JP sentences Bristol to an eight-try lashing
LEICESTER devoured forlorn Bristol by eight tries to two inspired by fit-again internationals JP Pietersen and Telusa Veainu.
Pietersen, the Springbok wing, scored two tries to open his account at Welford Road after an injury-hit start which meant this Premiership game was his first start since October.
He immediately praised Veainu, the Tongan full-back, for setting up his second try in the 29th minute by breaking from his own 22-metre line. Pietersen, below, said: “Telusa is a special player and he’s a nightmare for defences. I’m just grateful I’m coming back at the same time as him.”
Veainu, also making his first start since the autumn, had an outstanding match thriving on the counter-attacking opportunities.
The return of this pair has given Leicester a new edge, following that wretched run around Christmas, which will be fully tested next Friday on a trip to Harlequins. Leicester’s all-round greater physicality was another big difference between the teams especially in the first half when the Tigers turned round 31-10 up. Bristol’s tame tackling and lack of bustle meant Leicester did not need to be very good to crack open the visiting defence. After an open- ing penalty goal from Bristol full-back Jason Woodward, Leicester’s phase play and pressure game brought five tries in 29 minutes to lead 31-3.
It was the unlikely figure of Pat Cilliers who scored the first try. The prop bustled through the Bristol defence to sound the alarm bells on the visiting coaching bench about the game ahead.
Those fears were quickly realised because Leicester, despite little set-piece possession, excelled in the loose.
Owen Williams, who kicked five conversions, grabbed a second as Bristol wilted. And it was a cross kick from the fly-half which gave Pietersen his first try, the ball bouncing off the wing’s leg before he touched down.
After Veainu had sliced through for the fourth in the 26th minute, Leicester’s best came three minutes later when the Tongan burst clear before good linking play by Brendan O’Connor and Williams gave Pietersen an easy home run.
To the credit of Bristol they responded quickly when ex-Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins forced his way over just before the interval.
However, any thoughts of some kind of comeback in the second half was quickly extinguished by Leicester finding fresh momentum.
O’Connor scored the sixth eight minutes into the half by charging down a clearance kick and following up.
Pietersen’s opposite wing Adam Thompstone wriggled in at the corner for the seventh before substitute Greg Bateman scored off a lineout drive to complete the rout..
Bristol, as in the first half, finished on the attack and earned a consolation try when the hard-working substitute prop Jamal Ford-Robinson athletically touched down after charging down a kick. on the throat,” in a second half which brought only three tries after five in the first.
“However, the intensity was generally outstanding and the big boys put in a big shift which gave our halfbacks a good cushion.
“There are still things to tidy up, especially in attack, which is the exciting aspect.”
Mauger said centre Jack Roberts, taken off at half-time, had a slight hamstring strain.
Bath-bound Freddie Burns did not feature due to a head knock he received against Gloucester last week but is expected to be available for Harlequins on Friday.