Tigers roar on thanks to Montoya try double
LEICESTER shunted their way to a fourth win of the campaign and were powered along by two tries from new hooker Julian Montoya.
The Argentinian started ahead of captain Tom Youngs to score the first two tries before the former England hooker replaced him to also contribute a try.
Leicester’s forward drives proved unstoppable as No.8 Jasper Wiese contributed the other two in a win by five tries to three.
Worcester, who were 27-3 down after 53 minutes, struck back in the final quarter but overall paid for a high penalty count and a failure to find the snap which had pushed champions Exeter close last week.
They also lost their way further when fly-half Duncan Weir was led off clutching a popped AC shoulder joint after 29 minutes.
Head coach Jonathan Thomas described the performance as naïve and felt their errors had helped Leicester play the game they wanted.
Thomas said Worcester had held their own in defence in the first half but added: “It was our indiscipline which gave them the territory.
“We gave them the game they wanted to play which was quite naïve from us. Four of their five tries came from penalties which led to territory, which led to mauls.
“It’s just naivety. You can’t talk about it in the week and not deliver on match day.”
Bright sunshine had greeted the start of this
Midlands tussle. And like the previous week at home to Sale, Leicester started more organised than the visitors.
They reached the halfway mark leading 13-3 thanks to the first of two tries from Montoya in the 23rd minute. The recent signing had started his second game after appearing on his debut last week as a substitute for Youngs.
Montoya brings the same sort of hustle and bustle and his try came off a driving maul from a lineout.
Leicester should have gained a second try in the 34th minute but were let down on the final pass from
Matt Scott to Freddie Steward. The centre had quickly supported wing Kobus van Wyk only to somehow push the scoring pass forward to Steward.
It was a big let off for Worcester who paid throughout the half for the concession of penalties and were punished twice by Zak Henry who had also improved Montoya’s try.
Worcester needed a penalty from near halfway by Weir to get on the scoresheet in the 17th minute.
However, the busy flyhalf lasted only another 12 minutes before he was injured by Wiese when clearing out at a ruck.
Leicester also lost a key man in wing Nemani Nadolo who hurt a leg early on while trying to touch down Henry’s chip into the corner.
The start of the second half brought more Leicester pressure and two more tries from relentless forward drives.
Montoya finished off his second while Wiese claimed Leicester’s next in an attack which saw Worcester lose Graham Kitchener to the sin bin for obstruction.
Henry converted both tries to give Leicester that 27-3 lead which spurred Worcester to show they too could score from a forward drive, substitute prop Richard Palframan finishing off.
However, Leicester were not finished. Further forward muscle ended in a try for replacement Youngs before Wiese grabbed his second.
In between those scores, Worcester’s Oli Morris had scooted in off an interception and the visitors ended the match by snatching a third from wing Perry Humphreys.