Leicester Tigers got the job done against Aironi at Welford Road on Saturday, winning 33-6 and securing a bonus point in their final Heineken Cup fixture.
After a frustrating first period, the hosts only led 9-6 at half-time thanks to three Billy Twelvetrees penalties, with Naas Oliver responding for the visitors with two of his own.
However, four second half tries from Thomas Waldrom, Ben Woods, Geordan Murphy and teenager George Ford secured the bonus-point win.
After their 41-7 humbling to Ulster the previous week, Leicester crashed embarrassingly out of the Heineken Cup, although a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup was still up for grabs.
However, the Tigers had to rely on Ulster overcoming Clermont Auvergne in France and preventing the hosts from gaining a losing bonus-point.
And an uninspiring opening period certainly suggested that a place in Europe's second-tier wasn't at the forefront of their mind.
Olivier opened Aironi's account after 13 minutes with a penalty before Twelvetrees equalised for the hosts with one of his own.
The visiting fly-half put them ahead once again, but two further three-pointers from the hosts' centre saw them take a 9-6 lead at the break.
However, the second period was a different story as Aironi's defence began to part and Leicester scored three quick-fire tries.
Firstly, Waldrom powered across the whitewash before his back-row partner, Woods, went over. And the third try in 15 minutes was secured by Murphy. Ford grabbed the fourth as the talented youngster got valuable game-time at the top level as the Tigers ended their Heineken Cup campaign on a high.
The scorers:
For Leicester:Tries: Waldrom, Woods, Murphy, FordCon: Twelvetrees, FordPen: Twelvetrees 3
For Aironi:Pen: Olivier 2
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy (c), 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Jeremy Staunton, 9 Micky Young, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Ben Woods, 6 Tom Croft, 5 George Skivington, 4 Ed Slater, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Jimmy Stevens, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 George Ford, 23 Scott Hamilton.
Aironi: 15 Alberto Benettin, 14 Giiulio Toniolatti, 13 Roberto Quartaroli, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 1 Alberto de Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice , 17 Salvatore Perugini, 18 Lorenzo Romano, 19 Carlo del Fava, 20 Filippo Ferrarini, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Gilberto Pavan, 23 Matteo Pratichetti.
Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)
Comments
melkdave says...
Well Leicester got the expected 5 points what a pity they arnt really firing this year But you cant take anything away from Ulster who have come on by leaps and bounds this year
Posted 19:14 21st January 2012