Tigers share spoils after sensational comeback

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Leicester Tigers came from 14 points down in the second half to draw 30-all with Harlequins in the Big Game 12.

Marcus Smith opened the scoring with a penalty, before two from George Ford put Tigers in front.

But a crashing Paul Lasike try put Quins ahead at the break, and though Kyle Eastmond’s intercept score briefly had Tigers level, tries from Smith and Chris Robshaw built a commanding lead for Paul Gustard’s men.

The game spun when Jordan Taufua crashed over from a driving maul, with Will Collier’s yellow card setting up a grandstand finale before Telusa Veainu levelled at 30-30.

Alex Dombrandt spilled a slippery ball late on with the line gaping and the win on the line, but it was to be a repeat of Big Game 1 as the spoils were shared.

The scorers

For Harlequins:
Tries: Smith, Lasike, Robshaw
Cons: Smith 3
Pens: Smith 3

For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: Eastmond, Taufua, Veainu
Cons: Ford 3
Pens: Ford 3

Yellow card: Will Collier (Harlequins, 69)

Teams:

Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Paul Lasike, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Lawday, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 James Chisholm, 5 Matt Symons, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Elia Elia, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Jack Musk, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Will Collier, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Brett Herron, 23 Gabriel Ibitoye.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Jordan Taufua, 6 Sam Lewis, 5 Calum Green, 4 Tomás Lavanini, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs (captain), 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Ben White, 22 Noel Reid, 23 George Worth.

Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson & Roy Maybank.
TMO: Rowan Kitt.

Report by @premrugby