Stade tame Tigers with Fillol

Stade Francais got their Heineken Cup campaign back on track with a 12-6 victory over Leicester, the French club's 23rd straight win in Paris.

Heineken Cup, Stade Charlety, Saturday October 29

Stade Francais got their Heineken Cup campaign back on track with a 12-6 victory over Leicester, the French club's  23rd straight win in Paris.

Stade deserved to avenge their defeat to the Tigers in the 2001 final, but as a spectacle this game has to go down as one of the worst in the history of the competition.

The Parisiens were shocked by the Ospreys in their opener last weekend and needed a win to stay in contention in Pool 3.

Four penalties from Jerome Fillol were enough to ensure they did, although a penalty in each half from Andy Goode earned Leicester what may be a crucial bonus point.

In a game that was almost completely bereft of running rugby, neither side's backs were able to break the gain line. But Stade established enough go-forward dominance up front to earn those penalty opportunities.

The game had no flow to it as both sides - but in particular Leicester - were pulled up for infringemnets around the ruck. The game would surely have benefited from an early sin-binning, but his cards remained firmly in Donal Courtney's pocket until Ben Kay was shown a yellow three minutes from time.

Fillol missed two straightforward penalty chances early on as Stade made a nervy start, but did manage to slot a kick after 23 minutes.

Leicester turned down the chance to level after 34 minutes, kicking for the corner. But the Stade defence was solid and Lewis Moody was eventually penalised for holding on to the ball on the ground.

In injury time Goode did kick a long-range penalty to level the scores and the first try-scoring opportunity of the half came deep in added time.

At last Stade managed to produce a flowing move and Olivier Sarramea was heading for the corner only for the Leicester cover defence - led notably by Tom Varndell - to force him into touch by the flag.

After the break Stade's forwards started to establish some dominance and they were rewarded with three penalties.

Goode dragged Leicester back into bonus point range with a 74th minute penalty and on 77 minutes skipper Martin Corry turned down a kickable penalty, ordering Goode to put the ball in the corner. But the lineout was lost and Kay was sin-binned for handling in the ensuing ruck.

Still the Tigers had two injury time chances to snatch an undeserved victory. Geordan Murphy finally broke through the defensive line only for his chip forward to be charged down, then Corry was pulled up close to the Stade line for accidental offside.

It is a result which leaves the pool wide open, with both sides probably feeling that the rematch at Welford Road next year will prove decisive.