LEICESTER TIGERS kick-started their Heineken Cup campaign in earnest with a four try, bonus point, 39-22 victory over the Ospreys at Welford Road. The English club produced rather an insipid performance in losing in Toulouse last week and in the opening throes of yesterday’s context looked as if they might be in for a repeat as they trailed 10-0.
Ospreys and Wales flanker Ryan Jones grabbed an opportunist try after just two minutes and outhalf Dan Biggar added a conversion and a penalty. Manu Tuilagi crossed for the first of his two tries but it was the Leicester halfbacks, Ben Youngs and Toby Flood that were to have a seminal influence on the rest of the game.
Biggar and Flood indulged in a penalty kicking duel but with sides level at 19-19 the Englishman landed a mammoth 53-metre penalty and then intercepted a pass from his opposite number to race 45 metres for a try which he converted.
Youngs crossed for a third Tigers try and much to the delight of the home supporters Tuilagi’s second wrapped up the bonus point.
Former Leinster academy player Niall Morris had a decent game for Leicester on the right wing initially before finishing on the left.
The pool is still headed by Toulouse, albeit that the French side will be miffed at not managing to secure a bonus point in a 33-21 win over Benetton Treviso at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo. The Italian side led 18-9 at half-time courtesy of six penalties from outhalf Kristopher Burton – he would kick seven – but second-half tries from Louis Picamoles, a penalty try and Vincent Clerc’s 33rd in European rugby were enough to see the visitors home; despite having hooker Christian Tolofua sent off on 76 minutes.
Biarritz Olympique rebounded from their opening weekend defeat to Harlequins at The Stoop by running in six tries in a 38-17 victory against Zebre in Pool 3 at Parc des Sports Aguilera.
The hosts were halfway to the try bonus point inside the first ten minutes as Fabien Barcella crossed and was then followed by Yann Lesgourges over the Zebre line. Biarritz’s third try owed a deal to good fortune.
Takudzwa Ngwenya latched onto Jean-Pascal Barraque’s chip over the top that stopped dead on the rain-soaked pitch, allowing him to score.
They secured the bonus point five minutes into the second half when Samoan second-row Pelu Taele bulldozed his way over from only a few metres out before Lesgourges got his second try and replacement hooker Arnaud Heguy added a sixth.
The French side now face Connacht in back-to-back games in December.
Toulon maintained their winning momentum in Pool Six with a hard-fought 22-14 victory over the Blues at Cardiff Arms Park. Steffon Armitage’s try and 17 points from the boot of Jonny Wilkinson proved enough to make it two wins from two matches.
Armitage’s brother Delon was at the centre of the most controversial moment in the match when a no-arm high tackle on Blues’ centre Gavin Evans led to the latter being stretchered off and taken to hospital.
Leigh Halfpenny contributed all his side’s points. Former Leinster academy player Robin Copeland came on for Sam Warburton during the second half.
Tony Buckley and Cillian Willis could do nothing to stop the Sale Sharks from losing 33-18 in Montpellier. The home side will be disappointed not to have managed a bonus point.
