Heinekan European Cup: Llanelli reach quarter-finals

Stephen Jones kicked Llanelli into the Heineken Cup quarter finals, as they beat European champions Leicester 24-12.

The Wales fly-half booted eight penalties from eight attempts to take Llanelli through as the tournament's second-best runner-up.

Leicester, who saw their 11-match European winning-run come to an abrupt halt, were already through to the knock-out stages as pool one winners.

But today's defeat means that they face an anxious wait before discovering the identity of their quarter final opponent, and they could now be away from Welford Road.

Llanelli, led magnificently by Scott Quinnell, were irresistible, in front of a crowd of more than 10,000.

Jones kept his cool despite intense pressure on his shoulders, slotting five penalties in the first half as Llanelli ground out a 15-12 advantage, and then three more after the break as Leicester finished well beaten.

The Tigers had prop Darren Garforth sin-binned just before the break, and Llanelli crucially took advantage of his temporary absence, Jones slotting two penalties during his absence.

Leicester, minus the suspended Austin Healey, lacked flair and imagination among their backs, and with the forwards struggling against Quinnell's swarming pack, they could have no complaints about the result.

The early exchanges were predictably fast and furious, Leicester number eight Martin Corry being warned for throwing a punch, yet Leicester settled quickly and fly-half Andy Goode hoisted them into a 6-0 lead after nine minutes through two penalty strikes.

It took Llanelli most of the first quarter to establish any kind of territorial foot-hold, and Jones reduced their arrears with a 17th-minute penalty from close range. Goode though, was not to be outdone as he found the target with a 45-metre strike to restore Leicester's six-point advantage, yet with the bumper crowd roaring them on, Llanelli suddenly stepped up a gear.

Two further Jones penalties tied the scores, and although Goode put Leicester back in front, Garforth's 33rd-minute yellow card provided Llanelli with an opening. And how they made the most of it, camping in Leicester's 22 and creating the pressure from which Leicester cracked and Jones kicked another two penalties.

The second period was a similar story of Llanelli forward dominance, often illustrated by the sight of a charging Quinnell, while prop Martyn Madden also gave Leicester's defence several alarms.

Jones landed his sixth penalty, and Leicester suddenly began making mistakes under pressure, full back Geordan Murphy knocking-on under no pressure inside his own 22, and then prop Graham Rowntree following suit just a few minutes later.

Leicester boss Dean Richards used flankers Lewis Moody and Josh Kronfeld off the bench, but it was a lost cause as Llanelli finished in style through three more Jones penalties during the final 11 minutes.