Hard-earned victory boosts Leicester's Heineken Cup hopes

Leicester 20 Clermont Auvergne 15

Leicester boosted their hope of a Heineken Cup quarter-final place with a hard-earned Pool Three victory over Clermont Auvergne at Welford Road.

The Tigers led 13-9 at half-time after Anthony Allen’s converted try and two Toby Flood penalties, but the win was sealed when Scott Hamilton touched down five minutes from the end and Flood converted.

Brock James’ boot accounted for all of the visitors’ points, with the South African fly-half kicking two drop goals and three penalties.

The Tigers face Viadana at home and the Ospreys away in their two remaining group games as they seek to advance to the knockout stages.

England scrum-half Harry Ellis was on the bench for Leicester, returning after three months out for a knee injury, but Tom Croft is currently out with a knee problem of his own.

Having suffered a 40-30 defeat in France last week the last thing Leicester would have wished would be to go behind after two minutes.

Fortunately for the hosts, fly-half James fired wide after Lewis Moody was punished for coming in at the side.

Flood kicked a penalty after 14 minutes after Clermont were penalised at the breakdown as Leicester took an early lead.

Rugged defence was then required as Lote Tuqiri saved Leicester when he squeezed lock Jamie Cudmore off target as he homed in on a kick-ahead that lay unprotected in-goal.

Clermont kept the pressure on, however, and when Leicester halted an attack heading for their posts, Morgan Parra whipped a pass back for James to equalise with a 20th minute drop-goal only for Flood to regain the lead inside two minutes with a fine penalty from wide out on the left wing.

Anthony Floch tried his luck with a long-range penalty, but his left-foot kick steered off course late in its journey.

Another snap-pass from Parra found James who rifled over his second drop-goal to level the scores after 26 minutes.

Leicester scored the first try after 30 minutes. Louis Deacon soared to win a lineout, scrum-half Ben Youngs bemused the defence with a dazzling run before off-loading to Allen who completed the score. Flood converted.

James had an opportunity to reduce the deficit four minutes later, but his 40-yard penalty attempt dropped short.

Another kick on the stroke of half-time flew just inside the posts. It was adjudged to be wide by the touch-judges, but referee Nigel Owens over-ruled and granted the score.

Flood missed a penalty attempt early in the second half. Leicester then launched a ferocious series of attacking phases, but Clermont held out.

A poor pass was knocked-on by Flood, and the visitors heaved a sight of relief as the siege was lifted without the loss of a score.

Clermont launched an attack of their own which saw James attempt to complete a hat-trick of drop-goals.

But Dan Hipkiss charged down the kick then launched a counter-attack brilliantly halted by Parra, who ran 35 yards to cut the centre down.

Leicester then raged at the visitors’ line again only for Hamilton to knock-on two yards out when tackled by Gonzalo Canale.

James did kick a third drop-goal in the 66th minute, cutting the score to 13-12 despite Leicester dominating huge swathes of play.

But nerves were calmed five minutes from time when Hamilton grabbed a ball missed by James and galloped 60 yards to score on the right.

Flood’s conversion opened up an eight-point gap only for Owen to award a harsh penalty 60 second later.

James was successful with the kick to pinch a bonus point.