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Rugby Union

Leicester book Heineken Cup final date

21/04/2007

Leicester have closed on a unique Treble with a 33-17 Heineken Cup win over Llanelli Scarlets.

Fly-half Andy Goode was the Tigers' sole source of points in a tight first half as he landed three penalties before scampering through for a try to take the home side into the break 16-10 ahead.

The Scarlets, hoping to avenge two previous semi-final defeats at the hands of the Welford Road outfit, could have been kept even closer on the trail of their opponents had they not squandered two kickable penalties.

As it was winger Mark Jones went over in the 37th minute, allowing Stephen Jones to shrug off his previous error with a confident conversion that kept the Welsh side in contention.

The Scarlets nosed ahead for the first time five minutes after half-time as Matthew Rees bravely dived over from close range and was given the nod from the video referee.

However the match almost immediately swung back Leicester's way as flanker Shane Jennings raced onto a beautifully-weighted chip from Goode and cantered in under the sticks.

The team's contrasting styles, Leicester's forward-dominated close game and the Scarlets' desire to spread play wide made for an intriguing final quarter as the players tired in the hot conditions.

After surviving a spell of pressure Leicester killed of the game, however, with a 76th-minute try that summed up their gameplan.

Louis Deacon barged his way through the last line of tiring Scarlets' defence after the Tigers' pack had controlled a scrum five metres out.

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