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Rugby Union

Tigers roar to victory

15/04/2007

An explosive first-half display helped Leicester to a 41-35 win over Ospreys to win the EDF Energy Cup at Twickenham.

The Tigers punished some schoolboy defending, running in four tries through Tom Varndell, Tom Croft, Ben Kay and Alesana Tuilagi.

Ospreys improved after the break and set-up a grandstand finish with a brace from Shane Williams and Lee Byrne.

But Tom Varndell grabbed a second meaning Nikki Walker's late try for Ospreys was not enough - handing Leicester victory in the Anglo-Welsh competition.

In a pulsating first-half, two James Hook penalties gave the Welsh side the lead before a defensive blunder helped the Tigers get their first try.

Varndell grabbed the ball from scrum-half Justin Marshall to cross the line on 12 minutes.

Two minutes later, flanker Croft burst through after collecting Dan Hipkiss' pass to touch down.

Kiwi star Marshall's nightmare first-half continued as he lost possession which allowed Kay to stroll towards the line for Leicester's third try.

Before the half-hour mark, Hipkiss found Tuilagi and the Samoan winger out-muscled Marshall to make it 28-9.

Ospreys gave themselves hope in the second half when Williams fed Bryne who dived over in the corner.

Byrne returned the favour soon after when he set up Williams who bamboozled the Tigers defence before crossing the line.

After Andy Goode's penalty had increased Leicester's lead, Williams went over again after squeezing past Daryl Gibson.

After Ryan Jones was carried off in the closing stages with a leg injury, Ospreys' dreams of a stunning comeback were shattered when Varndell capped off a sweeping move for his second try.

Despite Walker scoring Ospreys' third try, the Tigers held on to keep their hopes of a treble alive. They must now win the Heineken Cup and Premiership crown to complete their historic achievement.

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