Leicester Tigers tackled their way to a three-point, 22-25, win over London Irish in Round 18 of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season.
In a match that saw the lead change hands five times, Leicester scored three tries on their way to victory - a second successive for Tigers in the league after last weekend's win over Saracens at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Tigers trailed at half-time, an opening forty minutes that included two denied scores for the visitors and a spell with 14 men after a Harry Potter yellow card, but fought their way back to the front on the scoreboard and held on in the dying stages to overcome an Irish fightback.
The visitors finished the game with just over 40% of possession and having made almost 200 tackles, 60 more than The Exiles in a bruising, entertaining encounter in West London.
More to follow...
Commentary
TIGERS WIN ON THE ROAD
Leicester Tigers hold on to claim a three-point, 22-25, win over London Irish in Brentford.
75
FIVE ON THE CLOCK
Just five minutes left in London and only three points the difference.
74
MISSED ATTEMPT
Handré Pollard misses a chance to add three to the Tigers tally from near halfway with just six minutes left on the clock.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Leicester take back the lead, with eight minutes remaining, after a long-range penalty-goal from Handré Pollard.
69
LEICESTER'S DEFENCE HOLDS ON
The Tigers, under pressure on their own line, again hold on and win back possession with a penalty at the breakdown.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
We are level again at 22-22 with 13 minutes remaining after a penalty-goal for Handré Pollard.
65
TIGERS MARCH ON
The away side stringing together phases in attack, patiently, deep inside the Irish half with an advantage being played against the hosts.
TRY | LONDON IRISH
The hosts take back the lead after Chandler Cunningham-South breaks from the back of a scrum, 5m out from Leicester's line, and slides over to score.
60
TWENTY TO GO
An hour played in Brentford and just two points separates the sides with the final quarter to come.
TRY | HARRY POTTER
Harry Potter scores down the left on the end of some slick, quick hands after the Leicester pack set up the chance with some physical, patient work at the set piece after successive infringements from the home side.
53
CHARGE DOWN(S)
Back-to-back charge downs on clearing kicks from Irish bookend big defence from Leicester, deep inside the Irish half, and an error is made by the home side 5m out from their line. Tigers to feed a scrum.
50
TIGERS STAY TIGHT
A huge defensive effort from Leicester is rewarded after holding out London Irish on their own line.
45
IRISH TESTING TIGERS
The visitors being put under pressure, on their try-line, by London Irish in the opening five minutes of the second-half.
SECOND HALF GETS GOING
Paddy Jackson gets the game going again, kicking off deep in to the Tigers half.
IRISH AHEAD AT THE BREAK
London Irish lead by three points, 17-14, after the first half in Brentford.
39
SECOND TRY DENIED
Olly Cracknell crashes over from close range but the TMO rules it as a double-movement, denying the score and a second for the back-rower against his former side.
38
NO TRY FOR TIGERS
The replays find a knock-on from Leicester in the build-up, which denies the try, but the scrum feed will go to Tigers on halfway after a first knock-on from Irish.
37
HEADING TO THE TRUCK
The TMO is called upon after a ball bobbles up down the right hand side and Mike Brown runs away to dive over.
35
SCRAMBLING AT THE BACK
Again, Leicester are put under pressure on their try-line but hold on with a scramble at the back from the Tigers winning back possession before Ben Youngs clears.
33
TIGERS HOLD ON
A man down, on their own line, Leicester's defence forces an error from London Irish and holds on to prevent a try.
30
HALF AN HOUR DOWN
After 30 minutes in Brentford, just three points separates the sides despite London Irish having more than 60% of possession in the first half hour.
PEN | LONDON IRISH
The home side take back the lead, 25 minutes in to tonight's match, with a Paddy Jackson penalty-goal from in front of the posts.
YELLOW CARD | HARRY POTTER
Harry Potter knocks on in defence, which is deemed intentional, and ends an Irish attack in the process. The Tigers are now down a man for the next 10 minutes after he is shown a yellow card.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts to level the scores up again, 14-14, after 21 minutes.
TRY | JASPER WIESE
Tigers have a second, through Jasper Wiese, who crashes over from close range just one phase after a strong run from the quick tap 5m out from Julián Montoya.
19
IRISH INFRINGEMENTS
The home side are penalised for back-to-back infringements at the breakdown, on their own line, and it hands Leicester a chance for points - but they opt for the quick tap, 5m out.
18
STRONG SET PIECE START
The Tigers pack showing positive signs early on tonight with scrum dominance in the opening quarter in Brentford.
15
ALL IRISH EARLY ON
The home side dominating possession after 15 minutes in London with more than 70% of the ball and just shy of 70% territory.
CON | LONDON IRISH
Paddy Jackson sends his second attempt through the uprights and extends the London Irish lead to 14-7 after 10 minutes.
TRY | LONDON IRISH
The home side have a second, in the ninth minute, after a midfield break from Irish is finished by scrum-half Joe Powell.
CON | LONDON IRISH
Paddy Jackson converts and the scores are level, 7-7, after six minutes in London.
TRY | LONDON IRISH
The home side hit back almost immediately with their first try of the night, to Tom Pearson, to make it one score a piece after only five minutes.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts with his first attempt seeing Tigers out to a seven-point lead in the third minute.
TRY | OLLY CRACKNELL
A patient set of phases on the Irish try-line brings reward as Olly Cracknell crashes over from close range for the first try of the night in just the second minute.
KICK OFF IN BRENTFORD
Handré Pollard gets the game going in Brentford and an early mistake from the home side hands Leicester Tigers a scrum feed on the Irish 22m line.
-5
NEARLY TIME TO GO
Both sides are back in the changing rooms after completing their preparations and kick-off is just minutes away in London.
-30
WELCOME BACK TO MATCHDAY LIVE
We're all set for Saturday night out in London as we take on Irish in Round 18 of this season's Gallagher Premiership!