Bonus point win for Tigers

Editor

Leicester Tigers survived a spirited second half fightback from Worcester Warriors in a 32-15 win at Welford Road.

Leicester Tigers survived a spirited second half fightback from Worcester Warriors in a 32-15 win at Welford Road.

The Tigers made a positive start to the game and took advantage of some early indiscipline from the visitors, with Ryan Lamb knocking over the first points of the season.

Less than ten minutes later Leicester were over the line for their first try of the season to extend their advantage.

The try came after an attack down the left was followed by a deft grubber from Niall Morris, on to which Adam Thompstone pounced for a good try.

Lamb was wide with the extras but on 24 minutes he added his second penalty of the afternoon to put 11 points between the two sides.

Worcester responded five minutes before the interval when Ignacio Mieres booted over his side's first points of the campaign, but the Tigers were able to reaffirm their supremacy on the stroke of half-time.

Jordan Crane was the architect this time, breaking through the defensive line before finding David Mele, who finished the move for Lamb to convert and make it 18-3 at the half-way point.

After the yellow card was shown to Mike Williams five minutes into the second half, Leicester moved further ahead when Jordan Crane drove over the line for Lamb to add the extras.

Worcester responded through Chris Jones' try and Mieres added the extras, but the visitors remained 15 points adrift as the game approached the hour.

Josh Matavesi's try, and Worcester's second, on 66 minutes threatened to make the final ten minutes interesting, but the Tigers defence held firm before Niki Goneva's converted effort right on the buzzer crowned an encouraging opening day for Leicester.

The scorers:

For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: Thompstone, Mele, Crane, Goneva
Cons: Lamb 2, O.Williams
Pens: Lamb 2

For Worcester Warriors:
Tries: Jones, Matavesi
Con: Mieres
Pen: Mieres
Yellow Card: M.Williams

Leicester Tigers: 15 Niall Morris, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Anthony Allen, 12 Dan Bowden, 11 Adam Thompstone, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 David Mele, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Louis Deacon (c), 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Logovi'i Mulipola
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Manusamoa Tuilagi

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Josh Drauniniu, 13 Ravai Fatiaki, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 David Lemi, 10 Ignacio Mieres, 9 Jeremy Su'a, 8 Semisi Taulava, 7 Sam Betty, 6 Jonathan Thomas (C), 5 Dean Schofield, 4 Mike Williams, 3 John Andress, 2 Ed Shervington, 1 Jeremy Becasseau
Replacements: 16 Nick Seymour, 17 Paul Andrew, 18 Rob O'Donnell, 19 Chris Jones, 20 Jake Abbott, 21 Paul Hodgson, 22 Danny Gray, 23 Jon Clarke

Referee: Luke Pearce