TIGERS IMPRESS ACROSS THE BORD
European Champions Cup
GEORGE FORD helped LEICESTER extend their winning start to the season with victory at Top 14 leaders BORDEAUX in their Heineken
Champions Cup opener.
The battle between the top sides in England and France was billed as the highlight of the tournament’s opening weekend – and it ended in nail-biting fashion with the Tigers winning 16-13.
Both sides exchanged early penalties before Guy Porter scored the opening try for Leicester.
Bordeaux levelled with the final move of the firsthalf as Jean-Baptiste Dubie ran under the posts unopposed for the hosts.
Leicester had a try chalked off after the break when Porter was penalised for knocking on, before Ford missed the opportunity to edge his side in front once more.
Maxime Lucu kicked the hosts in front, but Ford, with 11 points, earned victory from the tee with two second-half penalties for Steve Borthwick’s Premiership leaders.
In the other Pool B clash, Gruff Rees hailed a “remarkable effort” from his makeshift CARDIFF side after a 39-7 defeat to French giants TOULOUSE.
The Arms Park clash took place against a backdrop of more than 30 Cardiff players and a number of staff, including rugby director Dai Young, isolating until next week having finally returned
Round-Up
from South Africa where they were due to play.
It meant a hastilyassembled team comprising of Wales internationals who did not travel, semi-professionals, and academy players being fielded against the European title holders.
And Toulouse were made to work every inch of the way for a bonuspoint victory, with Josh Adams crossing for the game’s first try before the visitors took over.
Cardiff academy manager Rees said: “There are so many individual stories behind every player on that pitch.
“It was a remarkable effort. The boys had barely trained together, let alone played together. There was a Corinthian spirit about what we did.”
BATH’S woes continued after LEINSTER ran out 45-20 winners.
The Irish province ran in seven tries, despite missing three players through Covid-19 and several more due to injury, as the Premiership’s bottom side were put to the sword.
Jamison Gibson-Park crossed twice as the hosts scored five first-half tries to take complete control.
Bath scored late in each half through
Jacques du Toit and Gabriel Hamer-Webb. But Stuart Hooper’s side, winless in nine league matches, must now turn their attentions to next weekend’s meeting with La Rochelle.