Leicester returned to the top of Pool 4 after producing an efficient showing to overcome Ulster 20-9, denying their visitors even a point at Welford Road.
In a closely-fought encounter, Matt Smith scored a crucial second-half try that sealed the points and also a first home win this season for Leicester.
He grounded with twelve minutes remaining after latching onto an fine grubber kick from England fly-half Toby Flood, who kicked five penalties.
Flood and Ian Humphreys were the only players to trouble the scoreboard in the first-half when they hit three penalties apiece in an enthralling battle.
But it was the home side who turned on the gas in the second stanza, with Flood getting the ball rolling with another solid three points before Humphreys missed a relatively simple effort.
The game continued to be ruled by impressive defences and it was Leicester's which time and time again stood firm before Smith's opportunistic moment preceded Flood's fifth penalty shot that denied the Ulstermen even a losing bonus-point.
Victory means that Leicester Tigers are now unbeaten on home soil in the Heineken Cup since their 2006/7 campaign, a record that stretches to a remarkable seventeen matches.
The scorers:
For Leicester:
Try: Smith
Pen: Flood 5
For Ulster:
Pen: Humphreys 3
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Andy Forsyth, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Jules Salvi, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Dan Cole, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 George Skivington, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Niall Morris.
Ulster: 15 Simon Danielli, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Nevin Spence, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johann Muller, 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 2 Rory Best, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Paddy McAllister, 18 Adam Macklin, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Willie Faloon, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Adam D'Arcy.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Comments
NHsaints says...
Nice one tigers, still flying the flag for english rugby with quins seen as every other club seems incapable of winning -_-
Posted 10:57 20th November 2011
papachinzo says...
Leicester we're brilliant in the second half, Ulster never looked like the better team. For me, the best performance of the weekend so far.
Posted 03:20 20th November 2011
tombomb says...
ian humphreys is vastly overrated the sooner he leave's ulster the better yes he kick 3 pens from half way and missed 1 but that's what is expected of a good 10 his territorial kicking was desperate ulster was by far and away the best team at the lineout but he did not kick to the corner's when his team needed him to even andrew trimble and adam darcy kicked to the corner because they knew that's what the team needed. he is so bad that he dropped the ball forward under no pressure giving leicester a scrum which lead to 3 point's and numerous other mistake's he was awful last week too just ask yourself if ronan o'gara had played tonight for ulster would they have won? =probably. he's a good player against weaker opposition like connaught two weaks ago when he finished a try and i swear every one thought he was a god but when he is needed to play well against great teams like clermont munster leinster leicester he is know wear to be seen a sign of a very bad player who wouldn't make a munster 3rd team if ulster want to ever win the hcup then they need to find a good young fly half soon in this vital position maybe he is still in the ulster setup because his older brother is the director of rugby i just hope for ulster that he leaves soon because whit a good fly half they could win the h cup but whit humphreys not a chance
Posted 21:29 19th November 2011
TigersRoar says...
TTiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs!!!!
Posted 20:08 19th November 2011