Leicester Tigers took four points from a 20-13 win over Rugby Calvisano at the Pata Stadium in northern Italy on Saturday afternoon to make it four wins in a row in Pool 5 of the European Challenge Cup.
It was a tough afternoon for the visitors in testing conditions despite claiming the opening try with little over 60 seconds played and had to wait until the final 20 minutes to secure the points.
After snowy and icy conditions in the Lombardy region all week, matchday dawned with bright sunshine and Tigers were given the perfect start when Freddie Steward scored his first senior try for the club after one minute’s play.
But they added only a three-pointer from Tom Hardwick in the remainder of a disjointed half to lead 8-3 at the break.
Tigers also had to withstand spells of pressure in the second half until Andy Forsyth scored immediately after their rivals had lost lock Davide Zanetti to a red card on the hour and Nephi Leatigaga added his first try for the club in the closing five minutes.
They missed out on a try bonus as the hosts claimed the final score of the game, though Tigers did make it four wins from four games as they moved on to 18 points, five clear of second-placed Cardiff Blues.
With Tigers wearing the club’s alternate fluoro-red kit, the game kicked off just as the re-arranged game between Pau and Cardiff Blues – which had been postponed on Friday following heavy rain – reached its conclusion with both teams taking a try bonus in a 34-29 victory for the French. That took Pau on to 10 points, three behind the Blues with two games to play. Tigers are on 18 points.
Hardwick got the game started and Calvisano were pinned back around their own 22 until Steward provided the breakthrough score.
The chance started with a steal at an Italian lineout and Sam Lewis broke the line to set up 19-year-old Steward to score in the right-hand corner, much to the delight of the travelling fans.
Strong work from Tomás Lavanini at the breakdown won a penalty moments later and the big Argentina international was then tackled off the ball as Tigers built play in attack. But, after hooker Charlie Clare steered the driving maul forwards, play spread to the left and the visitors lost possession.
Noel Reid left the field just five minutes elapsed, replaced by Johnny McPhillips in his European debut for the club.
A penalty on 10 minutes gave the hosts a first chance to gain territory but they missed touch with the kick. It did, though, give something for the home crowd to get in behind and they were in good voice when fly-half Paolo Pescetto got them on the scoreboard with a penalty from the left.
After the positive start from Tigers, the game lost its shape with mistakes from both teams on the ball and the regular whistle of French referee Thomas Charabas.
Clare, who had started the game strongly, left the field due to injury approaching the half-hour, with Jimmy Stevens coming into the front row.
Calvisano were soon back on the ball but the long arm of Lavanini scooped lineout ball back Tigers’ way. He was also at the heart of a set-piece move which threatened the Italian line before the chance was lost at a five-metre lineout.
Two carries from Joe Thomas got Tigers going forward, with McPhillips sidestepping his way through the defence and Facundo Gigena taking play almost up the line before Calvisano lost lock Gabriele Venditti to a yellow card as penalties mounted up and Hardwick kicked for goal to make it 8-3 in Tigers’ favour in the final score of the half.
The home crowd started celebrating a score for Vunisa from a close-range ruck at the start of the second half, but the referee had already whistled against the big back row for offside. It was a let-off for the visitors but they were then penalised just as they put their hosts under pressure in their own half.
A smart kick down the left, though, gave them another promising position, made even more so when Tigers lost replacement Bateman to a yellow card within a minute of his appearance on the field after repeat penalties against his team.
Pressure was finally relieved when Calvisano knocked-on at an attacking scrum, but Tigers were unable to build any meaningful possession, though two good lineout drives near halfway did provide some much-needed possession and field position.
Jordan Taufua, who joined Bateman and Will Spencer in returning from injury, got on the field with an hour gone, replacing Sione Kalamafoni.
Tigers were back up to 15 men but Calvisano lost Davide Zanetti to a red card following intervention from the referee’s intervention at an incident on their own 22.
It came at an immediate cost as Lavanini and Bateman carried in attack and Hardwick took play to the left where Thomas put Forsyth in to score.
From the restart, penalties against Tigers had them back on their own line again and, although they stood firm, with Taufua making two important interventions, another whistle allowed Pescetto to kick another three-pointer, making it 6-13 on 67 minutes.
A kick from Hardwick, chased by Thomas, had Calvisano scrambling back to their tryline and they were in further trouble when McPhillips collared fly-half Pescetto behind his own line.
Play restarted, after a lengthy stoppage for medical treatment to an Italian player, with a Tigers set-piece and after three separate charges to the line, it was replacement Leatigaga who made the final push to score. Hardwick added the conversion with less than four minutes left on the clock.
With Tigers seeking another score in the limited time remaining, they missed the chance after a knock-on inside their own half and then lost Lavanini to the sin-bin with the game well into its final minute as they defended a close-range lineout before Calvisano closed the game with a try from Facundo Panceyra-Garrido as they kept ball in close. The conversion kick from Pescetto brought the reward of a losing bonus point.
Commentary
80
NEXT ACTION
Tigers are next in action back at Welford Road next Saturday as we take on Exeter Chiefs, 3pm kick-off.
80
TRAVELLING TIGERSFAMILY
Thank you to the huge number of travelling TigersFamily members who have made the trip to join us in Italy this weekend.
We hope you all have a great weekend and have a safe journey home.
THAT'S THE GAME
It's full-time here in Italy and Tigers take the 20-13 away win over Calvisano to make it four wins from four in European action this season.
AND THE EXTRAS
Calvisano add the conversion to make it 13-20 after 80+ minutes.
FINAL PLAY AND TRY
Calvisano with a number of phases and Tigers think they've held it up but the referee calls for a try by the Calvisano number 12 Facundo Panceryra.
YELLOW FOR TIGERS
The referee blows the whistle for a penalty at the lineout against Tigers and shows Tomas Lavanini a yellow card. Calvisano kick for another lineout.
78
MORE STRONG PHASES
Tigers still holding in defence as Calvisano try and run the ball, making it into the Tigers 22 and winning a penalty at the breakdown. Kicking to touch for the lineout inside the TIgers 22.
77
BATEMAN ON THE CHARGE
Tigers with the restart ball and Greg Bateman is on the run with the ball but as the ball is recycled the referee calls a knock-on and it's a scrum for Calvisano inside the Tigers half.
CONVERSION ADDED
Hardwick adds the conversion to make it a full seven for Tigers.
IT'S A TRY FOR TIGERS
Tigers with a huge number of phases around the posts from the lineout and it's Nephi Leatigaga with this first try for Tigers.
72
GOOD TIGERS DEFENCE
Tigers play the ball wide, a chip ahead is collected by Calvisano but Tigers defence holds on and pushes them back over their own tryline and Tigers have a 5 metre scrum.
BACKLINE CHANGE
Tigers make a change in the backs as George Worth is on for Joe Thomas.
70
NICELY CHASED KICK
The scrum is finally completed, Tigers chip ahead and force Calvisano on to their tryline and they have to clear their lines and Tigers have the lineout.
69
MORE RESTARTS AND MORE SHOUTING
It's more resets of the scrum and more shouting from the crowd as the referee seems happy to settle on halfway.
67
BACK TO HALFWAY
The play works back to halfway from the restart as Calvisano look to attack on the wing but knock-on and Tigers have the scrum just inside the Calvisano half.
CALVISANO KICK THE PENALTY
Pescetto lands his second penalty and makes the score 6-13 after 66 minutes.
65
ON THE DEFENCE
Calvisano are quickest at the restart and work the ball through Tigers half and up to the Tigers tryline. The crowd thinks they've scored but the referee calls them back and they point to the posts.
62
MISSED CONVERSION
Tom Hardwick's conversion is just short of the posts and the score stays 3-13 after the try.
THERE YOU GO!
Tigers have the try as we kick to the corner from the red card penalty and Tigers attack from the lineout.
The extra man counts as the ball is pushed wide and Andy Forsyth collects a great timed pass from Joe Thomas in the corner to score.
FOUL PLAY ON THE FIELD
Tigers go wide with the ball from the lineout and the ball goes forward in the tackle but there's some foul play and a long conversation between the referees before a red card is shown to Calvisano lock Davide Zanetti.
DOUBLE CHANGE FOR TIGERS
Jordan Taufua and Ben White are on for Sione Kalamafoni and Sam Harrison.
CHANGE AT HOOKER
Gabriele Morelli is replaced by Matteo Luccardi.
59
BIG SCRUM
It's a huge scrum and Tigers win the penalty, kicking to touch for a lineout just outside the Calvisano 22.
58
UNLUCKY KICK
Tigers have loose ball in the lineout and Calvisano kick ahead but the ball is kicked dead as it just passes the flag the wrong side for the hosts and Tigers have the scrum near the half-way line.
57
BREAKDOWN PENLATY
Tigers press from the lineout and get into the Calvisano half before a penalty at the breakdown and have another lineout.
PROP CHANGE
Nephi Leatigaga is on for Joe Heyes in the front row.
DOUBLE CHANGE
Calvisano change two players as Mike van Vuuren and Alessandro Izekor replace Gabrielle Venditti and Fabio Semenzato.
55
CHIPPED AHEAD
Tigers take the ball and chip ahead from the lineout before some kicking exchanges take place and it's Calvisano who finds touch for a Tigers lineout.
53
TIGERS WIN THE PENALTY
Tigers win a penalty at the scrum and kick to touch for the lineout on our 10 metre line.
52
SCRUM AND KNOCK ON
It's reset scrums again before the ball makes its way out of the scrum but unfortunately for Calvisano the ball falls short of the 10 and is knocked on, Tigers have the scrum inside our 22.
LOCK CHANGE
Tigers also make a change at lock as Callum Green swaps with Will Spencer.
TIGERS FRONT ROW CHANGE
Calvisano opt to scrum and Tigers are forced to bring back on Facundo Gigena as Andy Forsyth heads to the bench.
YELLOW FOR TIGERS
Tigers are shown a yellow card and it's the replacement Greg Bateman and Tigers are down to 14.
49
PHASES FOR CALVISANO
Calvisano with the phases from the lineout and Tigers are penalised again and the referee is having words and reaching for his pocket.
48
CALVISANO WITH THE ADVANTAGE
Tigers look to be on top on the Calvisano driving maul but Tigers are penalised and Calvisano kick for another lineout on Tigers 5 metre line.
46
CALVISANO BOOT
A chip ahead from the scrum is immediately returned and it's a great kick from Calvisano with the bounce just beating Sam Harrison on the far touch for a Calvisano lineout.
45
TIGERS TACKLE THE MAUL
Calvisano with the ball at the lineout and look to break through but Tigers hold the ball carrier up and as the driving maul is called and gone to ground Tigers win the ball and a scrum.
44
TIGERS PUSH
Tigers get the ball at the lineout and chip ahead and are able to push Calvisano back into their half but are penalised in the breakdown and kick for a lineout inside Tigers half.
42
TIGERS DEFENCE IS TESTED
It's all Calvisano from the scrum as they go quick in attack and get into the Tigers 22. Calvisano get up to the Tigers 5 metre line but as the crowd cheer for a try the referee calls them back for offiside ball from the ruck and Tigers kick for the lineout.
41
EARLY SCRUM
Tigers take the kick but there's a loose ball and the referee calls a knock-on for a Calvisano scrum just outside the Tigers 22.
SECOND HALF IS ON
Calvisano kicks us off for the second-half here in Italy.
HALF-TIME IN ITALY
Calvisano win the penalty but kick the ball to end the half, with the score at half-time at 3-8.
39
COLLAPSED LINEOUT
Calvisano win the ball at the lineout and create the driving maul but as the maul goes to ground the referee blows his whistle for a Calvisano penalty as Tigers are deemed to have pulled it down.
38
TIGERS ON THE CHASE
Tigers win the ball at the scrum and kick down field with Jonny McPhillips making a good chase and making the tackle as Calvisano collect the ball but the referee calls a high tackle and they kick for lineout on their 10 metre line.
37
OUT ON THE FULL
Calvisano kick the restart but the ball goes out on the full and TIgers have the scrum on half-way
TIGERS TAKE THE POINTS
Tom Hardwick points to the posts and kicks the penalty following the yellow card and extends the lead to 3-8 for Tigers after 35 minutes.
YELLOW CARD FOR CALVISANO
The referee checks with his assistant and they show a yellow card to Calvisano lock Gabriele Venditti.
34
ATTACKING THE 22
Tigers collect the ball as Calvisano look to kick across the field but Tigers quick feet and some good running from Joe Thomas has Tigers attacking in the Calvisano 22.
32
LINEOUT, LINEOUT, SCRUM
Tigers are penalised at the lineout for a double throw and Calvisano has the free-kick. They kick to touch and Tigers have the lineout but it's called not straight and we have a Calvisano scrum on their 22.
31
WE GO AGAIN
There's some confusion at the lineout but Tigers win the ball and are on the attack, we have free play for offiside and try to go out wide but it's loose and we go for another lineout on Calvisano's 5 metre line.
29
FRUSTRATION FROM BOTH SIDES
Both teams test out the kicking and catchers as the ball is kicked back and forth from one 22 metre line to the other before Tigers win a penalty at the breakdown as Calvisano do not release in the tackle.
28
TIGERS POUNCE
The ball goes loose as Calvisano look to go quick from the scrum and Tigers chip ahead but as Calvisano collect and try to attack TIgers are penalised at the breakdown and Calvisano kick for a lineout on half-way.
27
SOME MESSY SCRUMS
The scrum is reset before Tigers give away a freekick for early engage, Calvisano try to go quickly but are not the mark so go for another scrum.
HIA SUBSTITUTION
Tigers are forced to make another change as Charlie Clare is off for a HIA and Jimmy Stevens is on the pitch.
26
FRANTIC FEW MINUTES
As we take a break for two players down for injury we can catch up as Tigers worked across the pitch in defence. Calvisano created a few breaks before a loose pass was knocked on in the pick-up and it's Tigers scrum on our own 10 metre line.
25
TIGERS ADVANTAGE
Tigers with the advantage as we work the phases up into the Calvisano 22 and up to the 5 metre line after a great swerving run from Jonny McPhilliips.
24
ALL ON THE HALF-WAY
All the action is being played around the half-way line at the moment as Tigers look to build phases but the referee blows for a knock-on and Calvisano have the scrum on half-way.
22
PHASES OF ITALIAN ATTACK
It's all Calvisano attack in that last action as Tigers defend the half-way line and just as it looks like there might be some space on the far wing a long pass is lost forward and Tigers have the scrum.
21
HIGH BALL CHALLENGE
Calvisano with the ball and the attack from the lineout before a chip ahead are challenged in the air by Andy Forsyth but the balls is lost forward and Calvisano have the scrum on half-way.
20
FORCED INTO TOUCH
TIgers with more good lineout ball and with phases in attack but at the play goes back towards the far touchline Tigers are pushed into touch for a Calvisano lineout.
19
PINNED BACK IN DEFENCE
Tigers are able to keep Calvisano back as the defence pushes Calvisano back into their 22 forcing them to kick clear for a Tigers lineout on their 10 metre line.
17
ALL ABOUT THE BREAKDOWN
It's another penalty at the breakdown as Tigers go forward in attack and get to the Calvisano 22 line but are penalised in the ruck to give Calvisano the scrum.
16
LOST LINEOUT BALL
Tigers lineout ball goes loose in the lineout and Calvisano are on the attack but a chip across field goes straight into touch and we are back for the Tigers lineout on the Calvisano 10 metre line.
CALVISANO LAND THE KICK
Calvisano have pointed to the posts and the 10 Paolo Pescetto lands the kick to make it 3-5 after 14 minutes.
14
CALVISANO WITH THE LINEOUT
Calvisano kick to touch for the lineout in Tigers 22. Calvisano are on the attack as they collect the ball and have phases going wide across the pitch but we are brought back by the referee for a penalty at the lineout and they point to the posts.
14
CALVISANO WITH THE LINEOUT
Calvisano kick to touch for the lineout in Tigers 22. Calvisano are on the attack as they collect the ball and have phases going wide across the pitch but we are brought back by the referee for a penalty at the lineout and they point to the posts.
12
KICKING CONTEST
We have some kicking back and forth as the penalty doesn't find touch and we both teams try kicking before we have another penalty for Calvisano.
9
LOST BALL AT THE BREAKDOWN
Tigers on the attack from the scrum but Calvisano are on the ball at the breakdown and win the penalty.
ANOTHER EARLY CHANGE
Another change early in today's match but this one for Calvisano as the six, Matteo Archetti is replaced by Andrea Martani.
9
IT'S A MESSY LINEOUT
The ball is lost in the lineout with ball going out of site of the press team here in the stand and the referee blows the whistle for a knock-on. Tigers have the scrum on the 10 metre line.
8
A FEW RESET SCRUMS
We have had a few restarts at the scrum before Calvisano get the ball away and win a penalty at the breakdown. Kick to touch gives Calvisano the lineout on their 10 metre line.
6
LOOSE PASS ON THE WING
Tigers win the ball at the lineout and create phases going out wide to the far touchline but a ball goes forward in the pass and Calvisano have the scrum on their 5 metre line.
EARLY CHANGE FOR TIGERS
Noel Reid is off the pitch early today as Jonny McPhillips makes his way on.
4
TIGERS NOW ON THE ATTACK
Tigers with phases and the ball from the lineout before a tackle off the ball gives Tigers another penalty, we kick for another lineout inside the Calvisano 22.
3
CALVISANO GO ON THE ATTACK
Calvisano with the ball and on the attack from the kick-off with play taking place in the middle of the pitch, TIgers win the penalty at the breakdown as Calvisano are holding onto the ball and we kick for the lineout again on the Calvisano 22.
2
MISSED CONVERSION
Tom Hardwick steps up for the kick but it just drifts wide to keep the score at 0-5 after 2 minutes.
FIRST TRY FOR TIGERS
Calvisano lose the ball in the lineout and Tigers are on the attack, The play goes out to the far touchline before being recycled and brought back with Sam Lewis taking long pass, finding space to run into the 22 and offload to Freddie Steward who scores in the corner.
0
EARLY KICK TO TOUCH
Calvisano kick the ball up the pitch to clear but it's Tigers who collect the ball and Tom Hardwick is able to find space and kicks for a lineout on the Calvisano 22.
WE HAVE KICK-OFF
Tigers and Hardwick kicks us off in Italy and our match against Calvisano is underway.
0
HERE ARE THE TEAMS
Sam Harrison leads out Tigers and the Calvisano team as we line-up for kick-off and Tom Hardwick has the ball to get us underway.
0
MINUTES AWAY
We are just a few minutes away from kick-off here in Italy and the Tigers team is as announced yesterday.
0
WELCOME TO MATCHDAY LIVE!
Welcome to Italy as Tigers take on Calvisano in Round 4 of the European Challenge Cup.
You can follow all the action as it happens with our Matchday Live coverage, right here on the Tigers App and LeicesterTigers.com.