Leicester Tigers ran in six tries in a 36-7 victory over London Irish in the second warm-up fixture ahead of the Women’s Championship season.

Full-back Molly Draycott contributed a hat-trick of tries, with two from Bryany Chalk and one from Roisin McBrien in a game played in front of an appreciative crowd at Oval Park.

After opening the pre-season programme at Premiership outfit Bristol Bears, Tigers resumed against an Irish side with a successful record in the Championship South with just a couple of weeks left before the start of the league campaign.

Draycott opened the scoring with a score from long range, converted by Katie Childs, and added a second on 20 minutes after strong defensive work had secured turnover ball on halfway.

Tigers showed determined goalline defence through numerous phases of Irish pressure before conceding their only try of the afternoon just short of the half-hour, but replied with Chalk’s score in the corner from a chip-kick by Ellie Turner.

Draycott completed her treble after kicking ahead loose ball won by more aggressive defence to lead 24-7 at the halfway mark.

McBrien then scored straight from the restart, with Childs adding the kick, and Chalk added her second as she supported a break on the right wing by Lucrezia Iavarone for the final points.

The women’s team play their final pre-season game at Henley Hawks next weekend.