Irish Sunday Mirror

HEAVY WAIT

Tigers sweat on progress as Blues show Euro pedigree

- By ANDREW BALDOCK

Leicester 10 Leinster 27

LEICESTER were left to play a waiting game in terms of reaching Champions Cup knockout phase after Leinster toppled them at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

The Tigers needed a point to progress from Pool Four, but their fate now rests on what happens in Sunday’s clash between Sale Sharks and La Rochelle.

Leinster, chasing a record-equalling fifth European title this season, fell 10 points behind to a Hanro Liebenberg try, with Handre Pollard kicking a conversion and penalty.

But the Irish heavyweigh­ts soon found a familiar rhythm, taking charge through tries from lock Joe Mccarthy, wing Jordan Larmour and hooker Dan Sheehan, while Harry Byrne added two conversion­s and a penalty.

Caelan Doris’ late try secured a bonus-point as Leinster ended the groupstage with four wins out of four and secured a round of 16 tie on home soil in Dublin later this season.

Leicester shaded the early sparring as both sides jostled for territory, and they deservedly went ahead through a 10th-minute try.

Number eight Jasper Wiese made initial headway, and with Leinster regrouping in defence, Tigers centre Dan Kelly surged into space and sent a scoring pass to Liebenberg.

Pollard converted from the touchline, and he increased Leicester’s lead midway through the half by kicking a 50metre penalty after Sheehan infringed.

Leinster, though, underlined their enviable European pedigree by drawing level through a 10-point burst in six minutes. Byrne opened their account with a penalty, and as Tigers came under mounting pressure, Mccarthy crashed over from close range and Byrne’s conversion tied things.

Leicester then lost Wales flanker Tommy Reffell for a head injury assessment, and Leinster went ahead for the first time following a blistering break by scrum-half Jamison Gibson-park.

The Ireland internatio­nal was hauled down short of the line by Leicester fullback Freddie Steward, but Leinster quickly recycled possession and Larmour finished strongly as Tigers found themselves 15-10 adrift.

Reffell failed his HIA and was replaced by Kyle Hatherell, before Tigers’ England forward Ollie Chessum also went off for a HIA Tom Whiteley was yellow-carded for a knock-on.

Leinster stung them with a third try before Whiteley had barely left the pitch as Sheehan crossed and Byrne’s conversion opened up a 12-point gap.

Like Reffell, Chessum did not rejoin the action, but Leicester began the final quarter strongly, with their cause being helped by a yellow card for Jack Conan.

Visiting boss Leo Cullen said: “It was a dogfight. We had to weather the storm.” LEICESTER: Try: Liebenberg; Con: Pollard; Pen: Pollard LEINSTER: Tries: Mccarthy, Larmour, Sheehan, Doris; Cons: Byrne (2); Pen: Byrne

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 ?? ?? SIX NATIONS HEADACHES Sheehan scores as Blues dominate and (above) Chessum took head knock
SIX NATIONS HEADACHES Sheehan scores as Blues dominate and (above) Chessum took head knock

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