ComeAllWithin.co.uk - Leicester Tigers 31-28 Harlequins

He kicked ahead and his extra half-yard of pace allowed him to win the touchdown race from Mike Brown to give Leicester the lead and Goode added the conversion. After the restart Quins never again touched the ball as Tigers wound down the clock and won 31 – 28.

This was a pulsating, entertaining game with Quins showing their determination from the start. It took only three minutes for Quins to open the scoring as a kick through by Malone allowed Mike Brown to run through and touch down for a try that Malone converted. The lead was almost doubled within a couple of minutes as Strettle broke through the Tigers’ tackles and put Will Skinner away on a sixty metre run to the line. He appeared certain to score until a last ditch tap tackle from Harry Ellis dislodged the ball as Skinner fell over the line.

The home side now began to attack and a penalty from a scrum saw Goode give them a splendid platform with a deep kick to touch. From the lineout Herring eluded the defence and scored in the corner. Goode’s kick from the touchline failed to add any points but the score was now 5 – 7. Within five minutes Leicester scored again. This time a poor pass saw the ball miss its intended recipient but fall to Varndell on the left wing giving him an easy run in for the try. This time Goode converted successfully and with only fifteen minutes gone the score was now 12 – 7.

That lead lasted only another five minutes before Danny Care, giving a superb display of scrum-half skills, put Skinner away in a run to the Tigers’ line this time unhindered by defenders. Malone converted and the lead was regained at 12 – 14.

Tigers redouble their efforts and pressure on the scrum turned one in their favour. A penalty at the following scrum saw them opt for the scrum but this time it was the boot of Care that cleared the danger. Another penalty to Tigers on the Quins twenty-two saw the strange decision to go for touch rather than take points. That attack ended as and attempted chip into the in goal area was adroitly fielded by Brown and cleared. Continued Leicester pressure demonstrated their frustration as a break by Geordan Murphy broke through the Quins defence and his pass to Varndell would have given the winger a clear run to the line had he not knocked on. A drop goal attempt from Mauger also failed.

With only a few minutes remaining in the half, a yellow card for Chris Robshaw for an offence at a ruck, reduce Quins to fourteen men. Goode missed the following simple penalty kick that would have regained the lead. An almost interception by Masson, knocked on rather than caught, relieved the attacking pressure. Then with Quins attacking, the ball came out of the side of a ruck for Tom Williams to kick it on, chase and touch down over the Tigers’ line. With Malone adding the conversion Quins led 12 – 21. Another simple penalty saw Goode miss again and Quins had a good lead after the first half.

It took just three minutes of the second half for Tigers to reduce the lead as another bobbling ball found Johne Murphy in space on the right wing and he scored unopposed. Once again Goode missed with the boot.

Now Quins were back to full strength and a penalty just inside the Leicester half saw Malone have a kick for the posts with no greater success than his opposite number had obtained. A good break by Easter saw the final pass knocked on by Tom Williams with the line open in front of him for a certain score. Malone missed another long-range penalty. As the third quarter ended the replacements began to arrive on both sides. Jim Evans replaced Percival, Barry and Guest respectively replaced Keogh and Robshaw.

Then a kick from Malone found Tom Williams in space on the left wing and he took his second try easily to give Quins a bonus point. Malone converted successfully increasing the lead to 17 – 28

Unfortunately, thirteen minutes is a long time to keep the Tigers in their cage and deprive them of the ball. Quins could not do so. A superb, deep touch kick to the corner from Goode pushed Quins back onto their five-metre line. Although Quins secured the lineout they conceded a scrum. From the scrum Crane broke off to fall across the Quins’ line for Tigers’ fourth try and with Goode adding the points the lead was reduced to 24 – 28.

Tigers continued to press and with only some six minutes remaining Goode missed yet another penalty kick. But there was still time for Varndell to score and snatch the deserved victory from Quins.

No team could have wanted it more or tried harder than Harlequins. The misery was writ deep on the players’ faces, not least that of David Strettle who was almost inconsolable.

Dean Richards was clearly unhappy with what he saw as inconsistent refereeing, but refused to blame Wayne Barnes. “We should have won the game. We got nothing from the referee who was not on top form. He was not consistent but he is a top-class referee.”

"We would love to play Heineken Cup rugby next season but now we will have to wait for a couple of weeks and see what happens. It was probably a season too early for us. You always try to improve year on year. We have finished sixth this year, who knows where we will finish next year”.

Leicester: G Murphy; T Varndell, D Hipkiss, A Mauger, J Murphy (A Erinle 71min); A Goode, H Ellis; B Stankovich (M Ayerza 56min), M Davies (G Chuter 65min), J White, M Wentzel (R Blaze 70min), B Kay, M Corry (capt), J Crane, B Herring (T Croft 56min)

Harlequins: M Brown; T Williams, D Strettle, T Masson, S Keogh (D Barry 61min); C Malone, D Care; C Jones, C Brooker, M Ross (J Brooks 70min), J Percival (J Evans 45min), G Robson, C Robshaw (T Guest 59min), N Easter, W Skinner (capt)

Referee: W Barnes (RFU)
Attendance: 17,498

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