Leicester too strong for Baa-Baas

Tuilagi hat-trick seals Tigers victory

As if to tantalise reporters all around, this game tailor-made itself around the old 'game of two halves' cliché, as a mind-numbing first half metamorphosed into a more Barbarian-type thriller in the second.

This fixture dates back to 1890, and the Tigers recorded their 37th win to the Baa-baas 44 on Friday night by 42-19.

Leicester outscored the Barbarians by seven tries to three, including a three-try spurt between minutes 58 and 63, and a hat-trick by Alesana Tuilagi.

The match provided some light relief for Leicester in a week marred by the injury to Matt Hampson and also the imminent departure of head coach John Wells.

Pat Howard - probably playing his last game in a Tigers shirt - scored the opening try with a burst out of a maul, converted by Roger Warren.

That try was replied to by Christian Califano, who was driven over from a line-out.

But that, aside from a near-intercept try by Phillipe Bernat-Salles, was that for the first half, with the Tigers 7-5 up at the break.

Leicester came storming out from the dressing room for the second half. Warren slotted a penalty, and both Will Johnson and Henry Tuilagi scored tries in the opening ten minutes.

Will Johnson's audacious chip provided another try for another Tuilagi - Alesana this time - and shortly afterwards Pat Howard gave way to allow Freddie Tuilagi into the game, meaning all three of the Samoan Tuilagi brothers were on the park.

The Barbarians threatened a brief comeback with Bernat-Salles finishing off a smart backs' move for a score, and then captain Paul Volley getting another, with François Géléz slotting both conversions.

But Leicester kept the pace for the final few minutes, and with Martin Johnson now on the field Vesty scored the clinching try, and Alesana Tuilagi completed his hat-trick with two injury-time tries.

The Scorers:

For Leicester:
Tries: A.Tuilagi 3, H.Tuilagi, W.Johnson, Howard
Cons: Warren 2
Pen: Warren

Barbarians:
Tries: Califano, Bernat-Salles, Volley
Cons: Géléz 2