interception try under the posts.

Evans added the extras and just a couple of minutes later stretched the lead to 16-10 with his third penalty, as Manu Tuilagi was sin-binned for a cynical tug-back on Lowe as the centre tried to take Jordan Turner-Hall's offload.

Quins needed just five minutes to make their numerical advantage count as Easter broke off the back of a five-metre scrum and bulldozed his way past Croft and Ben Youngs to touch down for a try converted by Evans.

Having been injured in the clash with Easter, Croft was forced off and replaced by Steve Mafi as the scoring continued apace with Flood and Evans exchanging penalties.

Made an impact

Mafi then made his impact felt three minutes before the interval as he picked up at a ruck and sprinted through a gap in the home defence to touch down under the sticks.

After converting, Flood then had the last word of a breathless first half as he kicked his third penalty to bring his team back to within three points at 26-23.

The Tigers were back on terms six minutes after the restart as Flood again struck with the boot when James Johnston was penalised for failing to bind at a scrum.

But Quins hit back two minutes later with a third try after their scrum had taken one against the head deep in Leicester territory. Evans ensured they would take full advantage with a delicate kick through that sat up perfectly for the onrushing Lowe to collect and dive over - Evans added the extras.

That score put the hosts seven clear at 33-26 and seemingly in command, but Leicester dug deep and produced a quite superb display in the final quarter to snatch a memorable victory.

They drew level once again on 66 minutes when, after a period of sustained pressure, quick ball allowed Youngs to spin the ball out wide to the left where a smart pass from Geordan Murphy sent Tuilagi in at the corner for a try that Flood converted.

With the momentum very much with them, the visitors then produced what proved to be the game's decisive try nine minutes from time after a fine break from the excellent Anthony Allen.

Having set up camp in the Quins 22 it appeared only a matter of time and the moment came when Flood shipped a canny pass to Waldrom who cruised over unopposed for his second score of the afternoon.

Man-of-the-match Flood kicked the conversion and - after Lowe had come through a ruck with an early tackle on Youngs - then made sure of victory with his fourth penalty, denying Quins a losing bonus-point in the process.