Deacon’s rocket sees Tigers explode
A RUTHLESS secondhalf spell sealed this one-sided match to keep Leicester unbeaten in two Premiership Cup games alongside the eight-match run in the league.
It was all a bit too easy for a far more experienced Tigers team which overwhelmed a raw Wasps squad in front of a subdued crowd at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Leicester made hard work of success in the first 40 minutes but played far more efficiently afterwards to race away for a win by eight tries to one.
Guided by the promptings of captain Jack van Poortvliet, Leicester scored four tries in the first 15 minutes after the break to hammer home their superiority.
By the finish, Hosea Saumaki had helped himself to a hat-trick, the Tongan scoring the last three tries.
Tigers’ assistant coach Brett Deacon admitted he had fired out a “bit of rocket” at half-time to trigger that second-half response.
“We were actually really disappointed at half-time as we had not expected to play like that,” said Deacon. “But we came out afterwards and played with far more intensity and physicality.”
Tigers should have been further clear than 10-0 at the break but failed to deliver the finishing touch.
The only try of the half came after just three minutes and was fashioned by Leicester’s most influential backs in Van Poortvliet and Kini Murimurivalu.
Van Poortvliet made the break which allowed the full-back to scamper over for a try converted by flyhalf Dan Lancaster.
Leicester should have added at least two more tries but were let down by the final pass and a tenacious Wasps defence. The only other points of the half came from Lancaster who landed a penalty for an offside offence.
Wasps did have some possession but Tommy Mathews fired a penalty against an upright and, overall, they were let down by a dodgy lineout and dropped passes.
Leicester quickly sealed the match immediately after the break, scoring those four tries in a 15minute burst.
Van Poortvliet had a direct hand in two of them as Leicester, unlike the first half, took their chances in a ruthless manner.
Calum Green crashed over for the first after the interval followed by a brace for centre Guy Porter out wide on the right.
The fourth was a score for prop James Whitcombe who emerged triumphant from a pushover following a lineout.
Lancaster added three conversions to give Leicester a 36-0 lead as Wasps hardly got a look in.
A further try – the sixth of the afternoon – this time from Saumaki rewarded
more good play by Leicester after 67 minutes.
To the credit of a raw Wasps team they hit back to grab a consolation try through centre Olly Hartley six minutes from time, Mathews landing the conversion.
However, Leicester had the last say when Saumaki, on the left wing, added two more tries to round off a good afternoon for Tigers.
Lancaster kicked the last try from near the touchline to complete a contribution of 15 points, six conversions and a penalty. All in front of watching dad Stuart, the former England coach, now at Leinster.
Wasps assistant coach Scott Barrow said his young players who had stepped up and had learned a lot from a tough fixture. Overall, Wasps have introduced 14 newcomers in the two Premier Cup fixtures.
Barrow said: “We were in the game at half-time, but we did not take our the opportunities we gained.
“And we made a few errors afterwards and their big, strong boys took advantage.”