Tigers leave it late to end Connacht’s challenge

LEICESTER outlasted a stubborn Connacht team by seven tries to four in a ferocious quarter-final.

A try seven minutes from time by substitute lock Harry Wells edged Tigers clear after Connacht had fought back from a half-time deficit of 24-11.

And a further try, their seventh of the night, by No.8 Jasper Wiese ended Connacht’s resistance.

Connacht paid for some sloppy play in the first half which gifted Leicester three tries. Apart from those daft moments, Connacht lived up to coach Andy Friend’s pre-match comment that his squad were up to the challenge of facing Leicester for the first time.

Connacht scored first. They fed on a poor kick out by Johnny McPhillips, who started for the rested George Ford, and made a try for scrum-half Kieran Marmion off centre Sean O’Brien’s break.

However, that was the highlight of Connacht’s first 30 minutes as Leicester proceeded to capitalise on numerous mistakes by scoring four tries in 17 minutes. And the Tigers did so when they were down to 14 men after hooker Charlie Clare was sin-binned for a late tackle. Clare had scored Leicester’s first try earlier off a line-out drive.

Connacht then gifted Leicester three further tries. Wing Guy Porter raced 30 metres after grabbing possession at a ruck inside the Connacht half.

Zak Henry added the conversion and Carty kicked a penalty before Connacht were hit by another mistake.

This time Carty threw a loose pass which allowed Porter to gallop clear before off-loading to the supporting Matias Moroni.

Henry scored the fourth try in the 32nd minute when he swerved through after Connacht failed to clear a high ball. Henry added the conversion for a Leicester lead of 24-8 which was cut back on the stroke of half-time thanks to Carty’s second penalty.

Connacht continued in a hurry after the break and flanker Eoghan Masterson’s try was converted by Carty. A penalty by McPhillips put Leicester 27-18 only for Connacht to burst back when wing Alex Wootton shot clear.

Carty converted and only two points separated the teams at 27-25. Carty pulled his penalty wide before Leicester set up camp in the visiting 22.

The pressure paid off with Clare forcing his way over from another forward drive. McPhillips converted to put Leicester 34-25 ahead after 68 minutes.

Connacht proved stubborn and a fourth try, this time from No.8 Paul Boyle, put his team within two points before those late tries by Wells and Wiese got Tigers over the line.