Aviva Premiership semi-final
Leicester Tigers 33-16 Harlequins
Leicester Tigers have reached their ninth consecutive Aviva Premiership Final after a 33-16 victory over Harlequins at Welford Road.
Tries from Vereniki Goneva, Niall Morris, Tom Croft and Matthew Tait saw the fierce Tigers storm their way into the final with the chance to nurse the agony of defeat in their past two finals.
Harlequins (The Champions) travelled to Welford Road off the back of some disappointing form to add to the Tigers home advantage and higher placed position in the league. Tigers were the firm favourites.
Despite Harlequins taking an early penalty lead with three accurate kicks from Nick Evans taking the score to 9-3, the Tigers responded.
As half-time approached the clock reached the 40 minute mark. Keeping the ball alive Ben Youngs forced the ball wide and when it reached Goneva on the touchline he surged towards the try line to give his side a 13-9 half-time lead.
The merciless play and dominance of the Tigers proved to be the difference in the second half as Goneva’s late first-half try saw a turning of the tides. After Morris had added a second, Croft asserted the ultimate blow showing his power and athleticism to charge through from 40 metres to score in the corner. The try capping off a fantastic performance for the Lion.
If the game wasn’t already won, ‘Man of the Match’, Tait then completed the Tigers scoring with a well worked try down the right, which allowed him to hold off his man and dab in Tigers fourth. The full-back with a season defining performance which will certainly secure his place in Richard Cockerill’s starting XV at Twickenham.
Harlequins scored a try late on through Ross Crisholm but it would be too little, too late at the Tigers stormed to victory.
Sunday saw Northampton Saints shock league winners Saracens with a 26-13 victory to see them through to the final.
Saints will meet their rivals Tigers at Twickenham on Saturday 25th May to battle it out for the Aviva Premiership title.
