Leicester Tigers have fallen to Harlequins 29-25 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
A classic Gallagher Premiership encounter, Harlequins took more of their opportunities than Tigers to take victory, Leicester forced to rue mistakes at crucial points in a game where they were in the contest for the full eighty minutes.
Harlequins were first to cross in what was a thrilling opening half, Alex Dombrandt sneaking over from close range.
Tigers flyhalf Handre Pollard got Leicester on the board off the tee, but ‘Quins would edge further ahead in the 15th minute, Dino Lamb scoring from similar distance to the first, Marcus Smith converting to make it 12-3.
The home side were fighting for every inch, and the spark in attack would come in the 20th minute, as a piercing Tigers attack saw captain Hanro Liebenberg dive over for a cracking try out wide.
Pollard uncharacteristically missed the conversion, but would make no mistake with the next kick as Freddie Steward strolled over in the opposite corner to Liebenberg for Tigers second try, Tigers edging into the lead 15-12.
‘Quins were last to score in the first half, Tyrone Green scoring a super try to make it 17-12 at the break.
Leicester looked the more likely to score after half-time, and after a couple excellent touches, Steward was on hand to finish off another slick Tigers move to score in the corner.
Harlequins looked threatening every time they attacked however, and it wasn’t long before Will Porter was over in the corner. Smith converted to make it 24-22.
Pollard would edge Tigers back in front, but the telling blow would come in the 70th minute at Lamb burrowed his way over the line for the winning try.
Tigers’ attack produced enough opportunities to turn the tide in the closing minutes, but the final pass just wouldn’t come and the score remained 29-25.
Commentary
LEICESTER DEFEATED AT HOME
Leicester Tigers go down in a tight one, 25-29, to Harlequins in front of more than 20,000 fans at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
79
SIXTY SECONDS REMAINING
Leicester on the attack, inside their own half, with sixty seconds left on the clock.
75
FIVE AND FIVE
Five points in it with five minutes remaining in Leicester...
Can the home side claw it back?
TRY | HARLEQUINS
Dino Lamb has a second and, with that, takes Harlequins back into the lead with 10 minutes on the clock.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Leicester take back the lead, with 14 minutes remaining, through the boot of Handré Pollard.
CHANGES FOR TIGERS
Solomone Kata is replaced in the midfield by Matt Scott, who is on for his first appearance of the campaign, while Emeka Ilione is also injected into the action in place of Matt Rogerson.
CON | HARLEQUINS
Harlequins lead by two points, with 25 minutes remaining, after Marcus Smith makes it 22-24 with a successful conversion.
TRY | HARLEQUINS
We are level in Leicester after a break from the base of the ruck by Will Porter sends the scrum-half into space and over the score.
CHANGES UP FRONT
James Cronin and Will Hurd are brought on in the Leicester front row in place of Francois van Wyk and Dan Cole.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Leicester's lead is extended to five points, 22-17, with a golf swing like conversion from the southern touchline by Handré Pollard.
TRY | FREDDIE STEWARD
Freddie Steward has a second for the afternoon, six minutes into the second-half, after quck hands deliver the score out wide.
BACK IN ACTION IN LEICESTER
We are up and running for the second-half at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
TIGERS TRAIL AT THE BREAK
Leicester Tigers are down by two, 15-17, at the break.
TRY | HARLEQUINS
The visitors score with the clock in red in the first half, through Tyrone Green, on the end of some slick, quick hands off a midfield scrum.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard extends Leicester's lead to three points (15-12) with a sideline conversion, much to the delight of the home crowd in the 34th minute.
TRY | FREDDIE STEWARD
Back in action for the club and back on the scoreboard... Freddie Steward goes over in the North-West corner after a beautiful pass from Handré Pollard, on the back of successive dominant scrums from Leicester.
30
SCRUM-PTIOUS
The loudest cheer of the day comes after a penalty is blown in favour of Tigers and Hanro Liebenberg opts for a scrum in front of the Harlequins posts, 5m out.
25
PRESSURE BEING APPLIED
After the home side owning the ball for much of the first quarter, Harlequins have had the bulk of possession in the past five minutes and continue to throw everything at Tigers.
But, the home side are holding on and sending 'Quins away through some desperate defence.
TRY | HANRO LIEBENBERG
The skipper dives over in the corner, in spectacular fashion, to get Leicester's first of the afternoon and make it a four-point game (8-12) after 20 minutes.
CON | HARLEQUINS
Marcus Smith extends the 'Quins lead to nine, 3-12, with a sideline conversion in the 16th minute.
TRY | HARLEQUINS
Harlequins have a second, again one off the ruck on the back of patient work from their pack, as Dino Lamb slams it down.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard is on the scoreboard for the new league season with a successful penalty-goal attempt from the Leicester fly-half cutting the deficit to two points, 3-5, in the 8th minute.
5
CONVERSION MISSED
Marcus Smith unable to add the extras, as his attempt comes back off the uprights, which means it remains a five-point game after five minutes.
TRY | HARLEQUINS
The away side, on the back of a patient build-up, cross through No.8 Alex Dombrandt.
UNDERWAY IN LEICESTER
Handré Pollard gets us going at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!