Post-Match Chat | Hanro Liebenberg
Leicester Tigers have fallen in a dramatic contest at Mattioli Woods Welford Road 21-19 against Bristol Bears.
A try in the final minute sealed a final-quarter comeback for Bears as Tigers couldn’t hold on after losing Mike Brown to a late red card.
Tigers shot out of the blocks, pinning Bristol in their half, forcing penalty at the maul and breakdown.
Eventually, after repeated infringements, Bristol lost winger Gabriel Ibitoye to the sin-bin, and Tigers made full advantage of the numbers advantage, Dan Kelly throwing a beautiful pass to assist Ollie Hassell-Collins.
Handré Pollard converted to make it 7-0 just before the 20-minute mark.
Bristol then found their feat, and Tigers lost Mike Brown to bin as well. After Ibitoye returned, the Bears looked to have made the numbers advantage count but a forward pass ruled out the try.
Tigers recovered and worked out of their end and Brown returned to the field.
Both sides had chances to attack, Tigers probably having the more clear cut opportunities to score but it would stay 7-0 at the break.
Leicester were first out of the traps in the second period, showing the same determination in defence as the first half.
Defensive pressure resulted in a set-piece deep in Bristol territory and a brilliant pass from Freddie Steward saw Hassell-Collins go over again.
Pollard couldn’t find the extras, 12-0 after 50 and Tigers weren’t finished.
Fresh bodies gave the side a lift, and it was Francois van Wyk who would bury his head under Bears defenders to score. Pollard made it 19-0 with 20 to play.
With just over 10 to play, Bears through Max Lahiff got their first score of the day.
Tigers then lost Brown to a second yellow card, the veteran being shown a red in his return to the starting side.
Bears then drew the game to one score, again through Lahiff and the boot of MacGinty, the score now 19-14.
A final blow in the comeback came as time hit red, and Bears scored to sink Tigers at full-time. MacGinty converted to make it 21-19 at full-time.
Commentary
FULL TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
Leicester Tigers lead for almost the entire match but fall with the clock in the red to an in-form Bristol Bears, who capitalise on their man advantage to claim victory.
Full time score: Leicester Tigers 19 - 21 Bristol Bears
CONVERSION | BRISTOL BEARS
AJ Macginty slots the conversion, Bears take the win.
TRY | BRISTOL BEARS
The visitors complete the comeback, a break from deep allowing for a series of relentless carries that eventually sees the Bears touch down.
CONVERSION | BRISTOL BEARS
And Macginty adds the extras, reducing the defecit.
Just five points seperate the sides, with five minutes to play.
TRY | BRISTOL BEARS
And the Bears take advantage.
A penalty well inside their half was kicked superbly by Macginty to give his side territory deep into Tigers' 22, Bears launching into phase play straight from the top.
They crash against the line and Tigers try to hold on before replacement Lahiff is driven over for his second score.
RED CARD | MIKE BROWN
A second yellow card is shown to Mike Brown, this time for a high tackle, and so the veteran is consequently sent off.
CONVERSION | BRISTOL BEARS
Macginty adds the extras with a straightforward kick, narrowing the gap to 12 points.
TRY | BRISTOL BEARS
However, the door can't stay bolted forever and the pressure tells here.
Phases after phase after phase the Tigers repel, a massive shift from all involved but eventually Bears squeeze out a score, replacement prop Lahiff finding the smallest modicum of space to touch down on the line.
68
SUPERB DEFENCE FROM CHESSUM
Tigers' defence has been immeasurable today and once again they bust a gut to stop what looked like a surefire score.
The visitors squeeze through an inch of space and look to dive benath the posts but Chessum has galloped back and intercepts the breaking player to halt the play.
Bears try to capitalise just a handful of metres out but are repelled time and again until a penalty is called over ten phases in.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
A simple conversion for the Springbok.
TRY | FRANCOIS VAN WYK
Tigers get their third!
A barrage of carries are volleyed in across the centre of the field as the forwards grit their teeth and demand those incremental metres.
Finally, it's replacement prop van Wyk who touches down after carrying barely an inch but showing great awarness to spot the whitewash and slam the ball home.
SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS
That turnover will be the captain's last actions as Montoya is replaced by Charlie Clare, while it's also time for van Poortvliet to exit the field, replaced by Tom Whiteley.
59
INCREDIBLE DEFENCE
The Tigers Family are ROARING at a packed Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Bears had pulled off a slick move down the right hand side, fullback Rich Lane steaming through with two support runners either side.
However, he hadn't accounted for van Poortvliet, the scrum half haring back at breakneck pace and making a vital tackle before any final touch could be made to what was surely a certain score.
From here, Montoya has worked his socks off to get back and he clears out to suddenly turn the ball over and give Steward a platform to clear.
The fullback then takes his opportunity to step on the gas, haring after the ball and forcing a wayward pass that is again knocked on, granting Tigers a scrum just out side the Bears 22 and a net gain of around 50 metres, all from the hard work of the home side.
SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS
Two changes in the front row as Cole and Cronin leave the field, to a standing ovation from the Breedon Stand, to be replaced by Francois van Wyk and Will Hurd.
52
BIG TURNOVER IN MIDFIELD
Bears look to play their way out of their own half but a perfectly executed shot from Tommy Reffell drives back centre van Rensburg by almost ten metres and allows Cole to secure the ball,well into Bears' half.
49
CONVERSION MISSED | Handré Pollard
A difficult kick can't quite curl inside and flashes by the posts.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
A second of the afternoon for the wing!
Here, Tigers pack down for a rock solid scrum and play flat to the line, granting Hassell-Collins plenty of space to work with out wide.
The speedster does the rest, picking a wide angle and having too much in the tank as he dives over in front of a jubilant Europcar stand.
46
SLIPPERY CONDITIONS COMING INTO PLAY
Bears have retrieved the ball and look to make a it upfield but their trademarked offloading game doesnt quite come off today, with a couple of critical knock ons keeping them penned in their own 22.
THE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY
Handré Pollard kicks things off as the second half of action begns.
Bears clear it right back to Tigers who look to attack early, great width to Hassell-Collins before a crashing line from Wiese.
HALF TIME HERE AT HOME
Tigers go in with a seven point advantage as an entertaining half, moreso than a low scoreline would suggest, comes to an end.
Both sides have had plenty of chances to build a lead but stellar defence has thwarted these opportunities, bar Hassell-Collins' opening try.
Half time score: Leicester Tigers 7 - 0 Bristol Bears
34
BEARS TOUGH TO BREAK DOWN
Tigers had been building well but unable to penetrate a watertight Bears defence.
Carries were flying in all over the Bears 22, first a fearless hard line from Dan Kelly before smash and grabs from Martin and Montoya.
But once again the visitors manage to turn it over at a crucial juncture, thieving the ball at the ruck and breaking to halfway, where a subsequent knock on halts their momentum.
From the scrum, Hassell-Collins makes a tremendous break down the left and we're back up to the visitors 22 as they scramble back to cover.
34
TIGERS RIGHT ON THE BEARS LINE
Tigers get oh so close, punching lines in midfield before an attempt to go wide gets them inches from the whitewash before being fielded into touch.
Mike Brown returns to the field following the completion of his sin bin period and Tigers defend the resulting Bears lineout brilliantly, forcing a knock on and meaning there's a five metre attacking scrum to the hosts.
30
MONSTER KICK FROM POLLARD
Another titanic clash at scrum time sees Wiese pick up from the base and make five metres with Harry Randall attached to him.
The play is called back for a penalty though and Pollard hits a huge kick to go from 22 to 22.
27
TRY DISALLOWED | BRISTOL BEARS
The visitors almost pull a fast one from the resulting line out, a quick one-two between hooker and first reciever seeing Gabriel Oghre go over.
However, upon further review, the ball travelled forward and it's a Tigers scrum on the 22.
24
VITAL TURNOVER
After Brown's yellow card, Bears had built play to just five metres out.
However a rushing defence allowed the forwards to fly over the ball and rip it right back, freeing space for Pollard to relieve pressure for the moment with a clearance to around 25 metres out.
Additionally, wing Ibitoye has returned from his time in the sin bin.
YELLOW CARD | MIKE BROWN
Brown is shown yellow for an intentional slap down in open play.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
The Springbok slots a difficult quick with aplomb and Tigers extend their lead.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
Tigers capitalise with the game's opening score!
They use the full width of the field, soft hands forging a two on one on the left hand touchline before a whipped, ranging ball finds wing Hassell-Collins in the corner to touch down.
YELLOW CARD | BRISTOL BEARS
Wing Gabriel Ibitoye is shown to the sin bin after an offside call while defending.
15
SCRUM SHOWDOWN
Former front row partners Dan Cole and Ellis Genge come face to face for the first time this afternoon.
Tigers have the put in and a mammoth shove and they win a penalty for their efforts.
They play advantage and probe at the Bears defence but, after an infringement, play is called back.
10
TRY DISALLOWED| Julián Montoya
Tigers have four line outs in quick succession, keen to capitalise on their deadly rolling maul.
The first goes awry but the team go coast to coast, a grubber through resulting in a Bears player tackled to touch.
The second sees a van Poortvliet snipe just an inch away but the ref calls the play back.
The third sees Montoya go over to a monstrous roar but further review shows his foot was just in touch.
Finally, the ball gets played out the back but Bears cover well and turn it over.
5
50.22 KLAXON!
Tigers attack in waves, with the highlight an astute pick and go from Ollie Chessum almost sees the lock break through, Bears scrambling to cover.
However, Tigers fumble the ball with hands down the line and the visitors capitalise, kicking upfield and putting pressure on the Tigers defence.
Although Bears get the ball back and look to break quickly, Liebenberg intercepts cannilily and Freddie Steward hits a monster 50.22 to put the pressure on Bears on their own line.
KICK OFF
The visitors get us underway, fly half AJ Macginty kicking us off.
Tigers win an early line out in their own half through astute defence before Jasper Wiese earns a penalty after a big carry.
A big kick up field and Tigers have a line out on the Bears 22.
-5
FIVE MINUTES TO GO!
It's almost time for kick off here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!
The teams have been announced and both sides enter the changing rooms.
We're sold out here at home today for what should be a cracking game of rugby!
Lily thinks today will be a tough game but predicts a Tigers win with scores from Handré Pollard and (maybe) Dan Cole.
-10
MILESTONES APLENTY TODAY
Today's starting XV sees a couple of milestone figures reached as well as a welcome return.
Firstly, George Martin returns to the second row for his first start since the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, partnering Ollie Chessum.
Further back in the pack, Hanro Liebenberg is set for his 100th Leicester Tigers start.
Finally, further forward, Dan Cole is set for his mammoth 250th Leicester Tigers start, just one week after the prop broke Graham Rowntree's record for the most league appearances in Tigers history.
The Colar bear is also Lily's favourite Tigers player!
-15
FOLLOW ALONG LIVE!
Whether you're heading down to Tigers HQ to watch from the stands, tuning in to PRTV to watch live from your living room or sticking with us here on Matchday Live you won't miss a second of the action.
So head for a Pukka Pie from the bars or pop the kettle on and get cosy on the couch, we're just fifteen minutes away from Gallagher Premiership rugby!
-20
SLIPPERY CONDITIONS HERE TODAY
As Lily has just pointed out, it's cloudy, windy and in real danger of rain here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road so we'll have to see how these conditions affect the action here.
-25
IT'S JTC TAKEOVER DAY!
Today we celebrate the future of Leicester Tigers as the Junior Tigers Club takes over.
JTC members are helping out in the grounds team, the announcing team and even here on Matchday Live as we're joined Lily Ella!
-30
THIRTY MINUTES TILL KICK OFF!
It's just half an hour until we're underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!
Dan Cole makes his 250th Leicester Tigers start today as Tigers get set to play Bristol Bears in Round 16 of the Gallagher Premiership.