Aviva Premiership: Harlequins 25-19 Leicester
By Matthew Treadwell
Last Updated: 20/02/16 11:47am
Harlequins held off a last-gasp challenge from Leicester to secure a 25-19 victory in a hard-fought but largely uninspiring Aviva Premiership contest at the Twickenham Stoop.
A first half dominated by the boot ended all-square at 9-9 before Leicester hooker Harry Thacker powered through to score the opening try of the night after the break.
But Quins went on to edge ahead courtesy of Ben Botica's sixth penalty of the night before home winger Marlon Yarde crossed the try-line five minutes from time to secure the win for Conor O'Shea's side as England head coach Eddie Jones looked on.
Leicester fly-half Oli Bryant and Botica exchanged penalties in the opening 10 minutes before some great defensive work from Harlequins full-back Ross Chisholm denied Telusa Veainu.
The Tonga wing intercepted the ball before sprinting down the line but Chisholm tracked him back and made the crucial tackle before his opponent could reach the line.
An attritional opening period saw Bryant and Botica share a further 12 points in kicks to leave the sides all-square at the break, with Tigers losing Brendon O'Connor to a hamstring injury just before half-time.
Matters slowly improved after the interval and with Botica kicking two more penalty kicks to take Quins into the lead for the first time in the match, Thacker then pounced to cross for his try.
The 22-year-old gathered the ball at pace and powered over following some good work in the build-up from Manu Tuilagi got the move going, with replacement fly-half Freddie Burns converting to take Leicester back into the lead.
Quins continued to scrum well, though, and further ill-discipline allowed Botica to slot over another kick before Burns missed a tough effort from a tight angle at the other end of the pitch.
Yarde then went over for the hosts only try of the night, with the winger doing well to stay on his feet to evade the last-ditch tackle of Jean De Villiers and stumble over the line before grounding the ball after latching onto Botica's delicate chip.
There was still time for Burns to add another penalty but despite Richard Cockerill's side going through 21 phases in the final attack of the game, Harlequins held firm to secure the victory.
