Leicester Tigers suffered a 17-point, 10-27, defeat to Leinster Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Round 4 of the 23/24 Investec Champions Cup.
The home side came out of the blocks firing in front of a sold-out crowd against the Irish side, to lead 10-0 after 20 minutes, before back-to-back scores approaching the break saw Leinster lead by five, 10-15, at half time.
A bruising second half, bookended by tries to the visitors, saw Leinster deny Tigers the chance to add to their first half points and see the Dublin franchise finish the pool stages unbeaten to book their place in the Round of 16 and leave Leicester to wait for the weekend's remaining fixtures to decide their fate.
It was Tom Whiteley who got the scoreboard attendant of their feet early on, when the scrum-half went blind from the base of the ruck before finding Dan Kelly, who drew the Leinster defence and then passed to Hanro Liebenberg out wide for the back-rower to run it in and score.
Handré Pollard landed the conversion attempt from out wide to make it 7-0 to Leicester after eleven minutes before extending it to 10-0 in the 20th minute with a near 50m long penalty goal.
Leinster clawed the deficit back to seven with their first points of the game just three minutes later, through Harry Byrne, before levelling it up at 10-10 on the half-hour mark when Joe McCarthy reached out to score from close range and Byrne added the conversion.
Just two minutes later and Leinster were in the lead for the first time when Jordan Larmour crossed out wide to see his side ahead by five at the break.
It was the Irish who came out firing in the second half with their third just two minutes into the second forty, to Dan Sheehan, and Byrne was again on target to make it a 12-point difference.
Despite no points being scored for the almost-entirety of the second half, it was an entertaining encounter for the 25,000+ fans in attendance and, with the clock in the red, Leinster added their fourth to secure the try bonus-point and leave Leicester with a 10-27 away win.
Commentary
TIGERS DEFEATED BY LEINSTER
Leicester Tigers go down fighting to Leinster Rugby, 10-27, in front of a sold-out Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
TRY | LEINSTER RUGBY
With the clock in the red, Leinster remain composed and get across for a fourth and bonus-point score with Caelen Doris the try-scorer.
CON | LEINSTER RUGBY
Leinster's lead is now twelve following the successful conversion attempt from Harry Byrne.
TRY | LEINSTER RUGBY
The visitors get across the chalk early in the second-half and it's Dan Sheehan with the try, extending Leinster's lead to ten with a conversion attempt to come.
YELLOW | LEICESTER TIGERS
Leicester are down to 14 for the next ten minutes with a yellow card for Tom Whiteley.
BACK IN ACTION
We are back underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in this Investec Champions Cup clash.
TIGERS TRAIL AT THE BREAK
Leicester trail by five, 10-15, at the break after an entertaining opening forty minutes.
TRY | LEINSTER RUGBY
Leinster take the lead, with seven minutes left in the first half, after finding space out wide to the right.
Jordan Larmour is the try-scorer.
CON | LEINSTER RUGBY
We are all tied up, 10-10, on the half hour mark after a successful conversion attempt from Harry Byrne.
TRY | LEINSTER RUGBY
Pressure pays off for Leinster as they get across the line for their first try, with Joe McCarthy the scorer from close range.
27
ALL OUT IRISH ATTACK
Leinster with all the ball for the past five minutes, camped inside the Leicester end, and with a chance now, 5m out, thanks to a penalty from the home side.
PEN | LEINSTER RUGBY
Leinster are on the scoreboard with a penalty goal from in front of the posts, making it 10-3 after 23 minutes.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
A chance for points presents itself again from a Leinster infringement and Handré Pollard lands it, just shy of 50m out, to make it 10-0 after 20 minutes.
18
ATTACK COMES UNDONE
A knock-on in attack from Tigers, a handful of phases down, deep inside the visitor's end, hands back pack possession.
16
CHANCE FOR LEICESTER
An opportunity for Tigers, on the back of ill-discipline from Leinster, with a lineout 10m out from the Irish side's line.
14
TIGERS STICK SOLID AGAIN
Leinster, again, throwing everything at Leicester in attack but are turned away by the Tigers for the second time in as many minutes as the home side win a penalty at the breakdown in defence and kick clear, into touch, to ease the pressure.
13
TIGERS HOLD ON AND UP
A big moment, much to the enjoyment of the home crowd, as Tigers hold on in defence and hold up Leinster to earn a goal-line re-start.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard lands the conversion attempt from out wide to make it 7-0 to Leicester after eleven minutes.
TRY | HANRO LIEBENBERG
Tom Whiteley takes it blind from the base of the ruck and finds Dan Kelly, who draws the Leinster defence before sending the pass to Hanro Liebenberg out wide for the back-rower to run it in and score.
5
BRUISING START
Physical start to proceedings here today in the opening five minutes, with both teams throwing plenty at it.
KICK OFF IN LEICESTER
We are underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road with Leinster kicking off and Leicester receiving, running towards the Mattioli Woods Stand.