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Report | Tigers take Shield points at Sixways

Leicester Tigers Development XV secured a first win of the season with a 24-21 victory over Worcester Cavaliers in the Premiership Rugby Shield on Monday evening.

Trailing 14-10 at half-time, with Taylor Gough supplying the try, Tigers took the lead just before the hour mark with George Martin adding a second try to go with the kicked points from Johnny McPhillips.

A second score from Gough moments later allowed the visitors to take that advantage to 10 points against a Cavaliers side unbeaten in their first four fixtures and they held out despite conceding a late penalty try and then two front-rowers to the sin bin.

The home side started the game at a frantic pace at odds with the freezing conditions at Sixways and their robust work in the early phases was met by a stern Tigers line typified by two crucial tackles from Joe Thomas on the fringes.

Worcester kept the pressure on, though, inching up the field to win a scrum in front of the Tigers posts, eventually getting over the tryline through hooker Isaac Miller. Scott van Breda added the conversion with 13 minutes played.

Tigers hit back immediately from the restart, with Johnny McPhillips latching on to a break by scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet. Leicester spread the ball to the left with a neat cross-field kick from McPhillips, where quick hands from the forwards put Taylor Gough over in the corner. The touchline conversion from McPhillips evened up the scores.

More heavy work – with big hits from both teams – followed with Cavaliers eventually breaking through via centre van Breda, who fed No9 Gareth Simpson to dive over. The extras from the tee made it 14-7.

Another strong Tigers scrum on the edge of the home 22 set up a response from McPhillips, whose successful penalty brought Tigers within four points after half an hour.

Freddie Steward’s work under the high ball was the highlight for the remainder of the first period, fielding a barrage of kicks.

McPhillips was short with a 40-metre penalty at the start of the second half though Tigers were still able to build some pressure through the forwards without finding a breakthrough.

Scrum-half Van Poortvliet showed his pace in defence as he raced back to dot down behind the tryline from a kick through by the Warriors with Tigers still four pints in arrears.

A precision kick down the right from a McPhillips penalty gave Tigers an attacking position and another whistle followed as they attacked in front of the posts. After three carries from the forwards on the left, Cameron Jordan was held up over the tryline.

But from the scrum, Tigers kept ball well until Martin attacked the line and forced his way over to give the visitors the lead for the first time on 57 minutes. McPhillips added a conversion with the score at 14-17.

Just two more minutes had elapsed when Tigers added to the score with Gough grabbing his second of the night, finishing from close range after Van Poortvliet had been stopped just short in the left-hand corner. McPhillips again showed his strength from the tee with another two points as the lead reached double figures.

When Tigers were forced back, they defended at a five-metre scrum and then Gough’s work over the ball won a penalty to ease the pressure close to the tryline.

But Cavaliers finally made a breakthrough as the game entered its final minutes, earning a penalty try as they pressured the Tigers line on the right, with Darren Dawidiuk yellow carded for his role in defence.

And Tigers also lost Keston Lines to the sin bin almost immediately afterwards with just three points between the teams but managed to hold out in defence as Cavaliers looked for one more opening.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

WOR 14-10 LEI

FT ScoreFull Time Score

WOR 21-24 LEI

Attendance

500

Referee

George Selwood

Worcester Cavaliers
Worcester Cavaliers
21

Full Time

Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
24
Worcester Cavaliers
T
C
T
C
T
KOHTFT
Leicester Tigers
T
C
P
T
C
T
C

Commentary

80

TRAVELLING SUPPORT

Thank you to all the supporters who have joined us here in Worcester this evening and for all those following along at home.

Tigers are next in action away at Bath on Saturday, January 25 before our next home game against Wasps on Saturday, February 15 at Welford Road. 

BREATHLESS BUT THAT'S FULL TIME

Worcester with the penalty kick for the lineout and work their way up the pitch, making breaks with the extra two men to put pressure on Tigers defence.

Worcester make it all the way up into the Tigers 22 before the referee blows for a knock-on from Worcester and that's the end of the game. 

Worcester 21 Tigers 24. 

SECOND YELLOW

Tigers are shown a second yellow almost straight away as there is a high tackle on Worcester from the restart. 

YELLOW CARD

Tigers replacement hooker Darren Dawidiuk is shown a yellow card for collapsing the maul for the Worcester penalty try. 

PENALTY TRY FOR WORCESTER

The action has slowly moved in Worcester's favour and moved up the field to have all the action played in Tigers half and into Tigers 22 before a number of penalites for Worcester give them the lineout.

Worcester with the driving maul before it is pulled down and the referee bows for a penalty try to make it 21-24. 

CONVERSION ADDED

McPhillips with the kick once again to add the conversion and make it 14-24 after 61 minutes. 

SECOND FOR GOUGH

Tigers on the attack from the restart and work back up the field before a break in play sees the ball offloaded through the team before a step from van Poortvliet sees him just short in the corner before Gough collects the ball and crosses the line for his second of the night. 

EXTRAS FOR TIGERS

McPhillips adds the conversion to extend Tigers lead to 14-17 after 58 minutes. 

TRY FOR TIGERS

The second half starts very much like the first with end to end running rugby from both sides making breaks and attacking in each 22. 

Tigers win consecutive penalties to get an attacking lineout 5 metres out from the Worcester tryline. Tigers have several carries with the ball from the lineout before Tigers make it over the line but the referee calls the ball held up for a Tigers scrum. 

Tigers with a few phases off the scrum before Jack van Poortvliet finds George Martin who finds the gap to run over the line for Tigers second try of the match. 

SECOND HALF KICKS OFF

Worcester to kick-off the second half here at Sixways stadium as Tigers trail by four. 

FOUR POINT GAME

There's end to end rugby in the closing stages of the half as both teams look to run the ball and despite a break by Worcester there is a knock-on on Tigers 22 line and the referee blows the whistle for half-time.

Worcester 14 Tigers 10. 

THREE POINTS FOR TIGERS

A scrum for Tigers inside the Worcester half gives Tigers a good platform as we look to run the ball, working up to the Worcester 22 before winning a penalty at the breakdown. 

McPhillips points to the posts and kids the points to make it 14-10 after 30 minutes. 

SEVEN POINT GAME

Worcester add the conversion through van Breda to take the lead once again to seven points at 14-17 after 27 minutes.

SECOND FOR WORCESTER

Worcester have possesion and several phases of posession to work their way up the field and into Tigers half.

A penalty for Worcester gives them a lineout in Tigers 22 and despite a loose ball kicked clear up field by Tigers, Worcester run it back and find a gap for scrum-half Gareth Simpson to run through for the try. 

SCORES LEVEL

Johnny McPhillips adds the conversion to level the scores at 7-7 after 18 minutes. 

QUICK RESPONSE FROM TIGERS

Tigers have an immediate response as Worcester look to attack from the kick-off a loose ball is collected by EW Viljoen who makes the break through the Worcester defence before offloading and Tigers capitalise on the open play.

Johnny McPhillips makes a chip across field and Tigers use quick hands through the forwards before Taylor Gough receives the ball to run it over the line to get Tigers on the board. 

EXTRAS ADDED

Worcester add the conversion through Scott van Breda to make it 7-0 after 14 minutes. 

OPENING POINTS FOR WORCESTER

All of the early action has taken place in the middle of the field with both teams taking on the ball and running it across the pitch before Worcester win a penalty on half-way for a high tackle.

Worcester get in to the Tigers 22 for the first time and another penalty sees them with a lineout in the corner. Tigers show good defence as Worcester build phases before a penalty give Worcester a scrum just in front of the posts.

More phases from Worcester off the scrum before hooker Isaac Miller is able to push his way over for the first points of the match. 

HERE WE GO

Tonight's match has started as Tigers as Johnny McPhillips kicks things off here in Worcester. 

0

NEARLY KICK-OFF

Both teams have finished their warm-ups and have gone in to the changing rooms ahead of kick-off. 

0

MONDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Welcome to everyone following coverage of tonight's Premiership Rugby Shield match this cold January evening as Tigers visit Worcester to take on the Cavaliers. 


Team news | Shield side head to Worcester

Back-rower Thom Smith will captain the Leicester Tigers Development XV as they travel to Worcester in the latest round of the Premiership Shield on Monday (January 20, 7.30pm).

He joins fellow Tigers Academy graduate Taylor Gough in back row, alongside No8 Jordan Coghlan.

Cameron Jordan and George Martin pack down in the engine room, while front-rowers James Whitcombe, Charlie Clare and Osman Dimen round out the forwards.

Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet partners fly-half Johnny McPhillips in the half backs, with EW Viljoen and Joe Thomas lining up in the centres.

Full-back Freddie Steward, development wing Kyran Bungaroo and guest player Mason Tonks round out the backline.

Sam Costelow wears No22 – as he did away to Pau in the European Challenge Cup this weekend – while guest hooker Darren Dawidiuk and international prop Gaston Cortes are the only replacements not to have come through the club’s development pathway.

The Round 5 match marks the half-way point in the competition, and takes place at Sixways Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 7.30pm.

The Premiership Shield then takes its traditional break during the Six Nations period, with Tigers’ home fixture against Sale Sharks, to be played at Newark Rugby Club, scheduled for Monday, March 23 (7.30pm).

Leicester Tigers Development XV (v Worcester Cavaliers, away 7.30pm)

15 Freddie Steward

14 Mason Tonks (Birmingham Moseley)

13 Joe Thomas

12 EW Viljoen

11 Kyran Bungaroo

10 Johnny McPhillips

9 Jack van Poortvliet

1 James Whitcombe

2 Charlie Clare

3 Osman Dimen

4 Cameron Jordan

5 George Martin

6 Thom Smith (c)

7 Taylor Gough

8 Jordan Coghlan

Replacements

16 Darren Dawidiuk (Birmingham Moseley)

17 Keston Lines

18 Gaston Cortes

19 Tom Manz

20 Ollie Ashworth

21 Will Findlay (Yorkshire Carnegie)

22 Sam Costelow

23 Harry Glynn

Worcester Cavaliers: 15 Noah Heward, 14 Ed Fidow, 13 Scott van Breda, 12 Will Butler, 11 Matt McNab (Hartpury), 10 Luke Scully, 9 Gareth Simpson; 1 Kai Owen, 2 Isaac Miller, 3 Mitch Walsh (Hartpury), 4 Matt Cox, 5 James Scott, 6 Morgan Monks, 7 Matti Williams, 8 Tom Dodd (c)

Replacements: 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Lewis Holsey, 18 Nick Bingham (Sheffield Tigers), 19 Aiden Burnett, (Hartpury), 20 Caleb Montgomery, 21 Callum Morris, 22 Max Boxall (Hartpury), 23 Nick David

Form Guide
Form
LWDLD
Last Match
Draw with Leicester Tigers null-null
Past Meeting
Drew null-null
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
DDDDD
Last Match
Draw with Gloucester United null-null
Past Meeting
Drew null-null

Matchday Live

Worcester Cavaliers21
Worcester Cavaliers
Leicester Tigers24
Leicester Tigers
Full Time