Leicester Tigers have defeated Nottingham 70-29 in round three of the Premiership Cup at The Bay.
A second-half flurry including two tries from substitute wing Ollie Hassell-Collins sealed the win for Tigers who look forward to the Gallagher Premiership returning next Sunday at Sale.
Nottingham shot out of the blocks, grabbing the first two tries of the game, showing why the home side have been performing well at Championship level this season.
Tigers dug in, and went back to basics, the forwards putting pressure on in-tight. It was captain Matt Rogerson who would be the one to muscle his way over the line.
The backs then began to work the edges and after Josh Bassett made an initial break into space, starting debutant Ollie Allan was on hand to score a textbook scrum-half try.
Notts were pushing, but it was Tigers who continued to make the best of their opportunities. Hooker Archie Vanes scored next at the back of a rolling maul, before centre Solomone Kata reacted quickly with a quick tap to get Tigers’ fourth before the break.
Jamie Shillcock kicked the the conversion, remaining a perfect four-from-four in the first half. The score 28-12 at the break.
Tigers turned up the pressure after half-time. Kata’s centre partner Izaia Perese scored a silky individual try, before prop James Whitcombe repeated that effort with some dazzling feet of his own.
Jack Kinder and Ollie Hassell-Collins got in on the act, the latter’s try being the pick of the Tigers' bunch on the night.
Nottingham had some superb moments in the second-half as well, running in three tries and continuing to push their case until the final whistle.
Tigers didn't relent though. Emeka Ilione got on the scoresheet in front of his hometown support, before Hassell-Collins grabbed his double off a quick-tap set-play as the clock went red.
Tom Whiteley nailed the extras in the 80th minute, and it finished 70-29.
Commentary
TIGERS WIN IT AT THE BAY
A dominant display from Tigers in front of a record crowd at Nottingham sees them come away with a 41-point, 29-70, win in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
CON | TOM WHITELEY
Tom Whiteley adds the conversion from out wide to take Tigers to 70 points.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
A late try to Ollie Hassell-Collins, his second of the match, adds a tenth for Tigers in Nottingham.
TRY | NOTTINGHAM
The home side cross for a late try, with just two minutes left at The Bay, to cut the deficit to 34 points, 29-63.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock makes it 9/9 from the tee and puts the lead for Tigers out to 39 points with just over five minutes left in Nottingham.
TRY | EMEKA ILIONE
A ninth try for Tigers and it's Emeka Ilione who barges his way over to extend the lead.
CON | NOTTINGHAM
Successful conversion from Nottingham to make the difference 32 points with just over 15 minutes left at The Bay.
TRY | NOTTINGHAM
A break from near halfway for the home side sets up a chance and they take it, scoring from the first phase after being brought down by the Tigers cover defence. Sam Green is the try-scorer.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock again on target from the tee and the difference is now 39 points with 21 minutes remaining.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
Ollie Hassell-Collins shows his class with a winding run down the left in attack and after beating one man, dummies to his support to send the last line of defence chasing air, and the speedsters scores for Tigers.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock adds his seventh conversion for the night to make it 17-49 with just under half an hour remaining in Nottingham.
TRY | JACK KINDER
A mistake at the back from Nottingham results in another try for Tigers after a Jamie Shillcock up-and-under isn't managed by the home side and Jack Kinder swoops, kicking ahead and diving on his own grubber to score.
TRY | NOTTINGHAM
The home side bit back with their first for the second half and third of the match. It's also a third for Harry Clayton.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock on target with his sixth conversion from as many attempts to make it a thirty-point difference, 12-42, after 45 minutes.
TRY | JAMES WHITCOMBE
The ball goes wide from the base of the ruck to the left and James Whitcombe with a dummy, step and dive for the line, scores the sixth Tigers try of the night.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock extends the lead to 23 points just two minutes after the break with another successful conversion.
TRY | ISAIA PERESE
Isaia Perese with a weaving, winding run around and through the Nottingham defence to run it in from 40m out and score the first points of the second half.
CHANGE FOR TIGERS
Ollie Hassell-Collins is the only change to Tigers from the break, replacing scrum-half Ollie Allan.
The switch sees Tom Whiteley move into scrum-half, Jamie Shillcock to fly-half and Hassell-Collins join the back three.
SECOND HALF GETS GOING
The second half is underway in Nottingham!
TIGERS LEAD AT THE BREAK
After a slow start, Leicester head into the changing rooms with a 16-point lead over Nottingham.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock makes it 4/4 for the first half with another conversion and extends the lead to 16 points, 12-28, with less than a minute on the clock.
TRY | SOLOMONE KATA
Nottingham are penalised on their own line and Sol Kata takes it quickly before bursting through the retreating Nottingham defenders to get over Leicester's fourth.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock on target again to make it 12-21 after 37 minutes.
TRY | OLLIE ALLAN
A third for Tigers that stars with a chip kick and regather from Tom Whiteley, who finds Josh Bassett in support down the left wing and the speedsters offloads inside for Ollie Allan, who runs it in to score.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock adds the extras from the kicking tee to take Tigers into the lead, 12-14, after half an hour in Nottingham.
TRY | ARCHIE VANES
Impressive, patient build up from the Tigers side to be in a try-scoring position and another well executed driving mail does the damage.
Archie Vanes, directing traffic from the back, is the try-scorer to level it up at 12-all.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock adds the extras, making it a five-point game, in the 25th minute.
TRY | MATT ROGERSON
Tigers are on the scoreboard on the back of a dominant driving maul from close range and it's the skipper, Matt Rogerson, who adds the first.
TRY | NOTTINGHAM
The home side have a second, again thanks to their driving maul, which extends the lead out to 12-0 after 21 minutes.
CON | NOTTINGHAM
The home side extend the lead to seven points after nine minutes with a successful conversion.
TRY | NOTTINGHAM
The home side score the first for the evening on the back of a driving maul and it's Harry Clayton who gets up claiming the score.
UNDERWAY AT THE BAY
Round 3 of the Premiership Rugby Cup gets going in Nottingham in front of more than 3,000 fans at Lady Bay.