GROUP THREE: Leicester 32 Ospreys 32:INJURY-RAVAGED Leicester staged a pulsating second-half comeback to open their Heineken Cup campaign with a home draw against Ospreys yesterday.
The Tigers, already decimated by injuries, lost four more key players before kick-off and found themselves 26-8 down late in the first half.
The Ospreys had stormed ahead with tries from Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe, plus a faultless kicking performance from teenage outhalf Dan Biggar, who finished with 22 points.
Leicester’s changing room may have resembled a scene from M*A*S*H, but nothing could damage their age-old fighting spirit as the Tigers mounted a dramatic comeback.
Man-of-the-match Billy Twelvetrees added to Johne Murphy’s early try, before Argentinian winger Lucas Amorosino and then Jeremy Staunton earned the Tigers a share of the spoils and a four-try bonus point.
Leicester have not lost at Welford Road in more than a year, and the Ospreys will be kicking themselves at letting such a golden opportunity slip through their fingers.
The Tigers – already without the likes Geordan Murphy, Toby Flood and Sam Vesty – were forced into a backline reshuffle after Harry Ellis, Matt Smith and centre pairing Aaron Mauger and Dan Hipkiss were all ruled out.
Things got even worse for the Tigers at the interval when Anthony Allen was replaced in midfield by the former All Black flanker Craig Newby.
At first, the Tigers appeared unaffected by all the changes and raced into an early 8-0 lead as Julian White demolished the Ospreys scrum and Allen made an enterprising start as a makeshift outside-centre.
Allen ran on to Staunton’s long pass and carved his way through the Ospreys line to set up the Tigers’ opening try, which was scored in the corner by Murphy.
Scores: Leicester: Tries: J Murphy, Twelvetrees, Amorosino, Staunton. Cons: Twelvetrees 3. Pens: Staunton, Twelvetrees.
Ospreys: Tries: Williams, Bowe. Cons: Biggar 2. Pens: Biggar 5. Drop Goals: Biggar.
LEICESTER: Hamilton, J Murphy, Allen, Twelvetrees, Amorosino, Staunton, Grindal, Ayerza, Chuter, White, L Deacon, Kay, Croft, Moody, Crane. Replacements: Newby for Allen (40), B Youngs for Grindal (66), Stankovich for Ayerza (78), Castrogiovanni for White (47), Parling for Kay (52). Not Used: Duffy, T Youngs, B Deacon.
OSPREYS: Byrne, Walker, Bowe, Hook, Williams, Biggar, Phillips, James, Bennett, Griffiths, A Jones, Thomas, Collins, Holah, R Jones. Replacements: Bishop for Byrne (51), Hibbard for Bennett (61), Gough for Thomas (61), Tiatia for Collins (54). Not Used: Mitchell, Bevington, Nutbrown, Parker.
Referee: Alain Rolland(Ireland).
