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Tuqiri makes his exit

A magnificent first-half performance saw Premiership leader Leicester mark Lote Tuqiri's final appearance with a comfortable 35-19 bonus-point victory over London Irish at Welford Road.

Sunday, 07 March 2010

Sportal.co.nz

A magnificent first-half performance saw Premiership leader Leicester mark Lote Tuqiri's final appearance with a comfortable 35-19 bonus-point victory over London Irish at Welford Road.

The Australia international returns to his homeland to play for Wests Tigers in the NRL after a typically powerful display, but Irish will rue the four penalty kicks at goal that they missed, which could have hauled them back into contention.

Leicester dominated all facets of the game in the opening half and tries from Alesana Tuilagi, Scott Hamilton and the outstanding Martin Castrogiovanni, plus 10 points from the boot of Toby Flood, put them 25-10 up. Steffon Armitage crossed for Irish with Tom Homer kicking five points.

Ryan Lamb added three penalties after the break for the visitors while replacement Jeremy Staunton kicked one of his own for the hosts, before George Chuter went over for the Tigers' fourth try.

Stand-in first five-eighths Rory Clegg sank Worcester deeper into the relegation scrap, scoring all Harlequins' points in a narrow 14-11 win at the Twickenham Stoop.

Just when Quins thought they had turned a corner, recent defeats threatened to draw them into the relegation scrap that has enveloped their guests.

And the loss of former New Zealand first five-eighths Nick Evans, who failed a fitness test hours before kick-off, was a major setback given how much they rely on his experience and guile as their main play-maker.

But Clegg deputised and ensured Evans was not missed.

A combination of Clegg and Mike Brown were driven over Worcester's line in the eighth minute, but Chris Latham sent Miles Benjamin over on the left three minutes later.

Matt Jones then put Worcester ahead with a penalty only for Clegg to level in kind, as he did when Jones regained the lead for Worcester in the 66th minute.

Clegg then plonked the ball on the halfway line, looked up, stepped back and blasted it home 10 minutes from time, and Worcester's subsequent efforts were defied.

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