Tigers claim premiership, hunt on for double

BBC Sports - Sunday, May 17, 2009 5:47 PM

Leicester 10-9 London Irish

Leicester (3) 10
Try: Crane Con: Dupuy Pen: Dupuy
London Irish (3) 9
Pens: D Armitage 2 Drop-goal: Hewat

LEICESTER took the first step towards a possible trophy double by overcoming a pugnacious London Irish to claim their sixth Premiership title in 11 years.

Julien Dupuy's penalty cancelled out Peter Hewat's early drop-goal to leave the sides level at 3-3 at half-time.

Delon Armitage landed a penalty for Irish on the resumption but Jordan Crane's converted try grabbed the lead.

Another Armitage penalty from halfway made it 10-9 with eight minutes left, but the Tigers held out to triumph.

It provided head coach Richard Cockerill with his first trophy since succeeding Heyneke Meyer in mid-season, and the former England hooker now takes his side to
Murrayfield next Saturday for a Heineken Cup final against Leinster.

Victory there would complete a remarkable campaign for the Tigers, who converted their first-place finish in the regular season into final triumph at Twickenham in front of 81,601 fans.

In truth neither side found their best form in a slow-burner which failed to sparkle but remained tense throughout.
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LEICESTER: G Murphy (capt); Hamilton, Erinle, Hipkiss, J Murphy; Vesty, Dupuy; Ayerza, Chuter, White, Croft, Kay, Newby, Woods, Crane.
Replacements: Smith (for J Murphy, 21), Kayser (for Chuter, 57), Moody (for Woods, 59), Cole (for White, 74).
Not used: L Deacon, Ellis, Varndell.
Sin-Bin: Crane (40)

LONDON IRISH: Hewat; Thompstone, D Armitage, Mapusua, Tagicakibau; Catt, Hodgson; Dermody, Coetzee, Skuse, Hudson, Casey (capt), Danaher, S Armitage, Hala'ufia.
Replacements: Thorpe (for Danaher, 41), Homer (for Thompstone, 41), Corbisero (for Skuse, 62), Seveali'i (for Hewat, 62), Buckland (for Coetzee, 72), Johnson (for Dermody, 72).
Not used: Richards.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).
Attendance: 81,601