A brave Leicester Tigers outfit were defeated 42-17 by Harlequins Women in the first match of a double-header featuring the two clubs at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday afternoon.

It was a strong start from Tom Hudson’s side, who dominated the opening minutes through a physical approach to attack and defence in the early exchanges.

The energetic opening proved fruitful when, after just four minutes, Tigers kicked for the corner following a Harlequins infringement and, from the resulting line out, brought the ball down and mauled their way to within inches of scoring.

But, they weren’t to be denied after Meg Jones switched from the right hand side of the ruck to the left and exploited the back tracking defence to dive over for the opener. Jones converted her try to make it a seven-point lead for Leicester after only six minutes in Twickenham.

Harlequins hit back soon after when, on the back of a strong set piece deep inside the Tigers half, they moved the ball wide to right and Claudia Pena dived over for the home side’s first. The conversion attempt went wide to see the hosts trail by two, 5-7, after ten minutes.

Leicester had a chance to extend the lead but for a long-range penalty goal attempt from Jones to fall short in the 13th minute and, only three minutes later, Harlequins took the lead for the first time when they went over for a second through Connie Powell.

Ill-discipline from Tigers handed Harlequins the opportunity to kick for the corner and from the line out, the home team drove their way over with Powell directing traffic at the back.

The young Leicester side continued to throw everything at ‘Quins but, on the half hour mark, the more experienced outfit again cracked the defensive line for a third.

After marching their way up field, it was fly-half Kayleigh Powell who stepped her way through to make it 15-5. Lagi Tuima converted the score to make it a ten-point lead after half an hour of play.

Only two minutes later and Tigers were dealt another blow with Jones being shown yellow for a cynical play, tracking back in defence and ruled to have played the ball while on the ground.

With the extra number in attack out wide, Harlequins took the advantage to secure a four-try bonus-point when Lisa Neumann crossed on the end of some impressive interplay from the home side.

Approaching the break and Leicester coughed up possession only for ‘Quins to swoop. Scrum-half Lucy Packer box kicked from the ruck and a flying Pena outpaced the retreating Tigers defenders to get her second and make it 27-7 at half time.

It would be almost twenty minutes after the sides returned to the field before the scoreboard attendant was called upon when Leicester scored their second to cut the gap to 15 points.

After multiple infringements from the home team, pressure paid off for Tigers; a dominant push from the pack at a middle of the field scrum, 5m out, set up a backline move which was perfectly executed.

Jones skipped her way across the defensive line, leaving ‘Quins players guessing, before firing a perfectly timed pass to a flying Emily Henrich who dived over in the corner to make it 27-12.

An unfortunate collision shortly after saw Julia Omokhuale stay down and, after TMO intervention, the Leicester back rower was ruled to have made head-on-head contact and shown a yellow card.

Down a number in the pack, Tigers were pushed back in a driving maul by ‘Quins from the penalty that followed the sin binning and Carys Phillips scored for the hosts to extend their lead out to 32-12.

Ellie Kildunne, who had threatened Leicester’s line throughout the game, scored successive tries for Harlequins in the 66th and and 72nd minutes, with the former an end-to-end effort started and finished by the World Player of the Year.

Trailing by thirty points heading into the final five minutes and Hudson’s group refused to give in, chasing points up until the final whistle and were rewarded for their effort in the closing stages when Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele barged over for Tigers third to make it 42-17, where it remained until full-time.

Start 2025 at home with Tigers Family and friends for the New Year Double Header on Saturday, February 4.

Mattioli Woods Welford Road hosts a Gallagher Premiership game against Exeter Chiefs (3.05pm) before a Premiership Women's Rugby showdown with Sale Sharks Women (5.50pm) next Saturday, January 4. 

Be there to cheer on both sides in the first fixture of 2025 as the second half of the campaign officially gets underway!