Leicester Tigers kicked off the 23/24 season with a 50-6 victory over Caldy RFC at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in the opening round of the Premiership Rugby Cup.
The home side got across the chalk on eight occasions in the first competitive outing of the campaign, including a double for Emeka Ilione and scores for Ollie Hassell-Collins and Jamie Shillcock on debut.
Tom Whiteley, in his first start for the club, Francois van Wyk, Phil Cokanasiga and Charlie Atkinson were the other try-scorers.
Shillcock added a further ten points from the tee to take his personal tally to 15 in his first appearance since arriving in the summer.
Commentary
FULL-TIME
Tigers pick up the win in a more hard-fought game than the scoreline suggests but at times the home side's attack was simply unstoppable, a great opening match in the revamped Premiership Rugby Cup.
Final score: Leicester Tigers 50 - 6 Caldy
CONVERSION | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
The fullback adds the extras with a simple kick.
TRY | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
The fullback adds a try to his tremendous game.
He's initially caught and tackled in midfield but, with great game sense, realises he's been released and has space. He releases the ball but gets straight back up, scoops it up and runs the full 40 metres to touch down under the posts.
TRY | PHIL COKANASIGA
The centre scores a cracking dancing try, Tigers exploiting a tired, disorganised defence to inflict a second score in as many minutes as we enter the final 10.
CONVERSION | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Cracking conversion from the right touchline from Shillcock, adding another two points to today's tally.
TRY | EMEKA ILIONE
The rolling maul returns!
Tigers kick a penalty to touch five metres out and the crowd know what's coming! The shouts of 'heaveeeeeee' echo around Mattioli Woods Welford Road and the shove is on, Ilione at the back of it as they drive over
67
Tigers defence holding firm
It's been all Caldy for the last five minutes, Tigers only able to get outside their own 22 with clearance kicks.
But despite all the possession Tigers are relentless in defence, doubling up in tackles and not giving an inch.
Eventually the momentum swings and successive box kicks eventually put Caldy up against Harry Simmons and Joshua Manz who turn the ball over in the opposition's territory.
Substitutions | Leicester Tigers
Tigers defend doggedly on their own line, refusing to be breached as Caldy chuck the kitchen sink at them.
Eventually the home side can clear and make a pair of substitutions.
Try scorer Tom Whiteley and prop Will Hurd are replaced respectively by Joe Powell, who takes the captain's armband, and Dan Richardson
SUBSTITUTION | Leicester Tigers
Today's Captain Nic Dolly walks off to a resounding ovation from the Tigers faithful, the hooker replaced by Archie Vanes
CONVERSION | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
The fullback slots the kick on the angle to extend Tigers' lead.
TRY | Charlie aTKINSON
A line-break around 15 metres out from Will Hurd opens the door for Tigers and allows an offload to an onrushing Charlie Atkinson who touches down.
Trio of substitutions | Leicester Tigers
A trio of substitutions for the home, Kyle Hatherell and try scorers Ollie Hassell-Collins and Francois Van Wyk replaced by Joshua Manz, Jacob Cusick and James Whitcombe respectively.
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS
Sam Carter makes his competitive Leicester Tigers debut, coming on for Mike Williams, whilst Charlie Atkinson comes on for Guy Porter
48
CONVERSION MISSED | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
The fullback is again unlucky, again sending a kick from the far touchline just wide.
TRY | FRANCOIS VAN WYK
Tigers are right back into the Caldy half, hungry for more.
Although they initially lose the ball, they just as quickly win it back, forcing a penalty.
Tom Whiteley thinks quickest, taking a quick tap and go and sending through prop Francois van Wyk to crash over from close range.
45
CONVERSION MISSED | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
The creator of the try can't add the extras, kick going just wide.
TRY | EMEKA ILIONE
The flanker scores a lovely try in the corner.
Playing as an edge-forward, Ilione has been lurking on the right-wing and after a succession of phase play with big carries in the middle, Tigers spread it wide.
Shillcock picks up a ranging pass off of his toes and fires the miss pass over to Ilione who, 1 on 1 with his man, makes no mistake and scores the opening try of the second half.
41
The second half begins
The second 40 gets underway here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
It's still very much all to play for, with Caldy bringing the fight and kicking well.
Tigers will be hoping the keep the momentum they had at the end of the first half.
The away side kick off long to Hassell-Collins and we're underway!
41
The second half begins
The second 40 gets underway here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
It's still very much all to play for, with Caldy bringing the fight and kicking well.
Tigers will be hoping the keep the momentum they had at the end of the first half.
The away side kick off long to Hassell-Collins and we're underway!
HALF TIME
The half ends shortly after the disallowed try.
It's Tigers with the momentum thus far but both sides are competing well despite the immense heat.
Half-time score: Leicester Tigers 14 - 6 Caldy
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TRY DISALLOWED
This near-score is all about debuting winger Hassell-Collins.
First in defence, Whiteley puts up a box-kick with serious hang time and Hassell-Collins brutally spears his opposite number to cheers from the Tigers faithful.
The wing combines brutality with beauty shortly thereafter, collecting a box kick and dancing inside one, two, three players before shooting past another couple as the crowd rise to their feet.
The wonder try is cut short as Caldy just scramble back but the run has caused chaos and there's gaps all over the field.
Tigers players fly in with typical impetus and a lovely offload sees Tom Whiteley show great feet and dive over for his second of the game. However, the referee has seen a knock on in the build-up and the score is chalked off.
CONVERSION | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
The fullback who started the move finishes it with an simple conversion in front of the posts.
TRY | TOM WHITELEY
And there it is!
Tigers lose the ball in the opposition area leading to a goal-line drop out. Shillcock casually controls the kick, kills the ball dead and sets off on a run.
He gets as far as the Caldy 30 metre mark and Whiteley astutely spots a huge gap that's formed to mark his onrushing options and goes himself, shooting through with incredible acceleration to touch down under the posts.
YELLOW CARD | CALDY
Inside their own 22 and amongst a flurry of action, Caldy flanker Nye Davidson is sent to the sin-bin.
28
Tigers with the wind in their sails
That score has really spurred on the home side and Tigers are now flying into contact.
It starts with a great run by Cokanasiga, showing Sam Rogers a clean pair of heels, before stepping his centre counterpart.
Tigers build up phases, before Francois Van Wyk shoots through into space.
He's brought down well but more Tigers come in on crash ball. The crowd sense a score is coming.
PENALTY | CALDY
The away side win another penalty, this time on the Tigers 22 and on the angle, Sam Rogers puts through another well-struck kick to take it to a one point game.
24
Great defence by Hassell-Collins
Caldy pull off a magic trick at the line-out, reminiscent of France's move with Mauvaka at last night's World Cup opener, hooker Ollie Hearn going short and receiving the ball right back to make a break down the right.
He's only got Hassell-Collins to beat but the winger slots him straight into touch.
PENALTY | CALDY
Fly-half Sam Rogers gets the Championship side back in the game with a confidently struck penalty from nearly 40 metres out.
18
Dancing feet on show!
Following some kicking for territory, Caldy decide to run it back. It's Connor Willkinson who does so, stepping inside one tackle, then spinning off another from Hassell-Collins to allow Caldy to advance.
Tigers then win the ball back and respond in kind, Shillcock carrying really well, bouncing off one tackle and driving through another two, gaining a hard-earned ten metres.
However, another turnover and subsequent penalty gives Caldy a shot at goal from around 35 - 40 metres out.
15
Heat playing a factor
Tigers have been camped on the Caldy five-metre line but the away side do well to halt the momentum of successive rolling mauls, winning the ball back on the second and clearing to thirty metres out.
Tigers haven't been able to spread the ball through the hands much as of yet, with neither side able to really gather substantial momentum.
A water break has been called so the players can enjoy some much needed hydration.
7
Young stars heavily involved
Jamie Shillcock has been at the centre of everything thus far, his versatile boot a great option both tactically and clearing the ball.
The aforementioned Hassell-Collins has looked dangerous with limited ball whilst Wilkinson, Chessum and Carnduff have all impressed thus far.
5
Tigers on top in opening exchanges
Things have settled down after a blistering opening thirty seconds, with Tigers enjoying the lions share of possession thus far and have built a nice couple of phases
Caldy have just won a penalty and kick well to Tigers 22 but from the line-out Lewis Chessum rises highest to win the ball back and Shillcock clears the lines.
CONVERSION | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
The full-back adds the extras with a cracking kick from the right touchline, the heat showing no signs of slowing Tigers down.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
With less than a minute on the clock, debutant Hassell-Collins makes the perfect start to his Tigers career, collecting a cross-field kick from fellow debutant Jamie Shillcock to touch down in the far right corner.
WE'RE UNDERWAY HERE AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
Kieran Wilkinson, playing today against his brother Connor who starts at 13 for candy, kicks us off with a high kick that's collected well by the opposition's No.8, allowing Caldy to clear out and then clear the ball long to touch.
-5
Five minutes to go!
Despite the intense head, we're all ready here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Welford is giving it large on the air-guitar, the flag wavers are doing a tremendous job and the terrace is a sea of green, white and red.
With big competitive debuts for the likes of Jamie Shillcock and Ollie Hassell-Collins and a maiden outing with the armband for Nic Dolly, this is one not too be missed.
Strap in, Premiership Rugby Cup action coming your way very shortly.
-30
30 MINUTES TO KICK-OFF
There's half an hour until Tigers kick off their Premiership Cup campaign here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road against Caldy
Head down to the stadium or join us here on Matchday Live for all the updates but most importantly stay hydrated and enjoy the sun, it's almost rugby time!