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Leicester Tigers duo on scoresheet in big Lions win

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Leicester Tigers duo Tom Croft and Geoff Parling were both on the scoresheet as the British & Irish Lions demolished Western Force 69-17.

All six Leicester players in the 23-man squad played their part in the rout, which saw the tourists overwhelm the Super 15 opposition, at Patterson Stadium, in Perth.

Centre Manu Tuilagi was impressive and his link-up with Brian O'Driscoll showed that they could be the pairing that head coach Warren Gatland decides to go with for the opening Test against Australia later this month.

The Lions were left sweating on an ankle injury suffered by Ireland prop Cian Healy.

The Leinster forward was carried off and taken to hospital for an X-ray.

Healy's departure was the only setback for a Lions side far quicker in thought and deed than their spirited, but outclassed, opponents.

The tourists ran in nine tries from captain O'Driscoll (2), Jonathan Sexton, Croft, Jamie Heaslip, Mako Vunipola, Tommy Bowe, Owen Farrell and Parling, while full-back Leigh Halfpenny produced a goal-kicking masterclass.

Halfpenny booted all nine conversions – several from the touchline – and two penalties for 24 points and a 100 per cent record.

The Force replied with touchdowns by forwards Richard Brown and Lachlan McCaffrey, while scrum-half Brett Sheehan converted both and landed a penalty, but they had no answer to some perpetual motion rugby by the tourists.

O'Driscoll steered the ship majestically, but he had any number of willing workers alongside him, most notably the sublime Sexton and strong-running flanker Sean O'Brien.

It was just the start Gatland would have wanted to a nine-game Australian tour schedule highlighted by three Test match appointments with the Wallabies.

The Lions have already clocked up 128 points and 17 tries in two games, and the early signs are hugely encouraging for what awaits them during the next month.

The Lions went ahead through an early Halfpenny penalty after Bowe sliced open Western Force's defence.

And Bowe's break proved a sign of things to come as the Lions relentlessly built pressure.

The Force had their work cut out keeping a consistent defensive shape, and they were horribly outfoxed by Sexton when he danced his way over from 20 metres, beating three players in the process.

Halfpenny converted, only for the Force to find themselves immediately back in their 22 and play was briefly held up when referee Glen Jackson – the former Saracens fly-half – sought video assistance for alleged foul play.

An unnamed Force player claimed he had been bitten, but no evidence could be found despite the television match official reviewing play from a number of angles.

It sparked the Force into action, though, and a committed counter-attack briefly shunted the Lions out of their rhythm, but they had no real problem successfully defending their line. A Sheehan penalty eight minutes before half-time then opened the Force's account, before O'Driscoll claimed a well-worked touchdown and then Croft also scored.

The third quarter was one-way traffic with Heaslip powering over before Healy's replacement, Vunipola, touched down in the corner.

It was relentless by the Lions, and even though Brown's try momentarily knocked them out of their stride, they quickly surged back upfield to camp deep inside Western Force's 22.

The Force struggled to contain wave after wave of attacking red shirts, and their job was made even tougher midway through the half when centre Ed Stubbs was sin-binned.

Stubbs' poor discipline was immediately punished when the Lions easily worked Bowe across for try six, which Halfpenny again converted from the touchline.

The Lions were in no mood to take their foot off the accelerator, and further scores followed in quick succession for O'Driscoll and Farrell, although Croft's evening ended early when he left the action gingerly after a clash of heads with Brown.

Lions lock Alun-Wyn Jones received a late yellow card, but his team were long home and hosed, ready to begin preparations for a far sterner encounter against Queensland, on Saturday.

Leicester Tigers duo on scoresheet in big Lions win


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