Leicester Tigers hand Ulster a shellacking at Welford Road

The Irish province initially led by 10 points but were hammered in the second half

Leicester Tigers' Ollie Hassell-Collins scores a try against Ulster. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA Wire
Leicester Tigers' Ollie Hassell-Collins scores a try against Ulster. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA Wire
Champions Cup: Leicester Tigers 38 Ulster 10

Despite a first half which threatened to make this more of a contest than anticipated, Leicester Tigers pulled away after the break to hand Ulster a 38-10 shellacking at Welford Road.

The Irish province initially led 10-0 thanks to a slice of luck and some decent defensive sets, but they couldn’t hold the hosts at bay. A 12-10 deficit at half-time turned quickly into a 38-10 hammering, Ulster committing error after error, succumbing to the pressure inflicted by their grateful hosts.

Ulster struck first win an early penalty, Jude Postlethwaite winning a fortuitous breakdown decision despite having his hands on the floor. Nathan Doak opened the scoring from the tee.

Ulster’s good fortune continued directly from the following kick-off. Aidan Morgan launched a high bomb, wisely targeting Handré Pollard in the Leicester backfield as opposed to aerial supremo Freddie Steward. Pollard looked at his wing, Ollie Hassell-Collins, to come back and claim. Hassell-Collins looked at Pollard. Everyone stared in shock as the ball bounced between them and into the grateful arms of Nick Timoney for a clear run from 30 metres out.

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Ulster stand dejected defeat to Leicester. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA
Ulster stand dejected defeat to Leicester. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

While Ulster showed glimpses of quality with ball in hand, their young centre pairing of Postlethwaite and Ben Carson dominating their more diminutive opposite numbers, they could not add to their early tally. Welsh backrow Tommy Reffell single-handedly ended three attacks with his now trademark defensive breakdown work.

Leicester looked decent on the ball too, creating better chances. On their first attack, Josh Bassett stumbled with nobody between him and the line, allowing Zac Ward and Werner Kok to bring him down and turn him over.

It was second time lucky for Bassett and Leicester on 18 minutes when, again cashing in on a narrow Ulster line, he scored in the corner. Bassett repeated the dose with an identical close range finish with the last play of the half, giving Leicester the narrow lead they deserved.

Ulster’s maul weakness hurt them again early in the second half. This time, the powerful Leicester lineout drive drew in sufficient defenders to allow wing Hassell-Collins to dive over. Minutes later, another set piece did for the Irish province. This time, a scrum inside the 22 held up fine, but the same can’t be said for the backline defence. Not for the first time on the night, Leicester cut open the Ulster midfield, Hassell-Collins dancing back inside after trailing from his wing to add his second.

Not to be outdone, Bassett beat his fellow wing in the race to find a hat-trick. Ulster couldn’t deal with his chip in behind and, while there was a some good fortune in how the bouncing ball found its way back into his arms, it was just reward for his zealous chase.

If this was not a turkey shoot by now, it certainly was when Leicester continued to score in bunches. It took just two minutes for Ulster to make a mess of spreading the ball wide. Izaia Perese took full advantage to add Leicester’s sixth try.

The home side pulled up thereafter. Ulster were dead, no need for further punishment.

For Ulster, in many ways this was the epitome of their season so far. Enough promise to keep people believing in the Richie Murphy rebuild, but this side ultimately showed their inexperience.

Scoring sequence – 8 mins: N Doak pen 0-3; 9: N Timoney try, Doak con 0-10; 18: J Bassett try, H Pollard con 7-10; 40 Bassett try; Half-time 12-10; 47: O Hassell-Collins try, 17-10; 49: Hassell-Collins try, Pollard con 10-24; 61: Bassett try, F Steward con, 31-10; 63: I Perese try, J Shillcock con, 38-10;

Leicester: Freddie Steward; Josh Bassett, Izaia Perese, Solomone Kata, Ollie Hassell-Collins; Handré Pollard, Jack van Poortvliet; Nicky Smith, Julián Montoya (capt), Joe Heyes; Cameron Henderson, Jed Holloway; Finn Carnduff, Tommy Reffell, Olly Cracknell.

Replacements: Emeka Ilione for Carnduff (50 mins), Joseph Woodward for Kata (54 mins), Ben Youngs for van Poortvliet (60 mins), Dan Cole for Heyes (60 mins), Jamie Shillcock for Pollard (62 mins), Charlie Clare for Montoya (64 mins), James Whitcombe for Smith (64 mins), Harry Wells for Holloway (69 mins).

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Scott Wilson; Iain Henderson (capt), Cormac Izuchukwu; James McNabney, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

Replacements: Rory Telfer for McIlroy (23 mins), Jack Murphy for Morgan (50 mins), Eric O’Sullivan for Warwick (52 mins), Kieran Treadwell for Henderson (54 mins), Kieran Treadwell for Henderson (54 mins), James McCormick for Andrew (56 mins), Corrie Barrett for Wilson (56 mins), Harry Sheridan for Izuchukwu (65 mins), John Cooney for Doak (56 mins).

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Nathan Johns

Nathan Johns

Nathan Johns is an Irish Times journalist