Tigers take the sting out of Wasps

FP Ellis tackle
By Tigerchick
May 9 2004

Leicester Tigers ended London Wasps bid to take the top of the Premiership table by romping to victory over the current champions at The Causeway Stadium.

Wasps fought hard for the first 30 minutes as the two teams exchanged penalties and took an early lead when Stuart Abbot crossed the line with Wasps only try of the game. A below par Alex King missed what looked to be an easy conversion.
Tigers turned the tables with an Ollie Smith try in the 30th minute, converted by Andy Goode, followed swiftly by a Wasps penalty.
Just four minutes later, while the Tigers fans were getting their breaths back from all the excitement, Austin Healey strolled past an unusually sloppy Wasps defence to score Tigers second try.
After three minutes of injury time, Ashley Rowden blew the whistle on the first half, with Tigers in the lead by 20 to 14. Tiger's first half performance was stunning stuff and only marred by the sin binning of Martin Corry for killing the ball when Wasps were inches from scoring. Both teams came back in the second half with everything to play for. Wasps still seeking that coveted top spot in the table, Tigers also needing a win to secure a home Wildcard play-off fixture.
Alex King converted a penalty in the 44th minute scoring Wasps only points in the second half of the game. Tigers then stepped up a gear and just four minutes later Austin Healey scored his second try. Wasps made wholesale replacements on the hour, including Dallaglio, Lewsey, Leota, Howley and Voyce when it had become apparent that Tigers could not be beaten and that Gloucester were being slaughtered at Bath.
The game pretty much in the bag for Tigers, Andy Goode went on to score a brace of tries, securing Tigers much-needed bonus point, including a fabulous individual effort intercepting a pass from Fraser Waters on his own 22. He looked pretty shattered after that but still went on the make the conversion. To add insult to Wasps injury, Harry Ellis went over in the dying minutes, which Andy Goode converted, bringing his own points tally to 28.
Tiger's six tries to Wasps one says it all. Final score Wasps 17 Tigers 48.
On a dark and wet day that looked to turn out to be a forwards dominated game, the Tiger's backs produced their best in a performance of the season, reminding the thousand of Wasps fans and few hundred Tigers fans that had made the trip, of the Tiger's of yesteryear. The game was almost as exciting as a cup final and the team played like their lives were at stake. If they continue to play with that much passion and skill, we can beat anyone on the way to a place in Europe next season.