Leicester Tigers scored three tries in a 27-8 victory over Wasps in a Mattioli Woods Welford Road derby on Saturday.
Victory took Tigers level on points with a Wasps team showing just one previous defeat on the road in the last 12 months going into Round 10 of the Gallagher Premiership season.
The game also featured three red cards, with Jasper Wiese sent off in the first half, to be joined by Wasps prop Kieran Brookes soon after the start of the second period - both for contact with the head of opponents - and then Hanro Liebenberg in the dying moments of the game.
It was Wiese who made the early breakthrough for Tigers as the hosts dominated territory for long periods and Zack Henry kept the scoreboard moving with three penalties for a 14-3 lead at the break.
The lead increased with a try from Tigers hooker Julian Montoya and then Tommy Reffell added a third late on after Tom Cruse had replied for Wasps.
Winter sunshine greeted the teams as Wasps were led out by lock Will Rowlands, back from international duty with Wales to make his 100th appearance the club, and it was Henry got the game started, kicking towards the Robin Hood Stand End.
The first penalty opportunity came from a Tomas Lavanini carry with three minutes gone and, with Julian Montoya steering a maul forward, the referee’s arm was raised again.
This time, Montoya threw in short to Lavanini, and Wiese instantly barged over in the corner. Henry’s conversion from the touchline drifted just wide.
Henry’s kick-chase stopped Matteo Minozzi on his own 10-metre line and the reward came in the form of a whistle as Lavanini contested on the floor. But Henry missed the target from 40 metres.
But Tigers’ pressure was unrelenting, with carries from Freddie Steward, Wiese and Lavanini keeping the opposition pinned back until Henry was handed another opportunity from the tee and his kick made it 8-0 on 15 minutes.
When Lavanini was penalised in the back of a ruck near halfway, Wasps finally had a chance to gain territory and when a second whistle followed for offside at the lineout, Jimmy Gopperth kicked the points.
Matias Moroni, who had got his hand on the ball several times in the opening phases of the game, showed his awareness in defence too as he fielded a kick in behind and his 70-metre clearance got Tigers going forward again.
The strength and footwork of Kini Murimurivalu provided an outlet around another good carry from Lavanini and, when Wasps were penalised at the breakdown contest, Henry added the kick to make it 11-3 on 24 minutes.
Wiese caught the restart on his own 22 and carried play straight upfield, bouncing off two defenders on the way and his pack colleagues almost forced over to score to the right of the posts. But referee Craig Maxwell-Keys was playing advantage for a penalty and when Tigers set up a set-piece drive on the right, Brink forced his way over the tryline.
The referee awarded the score before checking replays on Wiese’s collision with Ben Morris at the breakdown. Instead, the score was ruled out and Wiese shown red for contact with the head.
Brink quickly recovered to show his value in defence, meeting Malakai Fekitoa and then winning both ball and penalty on the floor.
Moments later Henry landed a 40-metre penalty to make it 14-3 and his forward pack defended that lead when they wrapped up a Wasps drive from a lineout in front of the dugouts just before half-time.
Calum Green, in his 50th Tigers appearance, caught the opening kick of the second half and Kobus van Wyk twice stepped in to claim high ball as Wasps prodded to get field position.
But the half was only two minutes old when Wasps also found themselves a man short, with former Tigers prop Kieran Brookes red-carded for shoulder to the head of Lavanini in a midfield tackle.
Matt Scott joined the back row of the Tigers scrum after Wasps knocked-on at a lineout inside their own 22 and when a penalty award followed, play stayed in the right-hand corner.
Another penalty followed and, from the lineout, Montoya gathered ball at the back of the maul as it drove over the line for his third score in four appearances to take the score to 19-3.
Counter-rucking led by Dan Cole earned another penalty on the opposite side of the field and Montoya went close again as he latched on to a dart from Wigglesworth in front of the posts before being taken to ground
The forwards made decent gains again before ball was spilled after some strong work in defence by visiting skipper Brad Shields. The scrum brought another Tigers penalty as Wasps tried to pick up at the base, but Henry pushed his kick wide of the far post.
From the restart, Henry responded with a testing kick which Jacob Umaga was unable to gather in front of his goalpost and Minozzi had to scramble back.
Wasps got their breakthrough when a penalty from Umaga found the right-hand corner and replacement hooker Tom Cruse reached out to dot down at full stretch. The conversion was missed, though, with the visitors 19-8 behind.
Moroni’s timing in midfield created some space for Kelly and Scott on the right touchline, but the referee adjudged the ball had gone forward just as space opened up. Play came back, though, for a high tackle and Henry’s kick made it 22-8.
A show-and-go from Henry almost took him over the tryline and Hanro Liebenberg wqs close to following up before Wasps swarmed over the ball and, when they tried to break out, Moroni’s tap tackle took Kibirige into touch just as he threatened to run clear.
Nephi Leatigaga showed his appetite for ball in attack with a couple of impressive carries, but Wasps had a chance as penalty ball took them forward until a knock-on around the Tigers 22.
A clever kick down the right from replacement Dan Kelly forced Josh Bassett to field almost on his own tryline and Tigers kept play there with a strong set-piece and a drive for the line finished by Reffell.
Johnny McPhillips, with his first touch of the ball as replacement for Henry, was just wide with the conversion attempt with just over a minute remaining on the clock.
As play restarted, Liebenberg collided with Bassett and, after the South African had recovered on the floor, he was became the third player to be shown a red card.
Wasps made us of the advantage to play on the Tigers tryline as they looked for some consolation from the trip along the M69 until Jack Van Poortvliet picked off possession without any further impression on the scoreboard.
Commentary
FULL-TIME | TIGERS 27-8 WASPS
Leicester Tigers record the win at Mattioli Woods Welford Road with tries Wiese, Montoya and Reffell, but the talking points will be the game's three red cards.
80
WASPS ONE FINAL DASH FOR THE LINE
Wasps throw everything at it with just 30 seconds left, we're into the 80th minute and Tigers have one last defensive job to do.
Tigers win the ball and are looking to go for the bonus-point, opting not to kick out to end the game.
We have a Tigers penalty, McPhillips finds touch.
LIEBENBERG SHOWN RED
Hanro Liebenberg is shown the red card for a tired tackle, with the ball in the air on Josh Bassett,
79
MCPHILLIPS MISSES CONVERSION
Johnny McPhillips misses the conversion attempt from out wide.
TIGERS LINE-OUT...IT'S COMING
You know what happens when Tigers go short from the line-out and it's Tommy Reffell who comes out with the ball in-hand from short.
76
KELLY NUDGES THE PRESSURE
A lovely grubber gets the bounce from Dan Kelly and Wasps are out under pressure in the right hand corner. It's a rushed kick clear and Tigers will take their time.
Youngs finds Liebenberg again and the maul forms. it's held up but walking forward. Tigers penalty as Wasps penalised for the bind.
74
TIGERS EASE PRESSURE AT SCRUM
Nephi Leatigaga showing his size at the scrum and Tigers can breath after some continued Wasps pressure.
Henry kicks to touch and the players walk over to the right wing, just passed the dugout.
It's thrown to the front from Tom Youngs, Scott and Moroni involved again and Liebenberg doing the dirty work.
72
WASPS COME AT TIGERS
Fekitoa and Kibirige finding space from the line-out thrown to the back, and Wasps looking to find something in the final ten minutes.
69
TIGERS REPLACEMENTS LINKING UP
Jack Van Poortvliet comes on for Richard Wigglesworth and Leatigaga, Youngs and Wells have a crack of the whip.
Wasps win the turnover over and Umaga kicks to release Kibirige, at it's an INCREDIBLE tap tackle by Matias Moroni who stops the break.
HENRY STRECTHES TIGERS LEAD
Henry finds the points from the tee and breaks his duck in the second half. Tigers lead extended 22-8 Wasps.
65
TIGERS MIDFIELD ALMOST FIND GAP
Moroni, Kelly and Scott all combine down the left flank but the referees spots a forward pass which will be looked at by the TMO. Tigers with the penalty advantage opt for the three points from the tee.
Henry to attempt the kick.
65
CONVERSION MISSED AND WASPS CLEAR LINES
Jimmy Gopperth misses the conversion.
Umaga seeing a lot of the ball to boot since the restart as Wasps and possesion switches back and forth.
WASPS TRY
Tom Willis gathers the line-out as Wasps try to out-maul Tigers and it works. Tom Cruise stretches out and finds the tryline.
62
WASPS UPPING MOMENTUM
Wasps are trying to get their game going, with Umaga puttinga high ball on Steward which is misjudged. The bounce favours Tigers as it just goes over the heads of the advancing Wasps backline.
Wasps still coming at Tigers, and kick into touch and its deep in the Tigers half five-metres out.
59
TIGER TRUST HIGH BOOT
The high ball is working well for Tigers as Steward and Henry put pressure on Wasps 15 Matteo Minozzi.
A few phase plays and Tigers with the ball in-hand, the kick is too long, so we'll come back for the scrum.
55
HENRY CONVERSION MISS
The choice doesn't come to fruition as Zack Henry misses the kick for Tigers. The score remains 19-3 in favour of Tigers.
55
TIGERS WIN SCRUM PENALTY
The fresh front row of Leatigaga, Youngs and Heyes do the business in the Wasps half and a huge roar erupts on the Tigers bench.
Henry will kick for the posts.
54
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR TIGERS
Tigers ball carriers seeing a lot of the ball with Lavinini, Leatigaga and Cole having a run. Wigglesworth with a beauty of an offload, but we'll go back for the scrum for the Wasps knock on.
Tigers midfield joins in with Moroni and Scott following suit. Wasps working hard and Brad Shields putting himself about. Ball still with Tigers, as they edge forward.
Murimurivalu almost grapples a loose ball but Nephi Leatigaga makes a forward pass and Wasps can breathe.
50
TIGERS HUNGRY FOR MORE
Tigers relentless at the moment as Umaga is caught by Moroni and have men over to win the penalty as the pressure proves too much for Wasps.
Henry kicks for touch.
48
HENRY MISSES CONVERSION
A tough angle from out wide for Henry proves too much as he misses the conversion, Tigers lead by 16 points.
MONTOYA TRY FOR TIGERS
Julian Montoya gets another Tigers try and it's the same move from the line-out. The driving maul does the damage and Montoya feels for the ball.
46
EAT SLEEP MAUL REPEAT
Wiggleworth with the feed and the pack wins the penalty. Henry in no doubt as he kicks right into the corner from close range.
Julian Montoya goes to the front, and the maul is on. Bodies fly in and the charge is stopped short, Lavanini tought he'd found a gap, the penalty advantage is given to Tigers.
We'll reset as Henry kicks to touch again.
43
14 v 14
Tigers now back with the ball in-hand following the restart. Henry nudges the ball to the far right flank and Liebenberg collects the maul from Montoya, and wins the penalty.
Tigers scrum around 10 metres out.
BROOKES SEES RED FOR WASPS
Kieran Brookes is shown a red card as he is deemed to make contact with the head in a challenge almost a replica of Jasper Wieses.
14 versus 14 now.
42
TIGERS SQUEEZING WASPS BACK
The Tigers backline are able to see off the Wasps attack, and quote happy to take the collisions walking up the metres.
The TMO will check what looks a high tackle by Wasps prop Kieran Brookes.
40
WASPS GET SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
Jimmy Gopperth kicks off the second half with neo changes on either side. Tigers expecting a tough half with the opposition with the man advantage.
HALF-TIME | TIGERS 14-3 WASPS
Scrum goes head-to-head and Vellocott finds Gopperth, who passes to wing Kibirige. Tigers are able to win the turnover and the ball moves across the half-way line.
Tigers still with the ball and Richard Wigglesworth winds down the clock and kicks clear as the 40 minute mark passes.
38
TIGERS LOOK TO END HALF ON FRONT FOOT
The Tigers pack aren't ready to slow down yet as the ball carriers get their hands on the ball, we'll have a scrum just in front of the dugouts with both benches making their voices heard.
36
WASPS CHARGE
There's a Wasps maul that gains almost 10 metres from the line-out, but Tigers do well to revert the pressure and the penalty is lost by Wasps as the Tigers pack pat each other on the back.
HENRY KICKS PENALTY
Zack Henry keeps totting up the points as the 14-men of Tigers extend their lead. Tigers 14-3 Wasps.
34
'LINE-OUT'-OFF
Both teams with quick fire line-outs and Wasps have it out the back, Brooks runs and then Shields collects. Fekitoa has a run, but the Tigers defence in control.
Montoya with the resulting line-out. The rolling maul forms off Hanro Liebenberg. Wigglesworth finds, Henry, who finds Moroni, with Steward getting involved. Leicester penalty however as Tom West is the culprit.
30
TIGERS FIGHTING TO SEE OUT HALF
Wasps have the man advantage now and will look to make that count, Cyle Brink wins the Tigers penalty at the breakdown and Henry finds touch out right.
Montoya goes to Lavanini at the front, the phases begin, but Wasps win the penalty and the resulting breakdown.
Gopperth launches it out to Tigers right.
JASPER WIESE SHOWN RED FOR HIGH CHARGE
Jasper Wiese is shown a red card and Tigers try is chalked off. It's a high charge and he connects with the head of the Wasps player and there's no mistake when shown on the big screens.
27
TRY | TIGERS THROW IN THE KITCHEN 'BRINK'
Tigers have another try and Cyle Brink goes over from short distance following fantastic drives from the Tigers front row. Tigers have their second try of the day.
Or maybe not...the officials go over to the TMO...
26
TIGERS NOT SLOWING UP
Tigers come back from the restart as Wiese gallops forward with a thunderous drive. Moroni almost able to use his feet but Wasps find touch.
Line-out releases the phase and Montoya and De Bruin make the short yards. Another Tigers penalty and Henry finds touch out to the left on the five metre line.
HENRY PENALTY FOR TIGERS
Henry kicks his second penalty of the day to extend Tigers lead to 11-8 after having a second attempt following some confusion between the officials.
22
TIGERS ASCENDENSCY UPFRONT
Tigers keeping the pressure and pounding the Wasps backline. Murimurivalu and Matt Scott receiving the ball on the run.
Lavanini gets involved and Kobus Van Wyk now. He's tackled, Henry finds Cole and Wasps doing well to walk back the Tigers attack.
But the penalty is finally given away, and Henry opts for the posts again.
18
GOPPERTH WITH THE POINTS
An amend it was Jimmy Gopperth who kicked Wasps penalty points from the tee.
WASPS FIRST POINTS
Charlie Atkinson kicks the first points of the afternoon for Wasps. Tigers 8-3 Wasps.
17
WASPS RESTART
Wasps have the penalty just in their own half and kick to the touchline. There's a second given away in the breakdown following the line-out.
Chance for Wasps to kick to the posts.
HENRY GETS POINTS FROM THE TEE
Zack Henry makes amends for his earlier miss and drills the ball between the posts as Tigers lead extends to 8-0.
14
HURRY HURRY MURIMURIVALU
The Fijian winger collects a poor kick from the Wasps restart and Tigers can keep the pressure on.
We get the advantage as Wasps are caught out in defence again. Some strong carries from Steward and Wiese again,
13
TIGERS PHASE PLAY
Steward sets up a midfield phase that keeps the ball with Leicester as Matt Scott and Matais Moroni combine again. Ball is lost to Wasps, but quickly turnover again.
Ball in the centre of the filed with Wigglesworth pulling the strings, kicks long and the mark is called by Wasps.
10
STRONG OPENING TEN FOR TIGERS
After some scrappy catches the ball is in Tigers favour. Lavnini knocks on, and Vellacott feeds the scrum, but we have a few handbags as tempers boil over.
The scrum resets. Willis collects but Wigglesworth in quick and are able to kick clear from their own line,
7
HENRY MISSES PENALTY
A rare miss from Henry however in the windy conditions.
Wiese and Willis going head-to-head at 8 and the ball back with Tigers.
Scott and Moroni combine, and Murimurivalu almost takes advatnage, Wasps ball.
6
WASPS RESPONSE
Richard Wigglesworth feeds the scrum following the Wasps mistake from the restart.
He opts to box-kick and puts pressure on Monozzi for Wasps.
Wasps with the ball as Gaskell attempts to go forward, but it's another penalty and Henry will go for the posts.
TIGERS TRY GIVEN FOR WIESE
The TMO awards the try and Jasper Wiese gets another try in Tigers colours in the corner.
Henry misses the kick from a tough angle out wide.
Tigers lead by five points to nil.
4
QUICK THROW UNDOES WASPS
The TMO will have the final say but it looks like the quick throw from the set-piece by Montoya to Lavanini and the maul forms.
Jasper Wiese touches down in the corner, but we'll have confirmation soon....
4
TIGERS LINE-OUT
Julian Montoya with the line-out following Henry's kick to the corner and the maul forms, but Wasps retort.
Matias Moroni tries the long throw out wide but Van Wyk is in touch, but we have the penalty advantage. Another kick into the corner.
2
GAME'S FIRST SCRUM
We'll have the first scrum following the knock-on, with Ben Vellacott deputising at 9 for Wasps. Wasps go long out the back and Steward collects.
Wigglesworth with ball in hand, and Henry opts for a kick and win the chase, and the following penalty through Tomas Lavanini.
1
TIGERS ON THE ATTACK FROM THE OFF
It's Tigers pressure in the first few moments following the kick-off from Zach Henry. The forwards do the chasing and Wasps are able to make metres up the pitch. A quick stop in play as the Wasps 6 gets treatment.
TIGERS HAVE THE KO | ROUND 10 UNDERWAY
Leicester Tigers get things underway with Zach Henry kicking things off as Tigers attack the Nottingham Building Society stand.
0
PLAYERS WARMED UP
Both teams make their way into the changing rooms on a blustery Saturday afternoon. Warm-ups done and the teams announced,
We're just over five minutes from KO.
0
#TIGERSATHOME – SEND YOUR SNAPS
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Everyone who shares their #TigersAtHome photos (or videos) will be automatically entered into our prize draw ahead of each home fixture to win a Matchday Pack worth £100.
0
WASPS LINE-UP
See how our opponents line up...
Wasps: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Ben Vellacott; 1 Tom West, 2 Tommy Taylor, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Will Rowlands, 5 James Gaskell, 6 Brad Shields (c), 7 Ben Morris, 8 Tom Willis.
Reps: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Ben Harris, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Levi Douglas, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Alex Schwarz, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Michael Le Bourgeois
0
THE HOME TEAM LINE-UP
0
TIGERS WINNERS LAST TIME ROUND
Last season’s corresponding meeting, in February 2020 just weeks before lockdown started, ended in an 18-9 win for Tigers.
Overall the teams have met on 106 previous occasions, with Leicester winning 62 to 39 and five games drawn.
This is the 49th meeting at Mattioli Woods Welford Road where Tigers have won 40.
The most recent away win by Wasps was in September 2016.
0
FOUR POINTS BETWEEN RIVALS
There’s just four points between the near-neighbours with Leicester Tigers having lost just once at home since early December – against Sale Sharks last month – and the last eight Gallagher Premiership meetings have been won by the home side on the day.
Wasps bounced back from successive defeats to win 17-13 win away to Worcester Warriors last weekend and have lost just once on the road in any competition – at Gloucester in Round 2 – during the last 12 months.
0
TIGERS WELCOME WASPS IN ROUND 10
It’s Saturday. It’s 2.30pm. It’s matchday here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as Leicester Tigers host Wasps in Round 10 of the Gallagher Premiership.
Join us for all the action as it happens on the Leicester Tigers official app.