Wasps 21-26 Leicester Tigers, Aviva Premiership
Leicester eye play-offs after shattering Wasps hopes
ESPN Staff
May 9, 2015
Report Match details
Date/Time: May 9, 2015, 15:15 local, 14:15 GMT
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Wasps 21 - 26 Leicester Tigers
Attendance: 32019  Half-time: 12 - 18
Pens: Goode 6, Lozowski
Tries: Goneva, Morris, Thompstone
Cons: Burns
Pens: Burns 3
COVENTRY, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Alapati Leiua of Wasps is tackled by Graham Kitchener during the Aviva Premiership match between Wasps and Leicester Tigers at The Ricoh Arena on May 9, 2015 in Coventry, England.  (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Alapati Leiua of Wasps is tackled by Graham Kitchener
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Fourteen-man Leicester kept alive their hopes of a play-off place while simultaneously ending Wasps' chances with a hard-fought win at a sold-out Ricoh Arena.

Leicester started much the better side with fullback Niall Morris crossing in the corner for the opening try.

Vereniki Goneva added a second try before the half-hour mark, but indiscipline from Seremaia Baikeinuku saw him red-carded four minutes before half-time.

Wasps could only keep the scoreboard ticking through the boot of Andy Goode, and although they trailed by just three points entering the final 10 minutes, a try in the corner from Leicester wing Adam Thompstone sealed victory for the visitors.

A 32,019 crowd - a record for the Aviva Premiership outside Twickenham and Wembley - crammed into the Ricoh Arena for a crucial match for both sides.

With only two play-off places left there was plenty at stake for fourth-placed Leicester and Wasps, who started the day just two places and three points behind.

The match had a cup final feel to it and it did not disappoint, a rip roaring first half swinging one way and then the other, Leicester turning round 18-12 up having scored two tries through Morris and Goneva.

Crucially, however, they had centre Bai sent off in the 45th minute of the half for hurtling into a ruck and catching Wasps number eight Nathan Hughes on the head.

Referee Wayne Barnes initially gave the Fijian a yellow card but changed it to a red after seeing the replay on the big screen. Hughes shook a fist in appreciation of the decision.

It was a huge blow for Leicester who shot out of the blocks and led 10-0 after just seven minutes, after fly-half Burns kicked a penalty and then converted a try in the left corner by full-back Morris.

Leicester, who had England's Dan Cole back at prop and lock Geoff Parking at blind side flanker, picked a pack to strangle Wasps but mixed their game up well.

However, Wasps' former Leicester fly-half Goode kept his side in the game with penalties either side of one from Burns.

But in the 33rd minute winger Goneva scored Leicester's second try after Wasps' defence cracked under intense pressure.

Burns missed the conversion and Goode slotted two more penalties, the second from half way following Bai's dismissal, to put Wasps firmly back in the game.

Both sides lost key players to injury, Parling going off at the end of the first half while Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson was helped off after suffering a leg injury 11 minutes after the break., Goode started to dictate the game for Wasps, with his clever kicks and ability to open the game up.

However, he missed a 47th-minute penalty and Leicester struck the first blow of the half, Burns kicking a simple penalty five minutes later to stretch the Tigers' lead to 21-12.

Wasps introduced England lock Joe Launchbury, who has been out for six months with a neck injury, in the 57th minute and six minutes later Goode reduced the arrears to six points with his fifth penalty.

Leicester's England lock Ed Slater, who has missed the entire season with a knee injury, made his comeback in the 60th minute with his side under pressure at a scrum in their own 22. They got a penalty from it and escaped their own half but only briefly as Wasps stormed back upfield. But for some great last ditch Leicester tackling they would have scored but Goode did kick his sixth penalty to make it 18-21.

Leicester, however, hit back with eight minutes left, winger Thompstone scoring in the right corner after a concerted attack. It was awarded by the video referee but Burns missed the conversion.

Replacement Alex Lozowski's 75th minute penalty put Wasps within five points but Leicester survived a last ditch attack and held on for victory.

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