Leicester Tigers made it three league wins in a row with five tries in a 34-5 triumph over Worcester Warriors at Sixways on Sunday.
An eighth try of the season from Jonah Holmes got Tigers in front, only for Warriors to score from a lineout drive to tie the scores midway through the first half.
But another try from prop Greg Bateman, following his score in the win at Saracens last week, pushed the visitors in front again shortly before half-time
On a big day of Round 17 action in the Aviva Premiership with top two Exeter Chiefs and Saracens going toe to toe at Sandy Park, and Wasps and Bath also in action, a Toomua penalty stretched the lead to 10 points before Telusa Veainu’s try pushed Tigers further in front entering the final 10 minutes.
The bonus-point try was credited to Manu Tuilagi before Veainu added another in the closing minutes
After a week of snow and freezing temperatures which led to a number of disruptions in the Aviva Premiership programme, the outlook improved considerably on Sunday morning. With the last remaining snow banked on the edges of the Sixways artificial surface, however, the hour ahead of kick-off brought a succession of torrential downpours as the teams went through their warm-up drills.
Rain was still falling as Warriors fly-half Jamie Shillcock got the game under way and Tigers had an early penalty on halfway after Spencer took Telusa Veainu out beyond a ruck. Mike Williams claimed lineout ball and set up a series of phases 30 metres from the Warriors line, but the home defence kept their rivals out.
Warriors gained their first period of possession after being awarded a penalty at a lineout in their own 22, but a knock-on meant they could not completely clear their own territory.
Scrum-half Johnny Arr then darted through a gap in the Tigers defence before another knock-on as Warriors reached the 22-metre line.
The breakthrough for Tigers came on 13 minutes, stemming from a 60-metre break from Veainu and finished by Holmes.
It was Holmes who retrieved possession as Warriors kicked upfield and he passed to full-back Veainu who went on a 60-metre run from inside his own 22 before Sam Harrison took play on up towards the tryline. When the scrum-half was tackled in the right-hand corner, play quickly switched to the opposite flank and Holmes ran in for his eighth try of the season. Toomua’s conversion attempt struck the inside of the post and bounced out but Tigers led by five.
The sun finally broken through as the game approached the 20-minute mark, though a succession of handling errors and players losing their footing affected the flow of the game with possession shared between the 10-metre lines.
Warriors, however, claimed their breakthrough score on 23 minutes with a lineout drive in the right-hand corner finished by flanker Alafoti Faosiliva. Chris Pennell’s conversion hit the near post and bounced dead with the scores level at 5-5.
Worcester sensed a second score when centre Jackson Willison picked off a pass from Tait near halfway, but Holmes raced back to make the tackle and the ball bounced forward as Faisolivia hacked ahead and play came back for a Tigers scrum.
It was a last contribution from Holmes who limped off, replaced by Nick Malouf at the same time as Williams was helped off, with Luke Hamilton coming into the back row.
Loose play around halfway allowed Faosiliva to run at the Tigers defence, but he spilled ball forward in the tackle and Malouf was able to gather and clear.
A perfect turnover from Brendon O’Connor near halfway gave Tigers valuable possession and a chip in behind the Warriors from Toomua kept the hosts penned back in their own territory and Tigers got their reward with a try from Bateman.
After a strong run from Harrison, taken on by O’Connor and Tom Youngs, Bateman arrived in support and brushed off the final defender to score what is becoming a trademark try for the prop.
Toomua added the conversion kick for a 12-5 lead with five minutes remaining in the half and there was no change before the break as the forwards ticked the clock down in possession.
The Australian fly-half had the first opportunity to build scoreboard pressure in the second half when Tigers were awarded a penalty 42 metres out and he struck it cleanly to increase the lead to 15-5 on 45 minutes.
A high tackle on Veainu as he looked to counter-attack gave Tigers a penalty which Toomua pushed down the left touchline to the edge of the Worcester 22 as the visitors pushed for a decisive score. A succession of phases had Warriors fully committed in defence before Manu Tuilagi almost found a way through, only for the ball to spill loose.
Warriors, though, were still held inside their own territory as Tuilagi had another charge in midfield, but this time Tigers knocked-on as they recycled 20 metres out.
Malouf and Adam Thompstone showed their strength under the high ball as Worcester looked to kick clear as play again was locked around halfway and Malouf provided a priceless turnover as Faosiliva threatened close in but Tigers then had to stand firm in defence through a series of phases just five metres from their own line before Pennell spilled possession.
Warriors scrum-half replacement Luke Baldwin was hurt during that attack and required treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off to warm applause from the crowd.
Play restarted with a scrum, which brought a Tigers penalty, and Toomua took play beyond halfway with the kick to the left touchline. Tigers dominated possession but were unable to find a way in behind the Worcester defence.
A lineout offence from Worcester allowed Toouma to again push Tigers upfield and this time their patience in possession was rewarded with a try from Veainu in the right-hand corner.
Tuilagi, Cilliers and Hamilton were involved in a succession of carries before Harrison spread play to the right and Toomua’s chip was read perfectly by Veainu to score on the right and push Tigers 20-5 in front with 68 minutes gone.
O’Connor was hurt as Warriors pushed forward from the restart, with Joe Ford taking his place in a reshuffled line-up and Malouf moving into the back row.
Tigers showed patience in abundance again as they pursued the vital fourth score and it came with just under three minutes remaining, the forwards pushing through phase after phase of possession before Tuilagi dotted down and more followed when a break by Tuilagi led to another try from Veainu, kicking ahead and winning the race to the ball. Toomua added the kick in the final action of a good day's work for the Tigers.
Commentary
80
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
We hope you enjoyed today's Matchday LIVE coverage of the bonus-point victory and will see you again in three weeks time, when we return to action in the home game against Wasps on Sunday, March 25 at Welford Road.
TIGERS FAMILY ENJOYING THAT WIN
TIGERS RECORD BONUS POINT VICTORY
Leicester make it back to back bonus points as the full time whistle is blown by Luke Pearce at Sixways and the final scoreline is a Tigers 29-point victory - including five tries!
CONVERSION - MATT TOOMUA
The fly-half adds the extra two points and ends the game with a 29-point victory over Worcester.
TRY - TELUSA VEAINU
Leicester cross for a fifth in the final seconds of the game with Telusa Veainu going over for his second after chipping ahead and re-gathering, on the back of a break from a rampaging Manu Tuilagi!!
CONVERSION - MATT TOOMUA
Tigers fly-half adds the extra two points and takes the Tigers score 27 to the Worcester's 5.
TRY - TIGERS!!
Tigers make it successive weekends with a try bonus-point on the back of a brilliant set of phases inside the Worcester 22 and crash over through ... we don't know and can't see!!
75
MANU BREAKS THE LINE
Manu Tuilagi breaks the Worcester line and races in to the 22 with a strong, rampaging run.
Leicester on the march now. Can they get the fourth?!
74
BACK TO BACK PENALTIES
Warriors penalised a second time in sixty seconds, this time with replacement lock Donncha O'Callaghan called up for a side entry, and Toomua finds touch again but this time near the Warriors 22.
73
WARRIORS PENALISED AT THE SCRUM
Tigers gifted an exit from inside their own 22 as Warriors are penalised at the scrum.
Toomua finds touch near half-way.
72
WORCESTER COUGH IT UP INSIDE TIGERS 22
On the back of an attacking line out, 35 out, the home side march it forward but cough up possession inside the Tigers 22.
CHANGES MADE BY MOC
Two changes made by Tigers with Brendon O'Connor replaced by Joe Ford through injury and Greg Bateman swapped out after a strong display for Miky Rizzo in the front-row.
71
TIGERS CLEAR IN TO TOUCH
Leicester don't waste any time in clearing from deep inside their own half and find touch 35 out from their own line for a Worcester line-out.
70
WARRIORS RE-START
With 10 minutes left on the clock, the Warriors re-start the game after suffering a third score against them.
Can the Tigers make it a fourth and record a second successive try bonus point this afternoon?
MOC MAKES A CHANGE AT NINE
Sam Harrison is given an early shower after a brilliant shift at scrum-half with Harry Simmons in to the game.
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL
Matt Toomua can't add the extra two points from out-wide and the Tigers lead remains at 15 points with 10 minutes remaining at Sixways.
TRY - TELUSA VEAINU
The flying fullback chases through on a brilliantly weighted chip kick 5m out from fly-half Matt Toomua to score the third of the day for Tigers!!
67
TIGERS MARCH FORWARD
Leicester carrying strongly inside the Worcester 22 as they work their way forward towards the home side's try line.
TIGERS MAKE A CHANGE
Harry Wells is in to the game, replacing Mike Fitzgerald in the second row for Leicester.
66
TOOMUA WITH STRONG CLEARANCE
The touch-finder from Matt Toomua is a strong one and sets up an attack inside the Worcester 22 with a line out.
65
WARRIORS PENALISED AT LINE-OUT
Worcester flanker Faosiliva is penalised for entry in to the maul at the line out and hands Tigers the ball back on half-way.
64
WORCESTER GIVEN PIGGY-BACK UP FIELD
In the words of new forwards coach Mark Bakewell, Tigers "piggy-back" Worcester up field with a penalty at the ruck. The home side find touch on half-way.
TIGERS MAKE A CHANGE
Pat Cilliers, who celebrated a birthday yesterday, is in to the game as he replaces Logo Mulipola at tight-head prop with just over 15 minutes remaining.
63
ACCIDENTAL OBSTRUCTION
Mike Fitzgerald runs in to the back of Greg Bateman in attack and it will be a scrum to Worcester on their own 22.
62
TIGERS CONTINUE TO PRESS WARRIORS DEFENCE
The Leicester pack are putting in the hard yards here, strongly carrying the Tigers forward deep in to the Worcester 22.
61
LEICESTER WORK IT FORWARD
The Tigers working their way forward inside the Worcester half, ruck by ruck, here at Sixways.
60
SCRUM COLLAPSES
Worcester loose-head Ethan Waller is penalised for bringing the scrum to the floor and Matt Toomua finds touch from the penalty inside the Warriors half.
59
TIGERS DEFENCE HOLDS STRONG
The ball is coughed up by Chris Pennell in attack as the Leicester pressure forces the error and hands Tigers the scrum on their own 22.
58
TIGERS COUGH IT UP
Just seconds after re-gaining possession, Leicester turn it back over and Worcester are on the march inside the Tigers 22.
58
MALOUF STEALS
Worcester's attack ends inside the Tigers 22 from the line out on half-way but Nick Malouf turns it over, handing Tigers possession deep in their own half.
REPLACEMENT MADE BY MOC
Tom Youngs is given an early shower as Australia international Tatafu Polota-Nau makes his way on to the pitch to replace the Tigers captain at hooker.
56
TIGERS END AERIAL BATTLE
The aerial onslaught ends as Telusa Veainu finds touch with his clearing kick for a Worcester line out on the Tigers side of half-way.
55
KICKING CONTINUES AT SIXWAYS
Both teams continuing to play for territory here in the second half, with the boots the most used weapon so far in the opening fifteen minutes.
54
WORCESTER STEAL IN THE AIR
The home side steal in the air and have the ball in attack inside their own side of half-way.
54
KICK, KICK AND KICK ... AGAIN!
It's a battle of the boot today with several kicks in the past few minutes here at Sixways. Worcester fullback Chris Pennell finds touch on the full however, handing Tigers a line-out 10 inside the Worcester half.
53
WARRIORS CLEAR FROM THE BACK
The home side choose to kick back in to Tigers half three phases in to their attack and the Tongan fullback races in the chasing Worcester line before chipping over for territory.
52
HARRISON JUGGLES IT
The ball pops out from a ruck on the back of the line out inside Worcester's half and is knocked on, in surprise, from Sam Harrison.
The Warriors will feed a scrum inside their own 22.
51
HOME SIDE DECIDE TO CLEAR
With advantage being played, Worcester opt to clear for the touch line and Tigers will throw in to a line out from 30 out.
50
TOOMUA CLEARS DEEP FOR ATTACKING CHANCE
Tigers fly-half Matt Toomua clears in to touch deep from the midfield penalty, with Leicester throwing in to the line out from the Warriors 22.
The ball moves wide from the set-piece opportunity but several phases in, off a ruck, Manu Tuilagi is stripped and a knock on is ruled. Advantage Worcester.
49
TELUSA TAKEN HIGH
Leicester fullback Telusa Veainu is tackled high by Alafoti Faosiliva after a territorial kick battle again opens up from both teams and the Tigers fullback opts to run his return in to the chasing Warriors line.
48
KITCHENER STEALS
Warriors line out from the penalty does little to offer an attacking chance as Graham Kitchener steals the line-out in the air and hands Leicester possession on their own 22.
47
KICK AND KICK AGAIN...
Another kick for kick battle commences early in the second-half and Brendon O'Connor's strong chase on the Toomua clearance comes to nothing as he's penalised for a high tackle.
46
TOOMUA KICKS FOR THE SKY
The ball is sent high by the Tigers fly-half Matt Toomua and Worcester are under pressure at the take but re-gather well and inside their own 22, calling a mark.
They clear from the free kick in to touch just shy of the Leicester 22.
45
TERRITORIAL BATTLE CONTINUES
Tigers send the ball back in to the Warriors half after re-gathering at the re-start but Worcester knock on in the battle for the ball near the touchline and it will be a Leicester scrum feed on the half-way line.
PENALTY GOAL - MATT TOOMUA
Leicester extend the lead to 10 points as Toomua successfully adds three to the scoreboard with a brilliant 40+ penalty attempt.
43
TIGERS GIFTED PENALTY CHANCE
Tigers move it side to side before using their big men to track forward and the home side give up a chance for three points, penalised for side entry at the ruck.
Toomua to shoot for goal from 43 out.
42
KICK FOR KICK
Both teams clearing from inside their own half with strong kicks but, an error from Jonny Arr in attempting to take the Tigers clearance sees Leicester handed a scrum inside the Worcester half.
41
WORCESTER CLEAR FOR TOUCH
No hesitation from Warriors in the opening play of the second half, clearing in to touch for a Leicester line out 10 inside the home team's side of half way.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
Matt Toomua gets us back underway at Worcester, kicking deep for the home side to take on their own 22.
40
TIGERS BACK ON THE SIXWAYS PITCH
Tom Youngs leads out the Leicester side for the second half here at Sixways, with action set to get back underway in a few moments time.
TIGERS TAKE LEAD IN TO HALF TIME
The Leicester Tigers take a seven-point lead in to the changing rooms at the break after first half tries from Jonah Holmes and Greg Bateman.
39
IN TO THE FINAL SIXTY SECONDS AT SIXWAYS
The first half is coming to a close as Tigers wind down the clock, ruck by ruck, inside their own 22.
38
TIGERS TRAP IT IN THERE TIGHT
The Worcester driving maul brings little as Leicester lock up the ball from the line-out brought down for the push and it will be a scrum feed to Tigers on their own 22.
37
WORCESTER BACK WITH THE BALL
Just seconds after the re-start, Worcester re-gain possession and are given a penalty at the line out with Graham Kitchener penalised for bringing the maul down illegally.
CONVERSION - MATT TOOMUA
Leicester make it a seven-point lead, as Matt Toomua adds the extra points, with four minutes remaining in the first half.
TRY - GREG BATEMAN
The try-scoring machine that is Greg Bateman crashes over, on the back of brilliant midfield runs from both Sam Harrison and Brendon O'Connor, followed by Tom Youngs who popped the ball up for his fellow ABC club member!!
34
TIGERS TO NOW THROW IN
The Leicester side will now feed their own line out inside the Worcester half, with the home side clearing almost immediately from their set piece deep inside their own 22.
33
DEJA VU AT SIXWAYS
Worcester box kick to clear from inside their 22 before Tigers end up with the ball despite an awkward bounce on the kick, before kicking back in to the same spot as the line out just moments ago. Warriors will throw from inside their own 22 again.
32
WARRIORS LOSE POSSESSION
A cough up again of possession from Worcester and Tigers re-gain the ball, clearing immediately for touch inside the Warriors 22.
31
WORCESTER TRY THEIR HAND WIDE
Moving it quickly wide from the set peice, the home side are braving the conditions in attack today and showing their attacking ability out wide.
30
WORCESTER SLICE THROUGH
Worcester's Alafoti Faosiliva breaks through the Tigers left-hand defence and runs 20 befrre being cut down by Veainu, and the ball pops up and in to the hands of Nick Malouf.
Tigers clear from the next play and find touch just short of the half-way line.
DOUBLE CHANGE FOR TIGERS
Jonah Holmes and Mike Williams come from the field, replaced by Nick Malouf and Luke Hamilton respectively.
29
AERIAL PING PONG
It's a territorial battle here as the 22 re-start goes long, before being sent back by the home side for Telusa Veainu to have another crack at the chasers. Tigers kick back to Warriors however from the following ruck and Worcester now start their attack, from half-way again.
28
FORWARD PASS FROM WORCESTER
In the attempt to offload, while being chopped down in attack, Worcester pass forward and the kick ahead is void as the referee pulls it back for the pass.
The ball however travels dead and so Tigers opt for the 22 re-start.
27
TIGERS TRUCK IT UP THROUGH TAIT
The Leicester backline moves it to inside centre Mat Tait quickly and the centre pops it back for Matt Toomua BUT WAIT, intercept and Worcester's Jackson Willison is away downfield!
26
WARRIORS KNOCK ON
The home side knock on in the attempt to make the tackle and it will be a Tigers scrum feed 10 inside the Worcester side of half-way.
25
TIGERS STRUGGLING TO BREAK THROUGH
The Leicester side are being met with strong defence from Worcester here at Sixways and can't find a way through the line off the line-out inside the home side's half.
24
WARRIORS CLEAR AT THE BACK
Worcester clear and find touch in doing so, handing Leicester a line out 40 out from the Warriors line.
23
TIGERS RE-START TO THE SKY
Matt Toomua with a strong re-start, forcing Worcester in to a challenge for the ball. They retain it though and start their attack inside their half.
22
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL
Worcester can't add the extra two points and it remains a 5-all scoreline after 22 minutes.
TRY - WORCESTER
The home side go over for their first of the afternoon, driving the maul from a line-out inside the Tigers 22 all the way across the chalk. Scores are now level with the kick to come from out wide.
21
WORCESTER GO WIDE
The home side go wide to the right from the scrum and the ball ends up in touch, but it's off a Tiger and will be a line-out to Worcester deep inside the Leicester 22.
20
NOT STRAIGHT FROM TIGERS
Referee Luke Pearce decides that throw wasn't straight from Tom Youngs and it will be a Worcester scrum feed inside the Leicester 22.
19
WARRIORS CLEAR WELL
The home side opt to send it back to the Tigers half, continuing today's territory battle, as they kick strongly to find touch with one bounce inside the Tigers 22.
19
TIGERS RULED TO PASS FORWARD
The ball goes wide from the base of the scrum but the second pass is ruled forward, much to the dislike of Toomua, and it will be a scrum-feed to the Warriors on their side of the half-way line.
18
WORCESTER KNOCK ON
Strong defence from Sam Harrison, which may have hurt the scrum-half in the tackle, sees Warriors knock-on through GJ Van Velze.
Tigers scrum just inside the Worcester side of half-way.
17
TIGERS OPT FOR TERRITORY
Leicester decide to send it back in to the home side's half.
16
WARRIORS ATTACK ENDS WIDE
The Worcester attack is patiently working towards the Tigers line but ends as they move it wide to the left wing for Josh Adams and he knocks on. Tigers now on the march 15 inside their own side of half way.
15
HARRISON BOX KICKS BACK DEEP
A strong box kick clearance from sends the ball back to Worcester's side of half way and in the chase, Adam Thompstone is penalised at the attempt to re-gather. Worcester kick for touch back inside the Tigers half.
15
WORCESTER KNOCK ON
A strong tackle from Matt Toomua sees the ball pop out and it will be a Tigers scrum 10 inside their own side of half way.
14
WORCESTER KICK DEEP
The home side send it deep at the re-start, only to get it back just seconds later as Tigers clear from the back in a bid for territory.
13
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL
Matt Toomua can't convert from near the touch-line, seeing the Tigers lead remain at five points after 13 minutes here at Sixways.
TRY - JONAH HOLMES
A Telusa Veainu break through the middle of the field, taking him 40 metres, sets up the Tigers for their first after the ball is shifted wide to the left inside the Worcester 22 for Jonah Holmes to score!!
11
WARRIORS SEND IT BACK
Worcester send the ball back towards the Tigers 22 and it finds fullback Telusa Veainu, who makes a break for it through the middle of the field!!
Sam Harrison then tricks the home side in to going wide with a dummy and is taken down inside the Worcester 22.
11
TIGERS CLEAR THROUGH TOOMUA
Matt Toomua clears the ball back in to Worcester's half.
10
WARRIORS KNOCK ON
Worcester cough up possession again, this time on the attack inside the Tigers 22.
9
WARRIORS MARCH FORWARD
A mistake from Mike Williams in defence opens a gap for Worcester scrum-half Jonny Arr to run through but he's pulled down 20 out.
8
WARRIORS FIND TOUCH INSIDE TIGERS HALF
Worcester clear from the penalty, finding touch deep inside Tigers half.
7
WORCESTER RECEIVE PENALTY
Scrum penalty goes the way of the home side as Greg Bateman is pinged by referee Luke Pearce.
6
TIGERS KNOCK ON IN TACKLE
Several phases in to the attack inside Worcester's half, Tigers knock on and it will be a warriors scrum 30 out from their own try-line.
5
WARRIORS COUGH IT UP
The home side give away the attacking opportunity, coughing up possession at the first chance with the ball inside their side of half-way. Tigers scrum.
4
WORCESTER CLEAR
Warriors opt to clear it from inside their half, handing possession back to the Tigers, who then clear from inside their own 22 for Worcester to begin their attack near half-way.
3
TIGERS PENALISED
Mike Fitzgerald penalised in the air for closing the gap at the line out and Worcester find touch just short of half-way for another line-out.
3
TOOMUA DRILLS IT DEEP
Tigers fly-half Matt Toomua decides to end the attack with a grubber in to the Worcester 22 and over the touch-line.
Worcester line-out.
2
TIGERS EATING THE METRES
Patience shown so far from the Leicester lads, working their way forward metre by metre and ruck by ruck.
1
SPENCER
A territorial battle in the opening sixty seconds ends with Worcester lock - and future Tiger - Will Spencer penalised for clearing out beyond the ruck. Toomua finds touch on the Warriors 22.
KICK-OFF AT SIXWAYS
Warriors fly-half Jamie Shillcock gets us underway in today's Aviva Premiership clash!
0
TIGERS TAKE TO THE TURF
The players are on the pitch, with Tom Youngs leading the way, and we are now ready to go here at Sixways!
0
WARMED UP AND READY TO ROLL!
The teams are back inside after their respective warm ups and we're just minutes away from kick-off in todays' Premiership clash.
0
RAISE THE BAT - MIKEY WILLIAMS
The former Worcester Warrior makes his 50th Tigers Family appearance today. Congratulations Mikey!
0
WEATHER REPORT
For those not here at Sixways with us this un-sunny Sunday afternoon, we can confirm it is currently pouring rain and quite cool at pitch-level. Our guess-timate is around 2-3 degrees, not taking in to account when soaked as the wind hits you!
TODAY'S TEAM SHEETS
0
TEAMS CONFIRMED
There are no changes to the Tigers side named on Friday afternoon by head coach Matt O'Connor, with the only differences from last Sunday's side being Mat Tait at inside centre for the injured Gareth Owen and Tom Youngs at hooker for Tatafu Polota-Nau.
0
GOOD AFTERNOON TIGERS FAMILY!
Welcome to Sixways Stadium here in Worcester for this afternoon's Aviva Premiership action. We will be bringing you live commentary of the Round 17 fixture, with every score delivered direct to your Tigers App!