You are in > manchester.com  > News > Leicester out of Heineken Cup

Rugby Union

Leicester out of Heineken Cup

13/01/2008

Leicester Tigers have been knocked out of the Heineken Cup following their 17-12 defeat to Edinburgh yesterday.

The English side who finished runners-up in last year's competition had to win against Edinburgh to stand a chance of qualifying from a tightly-contested pool.

But their third loss of the campaign means they will not even be able to claim one of the best runner-up places to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The Tigers led 9-7 at the break thanks to Andy Goode's three penalties which cancelled out Phil Godman's try and conversion for the hosts.

In the second half Leicester hooker George Chuter was sin-binned and Godman gave Edinburgh a one-point lead when he kicked the resulting penalty. However Goode restored the Tigers' advantage with a penalty of his own soon after.

Benefiting from the extra man Edinburgh then took a decisive lead when Nick de Luca and Simon Webster combined to release hooker Ross Ford for the game-winning try.

Leicester tried to mount a comeback but when Aaron Mauger fumbled the ball close to the Edinburgh line their chances disappeared.

Elsewhere in pool six Leinster kept their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals alive with a 20-13 win over Toulouse at Donnybrook.

Luke Fitzgerald scored both of Leinster's tries while Argentinean Felipe Contepomi kicked a further ten points to beat the pool leaders.

Leinster must beat Leicester at Welford Road next week to have any chance of making the quarter-finals.

In pool four Saracens earned themselves a place in the last eight of the competition with a 45-16 win over French side Biarritz.

Tries from Hugh Vyvyan, Rodd Penney and two from New Zealand lock Chris Jack gave the London side the bonus point win they needed for qualification.