So near, so far for Exiles

LONDON IRISH are still searching for their first Guinness Premiership win in two months after a late revival wasn’t enough to prevent them going down 31-28 to rejuvenated Leicester Tigers yesterday.

Matt Smith scored either side of half time to help the Tigers — who had failed to win their last five on the road — to a seemingly unassailable 28-11 lead.

But the Exiles suddenly found belief in the last half hour, with replacement Mike Catt’s sumptuous cut-out pass sending Sailosi Tagicakibau over.