Geordan Murphy says it was “tough to take” heading home empty-handed from Saracens on Saturday.
Leicester Tigers trailed by a single point at half-time in the Gallagher Premiership Round 13 encounter and then took the lead with a try from Ben White in the second half before Sarries added 17 unanswered points in the final 22 minutes to wrap up a 24-13 victory.
“It’ still a bit raw but the guys put in a good shift and it’s disappointing to lose the game and not get anything,” said head coach Murphy at the final whistle.
“To not get anything is heart-breaking.
“We were on their tryline at the end with a maul and I thought we deserved something from the game.”
White’s try, latching on to a break in midfield, took Tigers 13-7 ahead with just over 25 minutes remaining. But Sarries responded with 10 points during the period Telusa Veainu was off the field as a result of a yellow card following a deliberate knock-on in defence and then added another try with just 10 minutes left on the clock.
“We got a good try through Whitey to go six points up with 20 minutes to go and we’d controlled ball and territory pretty well,” added Murphy.
“But the yellow card was a big moment, you find yourselves down to 14 men in your own half and they stretched us there. Hen at 17-13 down with 10 to go we forced our hand a bit.
“I thought the guys’ determination and commitment were very good. There were some good performances in there – Nephi had a strong game, Joe Heyes did well, Will Spencer was exceptional, Joe Batley stepped up, Tommy Reffell was good and I thought could have had another couple of penalties over the ball.”
Tigers are back on the road in Round 14 with a trip to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, March 21 before home games against Bath and London Irish in the league either side of the European quarter-final with Castres at Welford Road.
