Second-half blitz guides Leicester to European success

Leicester Tigers scored 30 second-half points to blow away the Scarlets and claim a 45-27 bonus-point victory in the European Champions Cup.

In a record 71st European tie to be staged at Welford Road, Leicester ran in five tries while George Ford contributed four conversions and as many penalties in a 20-point haul.

The Scarlets were only two points adrift at the interval – and led in the second period – but they were unable to add to their total in the final 20 minutes as they fell to their second loss in the competition.

Like their opponents, Leicester had lost their first contest, but an early Ford penalty put them ahead before Harry Wells’ try extended that lead.

That is FULL TIME at Welford Road and we record our first win of the new European campaign!! #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/scPt1t1AA1

— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) October 19, 2018

The visitors replied through a Gareth Davies score and the boot of Leigh Halfpenny evened things up, only for Guy Thompson’s try to nudge the Tigers ahead again.

Halfpenny reduced the deficit before Leicester started the second half with a bang – a Ford penalty followed by Sione Kalamafoni crossing.

Davies and Steffan Evans combined to send the latter in and a horrible Ben Youngs kick led to Davies setting up Blade Thomson a Scarlets try that put them ahead. 

However, Manu Tuilagi powered past three men to score and restore Leicester’s lead and Jonny May also touched down to give the home side a comprehensive win.

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