After successive bonus-point wins over Benetton Treviso and the Scarlets, Tigers suffered a first defeat of this season’s European campaign at the Stade Aime Giral, but the bonus point meant some reward for their afternoon’s work.
“I am a bit disappointed because we felt we put a side out that could win here, but we take the point and I’m sure it will be valuable in the end,” said Tigers director of rugby Cockerill.
“We lost control of the ball a bit cheaply at times and we lost some good field position, but the spirit and character of the players were enormous when we were under pressure.
“Perpignan are a good side and they had to come out today and perform. They put us under a lot of pressure."
Cockerill said the period just before half-time, when Tigers were pinned back close to their own tryline for a succession of scrums but refused to wilt, epitomised the strength of will in the squad.
“Perpignan came out fighting, but those scrums just before half-time showed how belligerent we were," Cockerill said.
"We were not going to surrender, we fought for everything. We did not crumble when they got us under pressure.”
Geordan Murphy scored the only try for the visitors, with Toby Flood kicking the other points in a 24-19 defeat against the 2009 French champions.
“It was important in the end that we made sure we would get at least a point,” said Cockerill. “If you go home with nothing then the group gets very tight.
“We take the point and there is still a long way to go. Perpignan have to come to us, they have to go to Treviso, Scarlets have to go to France, there are still a lot of tough games to be played in this pool and anyone can turn over anyone else.
“Now we have a home game against Perpignan next weekend and we’ll need to step it up again.”
Tigers host Perpignan on Sunday (3pm). Tickets are available now.
