Leicester Tigers came from behind in the final quarter to beat London Irish 21-16 at the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday and extend their unbeaten start to the season.
Irish, noted as a second-half team in the opening matches of the season, actually led 6-5 at half-time despite falling behind to Nic Dolly’s fourth try of the season on the 20-minute mark.
Going into the weekend top of the table, Tigers were then 9-5 down early in the second half after a third penalty from Paddy Jackson but went in front again when Hanro Liebenberg finished some strong work from the forwards with the second try.
Irish, though, replied soon afterwards when hooker Agustin Creevy powered over from a lineout and it remained tight, even more so when Ford’s penalty made it 16-15 approaching the last quarter of an hour.
Ford, though, was back on the mark on 72 minutes as Tigers built on some possession in the Exiles 22 and then the visitors coolly ticked down time at that end of the field, with the fly-half adding his third kick in the final minutes to ensure a successful trip south.
After successive wins over Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester and Saracens, Tigers were looking to make it four in a row from the start of the season for the first time since 2000/01 against an Irish side without a win despite being the top tryscorers in the league so far.
Club captain Ellis Genge led out the Tigers with Matt Scott, Harry Potter and Nemani Nadolo also recalled to the starting line-up and boosted by the presence of Argentina captain Julián Montoya in the squad for the first time this season. Marco van Staden, a new arrival from international duty with the Springboks, was given his debut as a second-half replacement.
Former Tigers duo Steve Mafi and Terrence Hepetema started for Irish on a sunny afternoon in the capital.
Tigers started with aggressive defence which kept Irish inside their own half for decent spells before making a breakthrough following a scrum penalty which allowed Dolly to steer a lineout drive over the line in the right-hand corner.
Ben Youngs needed to be alert at the other end moments later when Irish wing Ben Loader kicked in behind the defence. But, after resisting two attacking lineouts in the corner, Tigers were penalised and Paddy Jackson kicked his team’s opening points of the afternoon on 26 minutes.
Tigers were guilty of missing a couple of opportunities after phases of possession in Irish territory, knocking-on in front of the posts, being tackled into touch on the left and then when Ford pushed a penalty wide just after the half-hour mark.
Jackson, though, made the most of his next sight of goal, putting Irish in front just before half-time though Tigers could count themselves unfortunate as Harry Potter slipped in possession and colleague Juan Pablo Socino was whistled at the breakdown.
There was still time for a reply, with Tigers putting a penalty into the left-hand corner. But when lineout ball was lost, referee Adam Leal blew against the visitors and then marched them back in an untidy end to the opening period with the Exiles 6-5 in front.
Another Jackson kick extended that lead in the opening stages of the second period before Liebenberg’s try, converted by Ford, saw the lead revert to the visitors.
But Jackson turned down a shot at goal to go to the corner soon afterwards and got his rewards when Creevy got the Irish try, which the fly-half converted from wide on the left.
That set up an interesting close and, with Julian Montoya and van Staden adding fresh impetus up front for Tigers, three penalties from Ford and a controlled finish secured another four points for Steve Borthwick’s men.
Commentary
80
HAPPY TRAVELLERS
It was a hard-fought afternoon with Tigers coming from behind in the final quarter to close out a fourth win in a row from the start of the season for the fist time since 2000/01.
Thank you to all of the travelling supporters too in Brentford. See you again nextweek!
WINNING FEELING
Tries from Dolly & Liebenberg as Tigers win 21-16 at London Irish.
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ACROSS THE FIELD
Tigers making their tackles, blocking Irish progress and forcing an error. Playing down time in the opposition half. We've got a scrum on their 10m line. Still 5 points in front.
Neat work at the lineout between Montoya and Liebenberg leads to a penalty for Tigers with the clock ticking down...
Ford says posts from about 35 metres. And he nails it as Tigers go into a 21-16 lead.
73
DIGGING IN
Two big tackles in defence.
The first forces an Irish knock-on, the second from van Staden stops their counter-attack near halfway.
IN FRONT
A tackle off the ball after Wells and Montoya get Tigers going forward again in the Irish 22.
Referee spots it and Ford knocks over the kick to put Tigers 18-16 ahead.
68
SO CLOSE
Tigers force an error from the Irish defence and Socino almost puts Potter in. But the hosts recover quickly to block progress.
64
BACKLINE SWITCH
Burns on for Porter and lines up at full-back, Steward goes to the right wing.
Penalty from Ford after Irish done for not releasing in the tackle.
It was van Staden who was the carrier and Dell gets on the wrong side of the ref.
Makes it a one-point game at 16-15 to Irish.
60
MORE CHANGES
Leatigaga on fior Genge, Snyman on for Green.
Freddie Steward having physio treatment after a slip near the touchline.
Irish have made six of their changes by this point too.
Jackson adds the kick for a four-point lead at 16-12.
QUICK REPLY
Try for Irish from a lineout on the left. The hooker Agustin Creevy forces his way over at the back of the set-piece and they are in front again.
53
CHANGES
Wigglesworth and Porter are on for Youngs and Scott.
Ford adds the conversion, with half an hour left on the clock Tigers are 12-9 in front.
HANRO MAKES IT COUNT
TRY from Hanro Liebenberg.
From the lineout in the corner, Montoya is the first on the ball and when the maul comes down just short, Hanro picks up and finds his way to the tryline.
Tigers are back in front.
49
PENALTY ONLY
Referee has a look at Jackson's knock-on and says penalty.
Tigers turn down a shot at the posts and go to the right corner.
48
THREAT IN ATTACK
Tigers get the ball moving across the backline with clever work from Socino and Ford. In the end Ben Youngs is just short.
But play comes back for a knock-on from a defender. It's Jackson in the frame and the referee wants to take a closer look.
47
WELCOME
Marco van Staden is on for his Tigers debut and Julian Montoya is on in the front row, replacing Reffell and Dolly.
UP AND OVER
Opening points of the second half go to the hosts as Tigers are penalised at a breakdown on their own 10m line. Paddy Jackson kicks to make it 9-5.
43
RADIO RENTALS
Quick repairs to the referee's comms system as the packs come together for a Tigers scrum on the Exiles' 10m line.
41
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Irish kick off the second half, Paddy Jackson hoisting the ball towards Hanro Liebenberg with the hosts 6-5 in front at Brentford Community Stadium.
HALF TIME
The home side lead by one-point at the break.
40
TIME IS UP
Untidy end to the first half with Tigers penalised in attack and then marched back before Irish error near halfway brings it to a close with the Exiles 6-5 in front.
Two penalties from Paddy Jackson and a try from Nic Dolly.
COSTLY SLIP
Penalty against Tigers as they look to clear their own 22. Potter slipped in possession and Socino pinged at the breakdown.
Jackson puts Irish in front from the 22 with his second kick of the day.
33
MISSED
Ford off target with a penalty from 35 metres. A let-off for the Exiles after being penalised at a maul. TIgers still 5-3 in front.
ON THE BOARD
Penalty from Paddy Jackson on the edge of the 22 after Tigers interference at the breakdown. He kicks his side's opening points of the afternoon.
25
HELD UP
Tigers under pressure from a lineout in the corner. Calum Green holds the first push then Ben Youngs tackles just in front of the line before Irish are held up over the line. Under new rules, Tigers have the drop-out.
22
GOOD COVER
Ben Youngs has to race across to scoop up ball just 5m from his own tryline as Irish attack down their right.
21
OFF TARGET
Ford doesn't add the extras after Dolly's try with his conversion from the right touchline going wide. Tigers 5-0 up on halfway through the first half.
BREAKTHROUGH
Guess who from a maul close to the tryline? Nic Dolly steers the ship towards the line and dots down for the first points of the afternoon. His fourth try of the season.
13
GOOD TIMING
Jackson finds Hepetema out wide on the left for Irish with a cross-kick but Freddie Steward sees the danger and takes the former Leicester man into touch.
A quick break has Potter on the chase down the wing and now it's a Tigers attacking scrum.
11
IMPACT
George Martin times his run on to the ball perfectly and takes a number of defenders with him as he takes Tigers forward. Wells carries to the left too but Nadolo is taken into touch out wide.
8
UNDER REPAIR
Physio treatment for van der Merwe in the Irish front row and also for Harry Potter, both getting patched up.
It's another Irish scrum, just inside the Tigers 22.
5
DEFENSIVE WORK
The 50-22 from Paddy Jackson creates a platform for Irish. They go right to left but there's a knock-on from Tigers in defence.
Referee Adam Leal wants to have another look... Knock-on as in the act of the tackle and play will start with an Irish scrum, just 10m out on their left.
1
READY FOR KICK-OFF | London Irish v Tigers
Ellis Genge leads outs the Tigers who are in white and orange today.
Irish follow, out of the shadows of the tunnel into the sunshine.
George Ford gets the game started with Tigers kicking right to left as we look at it from the dugouts if that helps you get your bearings.
0
Less than 10 minutes to kick-off and the Tigers have completed the warm-up.
There are plenty of travelling supporters here, everyone now counting down to kick-off.
We will bring you all the latest right here on Matchday Live.
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HOW TIGERS LINE UP
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Ellis Genge (c), 2 Nic Dolly, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green, 6 George Martin, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Hanro Liebenberg.
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Nephi Leatigaga, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Guy Porter
0
TODAY'S OPPOSITION
London Irish: 15 Tom Parton, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Nick Phipps, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 4 Steve Mafi, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Matt Rogerson (c), 7 Ben Donnell, 8 Albert Tuisue.
Replacements: 16 Matt Cornish, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 George Nott, 21 Sean O’Brien, 22 Hugh O’Sullivan, 23 Benhard van Rensburg
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FULL COLOUR
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MATCH PREVIEW | ROUND 4
Leicester Tigers return to the Brentford Community Stadium to face London Irish in Round 4 of the Gallagher Premiership season.
Tigers were the first official visitors to the Exiles’ new home a year ago, when they were beaten 22-9.
Irish lost narrowly at Northampton last time out (23-21) and shared the points in a draw with Sale Sharks in their last home game.
Tigers have begun the season with three successive wins, beating Saracens last weekend when a late penalty try sealed a 13-12 victory. They have not won four in a row from the start of the season since 2000/01.
The last five matches between Tigers and Irish have all gone with home field advantage.
Former Tigers favourite Steve Mafi is included in the Irish forward pack, while Terrence Hepetema is included in the backline but Ben White misses out on a reunion with former team-mates this week.
Ellis Genge and fellow internationals Nemani Nadolo, Matt Scott and Freddie Steward return to the Tigers starting line-up and Steve Borthwick gives a first start to Juan Pablo Socino.
South Africa international back-rower Marco van Staden is in line for his club debut and Argentina captain Julián Montoya also returns from international duty.
Read all the important facts and stats in our full match preview HERE.
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IT'S MATCHDAY
Welcome to Matchday Live from Leicester Tigers versus London Irish at the Brentford Community Stadium in Round 4 of the Gallagher Premiership season this afternoon. Kick-off is at 3.00pm.
Follow all the action with our Matchday Live coverage right here on the Tigers App and LeicesterTigers.com.