City hold on for a vital victory... ...And so do the Tigers
Reports and reaction
GEORGE Ford’s 21-point haul steered Covid19 hit Leicester Tigers to a first win in five meetings against their old rivals Bath.
An outbreak of the virus within the camp forced the cancellation of the Newcastle Falcons match in round four and limited Tigers to just two training sessions going into this Welford Road contest.
But with head coach Steve Borthwick managing the side from home while isolating, his side rose to the challenge, with Freddie Steward, Harry Wells and Cameron Henderson scoring tries while England fly-half Ford ruled supreme from the tee.
The win was made all the more impressive given Tigers’ horrific start which saw Bath race into a 14-point lead before the hosts had landed a punch.
Inside the first two minutes, Bath lock Josh McNally invaded a Tigers driving maul to rip the ball and break for the line.
Nemani Nadolo was sharp to stop him but Beno Obano was on hand to drive over for a try that Rhys Priestland improved from the tee.
A torrid four minutes for the hosts followed when Ford pulled a central penalty wide and South African back row Jasper Wiese was sinbinned for a high tackle on Anthony Watson.
It took Bath less than two minutes to make their numerical advantage pay. Ben Spencer darted through a huge gap in the defence before chipping over Steward to score a superb individual try.
But shell-shocked Tigers bounced back from their opening 15-minute ordeal to score 13 unanswered points of their own.
Two Ford penalties got them on the scoreboard before his half-back partner for club and country, Ben Youngs, tapped a penalty and probed into Bath’s half.
Ellis Genge rampaged into the 22 before Ford’s delightfully timed pass put Steward in for the score.
A frenetic end to the half saw both Priestland and Ford land penalties, with the latter’s coming from 50 metres out on the angle.
Tigers flew out of the blocks upon the restart as Steward leapt high to claim Ford’s booming kick to put his side on the front foot.
Nadolo’s deft offload and neat work from
Ben Youngs freed Harry Wells to bundle over in the left corner.
Two Priestland penalties sandwiched a Ford effort as Tigers took a three-point lead into the final third of the match – one that was cancelled out as Priestland’s sixth successful kick at goal tied the scores at 26-all.
The parity did not last for long as Tigers restored their lead when Kini Murimurivalu and Wiese powered into the 22 before replacement lock Cameron Henderson finished from close range.
Ford’s touchline conversion was backed up by a penalty with seven minutes left to give Tigers a two-score lead to defend.
Cameron Redpath’s late try created a grandstand finish but Josh Matavesi, on for 16-point Priestland, skewed his kick wide and Tigers closed out the game to move seventh in the table.