Leicester Tigers have secured a bonus-point victory in their opening fixture of the Investec Champions Cup, outlasting an impressive, resilient DHL Stormers side.
Another starring performance from Tigers talisman Handré Pollard helped seal the victory, the Springboks flyhalf chipping in 20 of Tigers 35 points.
The teams exchanged early penalties, the Stomers fighting tooth and nail for every yard as Tigers settled into the game.
Leicester’s first attack in earnest would result in a try. Number eight Jasper Wiese charged a rushed clearing kick and Solomone Kata trapped the visitors in their own goal-line.
The duo combined brilliantly off the ensuing scrum and Kata was simply too powerful for the defence. Pollard converted, making it 10-3 inside 15 minutes.
The visitors couldn’t be kept down however, and continued to press their case, throwing their bodies on the line in defence.
Leicester couldn’t their flow in attack, and the Stormers were well worth their equalising try when it came in the 30th minute through Keke Morabe.
Stifled by the Stormers, Leicester looked like half-time couldn’t come quickly enough, but a loose ball was hacked through by the Stormers on the stroke of half-time, and Courtnall Skosan won the race to give the visitors the lead heading into the break, 17-10.
Leicester looked like a different team after the break, and began to hunt down the Stormers.
A penalty from Pollard after a minute was the momentum shift, then Kata grabbed his double five minutes later and Tigers had their lead.
Pollard converted, and would score next for Tigers to back it up, diving over for his first Investec Champions Cup try in Leicester colours.
Stormers never went away and continued to claw their way into the game. Pollard added another penalty to his try but the Stormers would kick a couple of their own, plus a drop goal.
With three minutes to play and the game balanced at 30-26, Stormers had a scrum five metres out.
Leicester repelled the visitors advances, hung tough and forced their way down the field and a slick pass from Jamie Shillcock saw Josh Bassett slide in for the bonus-point try after the 80 minute mark.
The final score from Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 35-26.
Commentary
TIGERS BEGIN CUP CAMPAIGN WITH WIN
Leicester Tigers have secured a 35-26, bonus-point victory over DHL Stormers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
TRY | JOSH BASSETT
A dominant scrum followed by a well worked driving maul in the corner, on the back of the penalty, ends with a try in the opposite corner to Josh Bassett to secure a bonus-point.
PEN | DHL STORMERS
The visitors claw back three to make it a four-point deficit, 30-26, in the 70th minute.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts his own try to make it 30-23 and bring his tally to 20 points after 66 minutes at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
TRY | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Quick thinking from Ben Youngs spots space in behind the Stormers defensive line and Leicester re-gather before moving it to the left in attack for Handré Pollard to cross.
PEN | DHL STORMERS
Level again in Leicester, 23-23, after a successful penalty goal for the visitors.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Leicester take back the lead, 23-20, with Handré Pollard's fifth successful attempt from the tee.
DROP GOAL | DHL STORMERS
It's level again, 20-20, after a drop goal from Jurie Matthee in the 51st minute.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Leicester lead by three, 20-17, after a successful conversion from Handré Pollard.
TRY | SOLOMONE KATA
Solomone Kata has a second and takes Tigers back in front, 18-17, just six minutes after the break.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard makes it a four-point game, 13-17, with another successful attempt from the tee.
TIGERS TRAIL AT THE BREAK
Leicester trail by seven, 10-17, at the break.
CON | DHL STORMERS
Jurie Matthee converts to make 10-17 at the break.
TRY | DHL STORMERS
In the final seconds of the first half, DHL Stormers get across for a try through Courtnall Skosan to take the lead.
CON | DHL STORMERS
We are level again, 10-10, after a successful conversion attempt from the South African visitors to Mattioli Woods Welford Road after half an hour.
TRY | DHL STORMERS
The away side crash over from close range, to be within two, through back-rower Keke Morabe.
20
JUST ONE SCORE IN IT
Seven points, 10-3, remains the difference between the sides after 20 minutes at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts from in front to make it 10-3 after 15 minutes.
TRY | SOLOMONE KATA
Leicester take back the lead, 8-3, with a try to Solomone Kata from close range.
PEN | DHL STORMERS
Stormers fly-half Jurie Matthee levels it up, 3-3, after twelve minutes at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Leicester take an early lead, thanks to the accuracy of Handré Pollard from the tee, who lands his first attempt to make it 3-0 after five minutes.
UNDERWAY IN LEICESTER
This Round 1 Investec Champions Cup fixture gets going at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!