Leicester set up decider with Stade

Leicester will tackle French champions Stade Francais in a Heineken Cup elimination match at Welford Road next Friday night.

Top spot in Pool One and a quarter-final place is the prize after Leicester retained pole position through an impressive four-try triumph against Gwent Dragons tonight.

Tigers’ victory – the first away win of any team in their group – also saw them collect a bonus point after fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen (two), number eight Henry Tuilagi and hooker Dorian West scored tries.

Wing Steve Booth kicked two conversions, and full-back Sam Vesty improved van der Westhuyzen’s early touchdown, while the eliminated Dragons managed two Lee Jarvis drop-goals and three Percy Montgomery penalties before Montgomery claimed a scintillating injury-time try.

Leicester overcame the triple injury absence of Austin Healey, Ben Kay and Neil Baxter to display all their renowned battling qualities in abundance.

So tight has been their qualifying group though, that whoever finishes in first place – Leicester or Stade – seem certain to face an away quarter-final tie.

Healey, nursing a leg injury, was replaced by Booth, while Freddie Tuilagi took over from hamstring victim Baxter on the other wing and Louis Deacon partnered Martin Johnson in the second-row.

The Dragons, unbeaten at home this season, relegated their captain Andy Marinos to replacement duty, so flanker Jason Forster led the team.

New signing Bobby Skinstad, meanwhile, was an interested spectator after completing his move from South Africa yesterday.

The game began in explosive fashion, with 10 points during the opening six minutes.

Jarvis booted his team in front with a drop-goal, but Leicester’s response was immediate after Leon Lloyd and former England captain Johnson both made considerable headway.

With the Dragons’ defence stretched, fly-half van der Westhuyzen sliced his way through for a try Vesty converted.

Back came the Dragons though, and full-back Montgomery’s angled penalty cut the deficit, and they almost scored a try after Jarvis’ clever change of direction created an opportunity for wing Ben Breeze.

Leicester were even more impressive behind the scrum, wing Freddie Tuilagi embarking on a 30-metre midfield break, and it took some last-gasp Dragons defending to keep them out.

There was an entertaining momentum to the game, and Leicester struck with their second try 12 minutes before half-time.

Aware they could make inroads behind the Dragons’ defence, van der Westhuyzen tested them with a superbly-placed kick, and Henry Tuilagi gathered a kind bounce for an easy touchdown.

Vesty missed the conversion, but Leicester were good value for their lead, despite Montgomery reducing it with a penalty on 34 minutes.

Johnson earned a ticking-off from French referee Joel Jutge following a skirmish as half-time approached, but the Dragons had quelled an impressive Leicester onslaught, setting up an intriguing second period.

Leicester suffered an injury blow within three minutes of the restart when Vesty departed through hamstring trouble. Luke Myring replaced him, but both sides were immediately reduced to 14 men.

Referee Jutge sin-binned Dragons lock Ian Gough and Leicester flanker Will Johnson for fighting, and the Dragons hauled themselves level after 48 minutes when Jarvis dropped his second goal.

Leicester needed to re-assert their first-half control, and Booth came up trumps, darting through some weak Dragons tackling and setting up an attacking platform from which West powered over.

Booth landed the conversion after taking over kicking duties from Vesty, as Leicester contemplated a potential twin jackpot of away win and try-scoring bonus point.

But the Dragons were in no mood to lie down, and Marinos made a telling break from his first touch after going on for Steve Winn.

Marinos was halted by a high tackle, and Montgomery kicked the resulting penalty, meaning Leicester could not relax at 19-15 ahead, even though they had scored three tries.

The bonus point arrived though, nine minutes from time, after van der Westhuyzen grabbed his second try following sustained Leicester pressure.

Booth converted, and Tigers were out of sight at 26-15 in front.

The Dragons went in search of a consolation try during the closing stages, and it arrived after Leicester’s defence was carved open and Montgomery rounded things off in brilliant fashion.

The night though, belonged to Leicester, setting up next week’s winner-takes-all encounter.