Pollard stars as Leicester Tigers smash Sharks

MATCH REPORT: Handre Pollard produced a man-of-the-match performance in Leicester’s 56-17 win over the Sharks at Welford Road in Round Two of the Champions Cup.

The Springbok flyhalf scored 17 points in the match, which included a first-half try.

Pollard was excellent with ball in hand on attack and his accurate boot put Leicester in excellent positions on the field for a couple of maul tries.

The story continues below…

The visitors opened the scoring in the fourth minute after flyhalf Siya Masuku converted a penalty into three points.

However, the home side found themselves in front in the 10th minute with captain Julian Montoya powering his way over the tryline from a driving maul.

Pollard added the extra two points from a tricky angle.

The visitors responded well when Manu Tshituka crashed over for a try after sustained pressure. Masuku also impressed with a difficult conversion to put his side three points ahead.

Just when it looked like the Sharks had the momentum, the home side regained the lead when Montoya scored his second try after breaking away from another maul. Pollard was successful with the conversion again.

Leicester Tigers were gifted a five-pointer in the 28th minute after Eduan Keyter’s attempt to keep the ball in play from a touch finder resulted in Ollie Hassell-Collins scooping up the loose ball and finding his way to the tryline.

The home side secured their bonus point in the 35th minute when Solomone Kata got the ball from Pollard before bursting his way through the Sharks’ defence to score his team’s fourth try.

Pollard added the extras again and it was an 18-point lead for the hosts.

They also had the final say in the first half when some great interplay between backs and forwards resulted in a try for the Bok playmaker.

Pollard added his fifth conversion and at half-time, it was 35-10 to the Tigers.

The story continues below…

The second half got underway with a new referee in the form of Filippo Russo after Andrea Piardi got injured at the end of the first half.

But it didn’t help the Sharks as Leicester scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet weaved his way through the Sharks’ defence to score his side’s sixth try of the match. Pollard also nailed his sixth conversion of the match.

The Sharks finally got some points in the second half when Ethan Hooker picked up the ball from a loose pass before powering over for a try in the 61st minute.

The visitors played the final eight minutes of the game with 14 men after Ntuthuko Mchunu received a yellow card.

In that same period, Leicester scored another two tries via replacements Charlie Clare and Emeka Ilione to improve their points difference in Pool One.

The scorers:

For Leicester:
Tries: Montoya 2, Hassell-Collins, Kata, Pollard, Van Poortvliet, Clare, Ilione
Cons: Pollard 6, Shillock 2

For Sharks:
Tries: Tshituka, Hooker
Cons: Masuku 2
Pen: Masuku

Yellow card: Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks, 72′ – cynical play, offside)

Teams:

Leicester: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Josh Bassett, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Olly Cracknell, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 George Martin, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Whitcombe, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Cameron Henderson, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Joe Woodward.

Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne’ Rahl, 20 Tino Mavesere, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Diego Appollis, 23 Hakeem Kunene.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referee: Filippo Russo (Italy), Manuel Bottino (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)