After successive pre-season wins over Cornish Pirates, Bedford and Nottingham, coach Richard Cockerill took his squad to France to further fine-tune their preparations for the new season. He was rewarded with a gutsy performance against a physical and lively Bayonne side, and also made the most of another chance to give valuable game-time to most of his senior squad.
Sam Vesty enjoyed a lively game as he returned to action after summer surgery on a knee injury, while young Ollie Dodge was given another starting role on the wing, and Marco Wentzel and Richard Blaze performed well as a line-out partnership.
After Bayonne kicked off on a warm and still evening at the Stade Jean Dauger, the hosts enjoyed plenty of possession and territory but the Tigers defence held firm and Varndell made the breakthrough.
Paul Burke's miss-pass in midfield reached Johne Murphy who burst through before passing to Varndell who scored in the left-hand corner. Burke's well-struck conversion gave the visitors an early seven-point advantage.
The visiting defence held firm against a number of drives from Bayonne, and Tigers enjoyed their best spell of pressure approaching half-time, which ended in Burke putting over a penalty from in front of the posts in the last minute of the period.
Bayonne gained their first points in the 47th minute with a Dourthe penalty in front of the posts after last-ditch tackles from Johne Murphy and Matt Cornwell had prevented tries.
Varndell showed his pace in defence a few moments later, winning the race to a kick and chase from full-back Peyras to ground the ball behind his own line.
Both sides made several changes after the break, with Cockerill sending on Owen Finegan, Tom Croft and Tom Youngs, quickly followed by Ben Youngs, Luke Abraham and Alex Moreno. And Tigers enjoyed their best spell of possession and territory around this point, though Burke missed a penalty in the 67th minute.
Croft then went close to adding to the score in the 76th minute, chasing a kick from Ben Youngs within reach of the Bayonne line, but seeing the ball slip from his grasp.
Tigers, though, maintained the momentum which allowed them to close out the game with a seven-point margin.
Tigers conclude the pre-season programme with a match against French visitors Montauban at Welford Road on Saturday, September 8 (3pm). Tickets are on sale now, contact the ticket office on 08701 28 34 30 or online.
Bayonne: Peyras, Gerber, Dourthe, Garbajosa, Ternisien, Vermis, Tilloles; Lafond, Roumieu, Fiorini, Linde, Springgay, Deen, Massabeau, Baget. Reps: Heguy, Iguiniz, Usandisaga, Bergez, Lagrange, Bernad, Marmouyet, Sallecane, Lhande
Tigers: J Murphy, Dodge, Cornwell, Vesty, Varndell, Burke, F Murphy; Stankovich, Kayser, White, Blaze, Wentzel, B Deacon, Herring, Crane. Reps: Davies, Moreno, Young, Croft, Finegan, Abraham, Laussaucq, B Youngs, T Youngs.
