By and large Harlequins were the authors of their own misfortune as they tried too hard to create openings and poor passing, knocks on and turnovers of possession deprived them of chances. But that was later in the match, by which time Leicester had begun to control the game and the result.

It had started reasonably well, too, as a quick throw-in sent Lindsay-Hague on a penetrating run and Leicester, in stopping him, conceded a penalty at the breakdown to give Clegg an early three points. Twelvetrees missed with Tigers’ first chance of points.

There followed Quins’ best chance of the game as Leicester conceded a free kick at a scrum and Quins opted for another scrum on the half-way line in midfield. With quick ball from the scrum, the ball was moved wide to the right wing where Tom Williams found space and was able to run deep into the Tigers’ twenty-two. Inexplicably, he chose to kick into the hands of the Leicester full-back rather than cut inside and recycle the ball after contact. 

A better chance of a try never came Harlequins’ way again and it was little consolation that another penalty allowed Clegg another easy three points, although he missed with another chance a couple of minutes later.

But now Leicester were beginning to look more threatening as their attacks, started with territory gained from forward drives, gained territory from smooth passing from wing to wing along the attacking line. Eventually another excellent and concerted attack found a gap and lock Callum Green cantered over by the posts for the try, Twelvetrees added the simple conversion to give Tigers a 6 – 7 lead.

The remaining fifteen minutes of the half saw Quins attempt to get back in the lead and an exchange pf penalty kicks as Twelvetrees kicked one and missed one to increase the Leicester lead and with the last kick of the half Clegg successfully reduced the arrears to a single point with his third scoring kick. The half time score was 9 – 10.

An early successful penalty kick from Clegg allowed Quins to regain the lead although they lost it again as their opponents too were successful with a penalty. Twelvetrees succeeded with another penalty to open a 12 – 16 lead and another for 12 -19. Quins were trying to play with pace and looking for a try and two or three penalties were tapped quickly that Clegg might have kicked successfully.  The harder Quins tried the more the errors came. It was a poor half.

In the last ten minutes, after he had reduced the arrears with his fifth successful penalty,  Clegg produced a number of fine positional touch kicks pushing Leicester back into their own twenty-two, only for the Quins forwards to lose the lineout or be penalised for offences  and throws which were not straight or overthrown. So time ran out and a second semi-final was lost this year. One can only hope they do not go in threes!  

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