Rugby: Burke kicks Harlequins into Cup semis

Harlequins dumped Leicester out of English rugby's domestic cup competition for the second successive season after a thrilling 22-20 quarter-final clash at The Stoop.

Quins' Irish international fly-half Paul Burke booted two penalties during the final four minutes of normal time to send Leicester crashing out.

The Tigers looked to have done enough when they led 20-16 approaching the closing moments, but Burke held his nerve magnificently to strike the winning kick from inside his own half.

Tigers boss Dean Richards made six changes from the team that suffered a shock Heineken Cup defeat against Llanelli last Saturday and started with England stars Martin Johnson and Neil Back among the replacements.

Both players appeared at the start of the second half but were unable to stop a series of unforced Leicester errors against a wonderfully committed Quins outfit who made a mockery of their Premiership form that shows five successive defeats.

Quins grabbed a narrow interval lead, two Burke penalties giving them a 6-3 advantage after a disappointing opening period.

But the game then burst into life as Quins targeted a repeat of last season when they ended Leicester's cup interest at the semi-final stage.

Tigers had been expected to win this Powergen Cup encounter comfortably and they scored their opening try on 51 minutes after Quins flanker Tu Tamarua had been sin-binned for a professional foul.

Superb approach work between backs and forwards ended with substitute hooker Richard Cockerill - who replaced the injured Dorian West 11 minutes before half-time - slipping a scoring pass to wing Ollie Smith to make it 10-6.

Leicester centre Rod Kafer was yellow-carded for killing possession, and another Burke penalty reduced the deficit to a point.

A spell of fierce pressure was rewarded when centre Nick Burrows claimed a 58th-minute try that Burke converted, setting up a thrilling final quarter.

Kafer turned from villain to hero when he grabbed Leicester's second try, converted by fly-half Andy Goode.

When Goode kicked his second penalty after Burrows was sin-binned for a high tackle Leicester looked home and dry.

But they fatally allowed Burke two late chances and he made them pay.