Crane revels in shoot-out glory

Leicester hero Jordan Crane has started reflecting on the “unbelievable feeling” of kicking Leicester into a record-equalling fifth Heineken Cup final.

Crane booked Tigers’ trip to Murrayfield on May 23 after a Millennium Stadium encounter that rewrote tournament history.

For the first time since European club rugby’s blue riband event began 14 years ago, a penalty shoot-out was required to decide the winner.

Leicester, clawed back from 14 points ahead to 26-26 by an inspired Cardiff Blues revival that saw Jamie Roberts and Tom James score late converted tries, ultimately prevailed.

But only after 16 players each attempted 22-metre kicks from in front of the posts, with number eight Crane’s strike securing a sudden death 7-6 success after James and Wales star Martyn Williams had missed for the Blues.

Crane admitted: “I never thought it was going to carry on all the way to my go, but once it did, I just tried not to worry about the moment. The pressure was off me because Martyn Williams had missed his (kick), so I just stepped up and gave it a shot.”