Endangered Tigers survive

Leicester kept their Heineken Cup hopes alive by grinding out a 14-9 victory over Toulouse at a sodden Welford Road.

After defeat in Leinster, the English champions could not afford a home defeat with a trip to Toulouse next week. They did just about enough to ensure that did not happen.

On balance Toulouse played the better rugby with ball in hand, but they also made far too many errors.

Leicester were pragmatic, conservative and highly disciplined. Given the conditions, that was to prove a winning combination.

They also had the superior forward power and squeezed a couple of crucial second-half penalties out of their retreating opponents.

Dominated

Toulouse dominated the opening exchanges but a couple of knock-ons and a forward pass meant they had to settle for just a Valentine Courrent penalty for their efforts.

The visitors were throwing the ball around and oozing confidence, but they were to pay for their near-arrogance by gifting Leicester the game's only try after 12 minutes.

Cedric Poitreneau could have cleared his 22 but chose to exchange passes with Cedric Heymans before running up a blind alley.

He tried to redeem himself by popping the ball up off the floor but it fell straight into Ollie Smith's path and the winger gratefully scooped it up and ran in unopposed.

Goode's conversion attempt hit the post but three minutes later Poitreneau made another error, dropping a high bomb from Andy Goode.

This time the French defence held firm and the Tigers had to wait until the 26th minute to grab their next points.

The Toulouse lineout was wobbling and after Leicester stole the ball, they earned a penalty for in-at-the-side and Goode extended the lead to 8-3.

Potent

Toulouse still looked the more potent attacking threat and Tom Varndell made a vital interception in the corner to prevent a try, but a neat drop-goal from Courrent in injury time cut the deficit to two points at the half.

Moments after the re-start Courrent put Toulouse ahead for the only time in the match with a penalty for offside.

Leicester's forwards responded by ratcheting up the pressure and the lead was quickly restored when they drove Toulouse off the ball and forced a penalty.

The Tigers backs rarely looked like creating a clear chance and just about their only flowing move of the half ended when Dan Hipkiss knocked on.

But an error from former All Blacks scrum-half Byron Kelleher gave Leicester's forwards the chance to force another penalty when he kicked straight into touch.

Toulouse collapsed the resulting forwards' drive and Goode knocked over his third penalty.

Crucially, Toulouse needed to score a try to level. They almost did, Vincent Clerc and Heymans combining after a rare Varndell error only for Clerc's 'score' under the posts to be chalked off by referee Nigel Owens for a forward pass.

It was a (correct) decision which kept Leicester in the cup.