The game ended without a try as Irish fly-half Ryan Lamb kicked all of the points for the home side with six penalties.

Dan Hipkiss returned from illness to the Tigers starting line-up while Marcos Ayerza, Julian White and Richard Blaze were named in the forward pack. Steffon Armitage returned to the Irish side with George Stowers switching to blindside. In the pack, Clarke Dermody, Danie Coetzee and Paulica Ion all returned to the front row.

Tigers came under pressure at the start when they failed to gather the kick-off and Armitage swooped on the loose ball before being stopped 10m out. The ball was moved right where centre Elvis Seveali’i kicked ahead but was unable to reach the ball before it went dead.

It was a hectic start as Scott Hamilton’s quickly took the drop out to the right wing where the ball collected by Johne Murphy to set Tigers on their first attack.

But it was Irish who had the first chance to put points on the board with a 40m penalty in the 12th minute that Lamb miscued wide and short.

Tigers hit back by keeping hold of possession to take play deep into the Irish 22. With the advantage of a penalty, Staunton attempted a drop at goal that was narrowly wide. Referee Wayne Barnes returned for the penalty and Staunton made no mistake to put Tigers 3-0 ahead after 16 minutes.

The lead lasted four minutes and Irish drew level with a penalty from Lamb from 40m out.

Tigers pressed again when Jordan Crane’s grubber kick forced Tom Homer to concede a 5m line-out. Crane claimed the throw but when the ball was flung left Lucas Amorosino was unable to gather.

Irish took the lead for the first time with 10 minutes of the half remaining. Crane had his kick blocked by Armitage and was then penalised for holding back the flanker as he chased the loose ball. Lamb kicked the penalty from the left to put the Exiles 6-3 up.

Irish thought they had scored the first try moments later as Sailosi Tagicakibau ran through but they were called back for a forward pass by Lamb.

Lamb made no mistake with three minutes of the half remaining as he kicked his third penalty of the half after Tigers were ruled offside in defence. It gave the home side a 9-3 half-time lead.

Staunton and Lamb exchanged penalties in the first five minutes after the restart, but the defences continued to dominate and try-scoring chances were at a premium.

Staunton was called on in defence after Peter Hewat intercepted Hamilton’s pass on his own 22. The Irish full-back hacked ahead but was outpaced by Staunton, who raced back to clear the danger on the edge of the Tigers 22.

Staunton then kicked his third penalty out of three, another testing kick from the right touchline, to leave Tigers 12-9 behind with 25 minutes remaining.

George Stowers’ run into the Tigers 22 then created a chance for Lamb, but the fly-half knocked on as he tried to gather the pass.

It was tense stuff and Lamb eased the home side’s nerves with his fifth penalty to extend the Irish lead to 15-9 as the game entered its final 10 minutes.

Ben Youngs, on as a replacement scrum-half for James Grindal, took over the kicking duties and slotted his first kick to leave Tigers three points behind.

But Lamb kicked his sixth penalty with five minutes remaining to ensure the win for Irish.