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Match verdict: Leicester Tigers top of the table after dramatic show

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An injury time penalty try earned Leicester Tigers a dramatic 19-14 win against Worcester at a packed Sixways and sent them to the top of the Aviva Premiership.

Tigers had been blown away in the opening quarter and trailed 14-0 after 22 minutes.

But they survived the sin-binning of Martin Castrogiovanni and began a thrilling fightback with Scott Hamilton's try just before the break.

A penalty try followed after the re-start but it looked as though Toby Flood's series of missed penalties might prove costly as Worcester led 14-12 going into the final minute.

In an astonishing finish though, Leicester played from near their own line to win a five-metre scrum and then won a penalty try as the home pack was sent back on its heels before disintegrating.

Worcester began the game with some good possession and former Tigers fly-half Andy Goode opened the scoring on nine minutes from in front of the sticks.

That became 8-0 soon afterwards when a lovely break from Jon Clarke created space for winger Demi Lemi to fly over in the corner.

The Warriors were full of confidence in the opening quarter and, when Goode atoned for his missed conversion with another penalty, Worcester led 11-0 after 20 minutes.

Things got even worse for Leicester when prop Castrogiovanni was sin-binned for an illegal tackle on Dean Schofield and Goode gave the hosts a 14-0 advantage.

Tigers defended well a man down and a huge hit by Samoan prop Logovi'i Mulipola on Aleki Lutui repelled another scoring chance after Josh Drauniniu's line break.

There was a crazy finish to the half. Flood missed a penalty but Leicester were finally on the board two minutes later when Mat Tait found Hamilton in the corner.

Goode was then binned for kneeing the Kiwi in the back as he grounded the ball and, although Flood missed the conversion, he immediately got a penalty on halfway instead of a restart, which also came up short. The Warriors went into the break a man down but, with a 14-5 lead, they were full value for it.

Leicester spent the first five minutes of Goode's binning in their own half, but it could have been more costly had back-up place kicker Chris Pennell not missed a pair of makeable penalties.

Goode came back on with no damage done but, with Julian Salvi, Dan Cole and Marcos Ayerza all going on from the bench, Tigers piled forward and earned a penalty try on 54 minutes after a huge surge by the pack five metres out.

Flood's conversion cut the deficit to just two points.

With both side's set-pieces working well and Warriors prop Euan Murray negating any sense of a Tigers advantage in the scrum, it became a real bun fight.

Flood had a chance to win it for the visitors but his kick fell short for the fourth time.

But there was still one more chance when Leicester played from deep in their own half, Tait made a thrilling break and Leicester earned a five-metre scrum with the last action of the game.

A massive push shoved Worcester back on their heels and, with the Warriors pack disintegrating and Tigers about to touch down, referee JP Doyle awarded a penalty try which Flood converted to leave the visiting fans in raptures.

Match verdict: Leicester Tigers top of the table after dramatic show


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