European Rugby Champions Cup: Leicester start with win over Ulster
Last Updated: 20/10/14 11:33am
Leicester continued their resurgence with a 25-18 victory over Ulster in their European Champions Cup clash at Welford Road.
Last week the Tigers ended a run of three straight Aviva Premiership defeats with a win against Harlequins and have followed that up with a win in their opening European encounter.
Tries from Owen Williams, Graham Kitchener and Freddie Burns sent out a strong message to the rest of Pool 3, which includes reigning champions Toulon.
Despite Ireland wing Tommy Bowe's scorching second-half try and a later Franco van der Merwe touchdown, Ulster could never quite get close enough.
Ulster, who beat Leicester twice in Europe last season, made a confident start, moving through numerous phases before Paddy Jackson sent over a penalty to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.
Leicester and England centre Manu Tuilagi then left the action seven minutes later with a groin injury in a concerning development for national coach Stuart Lancaster
The Tigers were not fazed and responded by launching a concerted attack that resulted in Williams just getting underneath last-ditch tackling to claim a try that required confirmation from television match official Bernard Dal Maso.
Lead
Burns kicked the conversion to put Leicester 7-3 ahead and Leicester added a second try 11 minutes before half-time when Ben Youngs intercepted a pass from Paul Marshall before playing in Kitchener to score.
Ulster wing Craig Gilroy was then sin-binned by referee Romain Poite for a dangerous challenge on Miles Benjamin to make the situation worse for the visitors.
Leicester capitalised as Youngs wrong-footed an undermanned Ulster defence, and it was Burns who weaved his way over for a try that Williams converted to open up a 19-3 advantage at half-time.
Leicester were almost in again before the break, with hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini appearing to have scored before the try was ruled out because Youngs had a foot on the touchline during build-up play.
A 44th-minute penalty from Williams extended the advantage although that score was quickly cancelled out by Jackson, who then sent over the conversion after a fine passage of play in the backs ended with Bowe sprinting over the line.
Williams eased Leicester nerves by kicking another penalty to make it 25-13, but Ulster claimed their second try 13 minutes from time when van der Merwe went over.
Jackson’s conversion attempt was successfully charged down by Leicester flanker Jamie Gibson and Ulster had to make do with a losing bonus point as their late pressure came to nothing.
