A squad including 11 players who have come through the Tigers Academy scored four tries in a 39-16 victory at Welford Road to provide platform in the pool stages of the Anglo-Welsh competition.
“It was a great effort from all the boys," said director of rugby Cockerill.
"We won’t get carried away, but it is certainly pleasing to get the win. It was not necessarily about us winning tonight, it was about trying to play well and go from there. Both teams had a mixture of young and senior players in their side and those young lads stepped up very well.
“The scoreline maybe flattered us in the end but we showed good control, we kept possession and we put them under pressure.
"The boys are happy, it’s a big game, they have stepped up and it’s great for them to play in front of a big crowd, on live television, in a competitive cup game.
“Half of that team came through the Academy and the supporters like to see that. Thankfully they stepped up and did well.”
Cockerill handed senior debuts to centres George Catchpole and Javiah Pohe, plus replacements Tiziano Pasquali and Perry Humphreys, while Joe Cain and Harry Thacker made their home debuts and Miles Benjamin got his first senior run-out at Welford Road since his move to the club last year.
“We have lots of players missing and we chose to rest a few who have played a lot of rugby already,” said Cockerill.
“But it’s important to use the squad. Among the senior group of players Miles Benjamin got gametime, Scott Hamilton is just coming back in from injury, Thomas Waldrom got gametime, Boris Stankovich hasn’t played much recently, Fraser Balmain stepped up well. We got Tom Bristow on the field, Sebastian de Chaves led the lineout well and was captain of the side for the 25 minutes at the end. It’s all good time on the field for those guys.
“Across the board, the boys did well, and the crowd enjoyed it too.
“Javiah Pohe did very well in midfield and gave us some go-forward there, Harry Thacker in the front row was very good, George Catchpole did well, it was good to get Henry Purdy on the field, Joe Cain did well in the second row.
“The academy works very hard to develop these young players. Those guys have to take these opportunities and they did that tonight. They have the opportunity to show that if we have issues in the first team they have the potential to step up.”
Tigers go to Worcester Warriors next Friday in the second round of this season’s LV= Cup fixtures. Remaining pool fixtures are against Harlequins away and Bath at home in the New Year.
