BBC SPORT | EUROPEAN | Great eight from Jones

Llanelli 24-12 Leicester

Llanelli became the only Welsh side to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup with a hard-earned win over Leicester.

The victory clinched by eight penalties from Stephen Jones, may also have denied the Tigers a home draw in the last eight.

The match began in fiery fashion with a huge hit on Scott Quinnell by rival captain Martin Johnson, and a warning to Leicester's Martin Corry for punching.

On the day, Llanelli were up for it just a little bit more than we were

Dean Richards
Leicester boss

The Heineken Cup holders, playing with the advantage of the slope and wind conditions, exerted early pressure - thanks mainly to Llanelli mistakes.

One blunder led to Andy Goode kicking the Tigers into an early lead, and he made it 6-0 with his second penalty after just nine minutes.

Lifted by a capacity Stradey crowd, Llanelli began to make inroads into the visiting defence thanks to Quinnell and Chris Wyatt. They gained their reward with a Stephen Jones penalty from 30 yards.

Prop Graham Rowntree became the second Leicester player warned - this time for a late tackle - before Goode extended the visitors' lead with another penalty.

Llanelli tried to run the ball against the wind and, though they were unable to get over the try-line, Jones made it 9-9 with two more penalties.

Graham Rowntree goes on the attack for Leicester

Leicester lost Will Johnson to an ankle injury, replaced by Lewis Moody, and regained the lead in the 32nd minute with Goode's fourth successive kick.

Llanelli then swept forward in the form of Salesi Finau, but the move was illegally stopped by Darren Garforth.

The prop was yellow-carded and Jones levelled matters up with the resulting penalty before kicking his fifth to give Llanelli a 15-12 half-time lead.

It was the Tigers' turn to play against the elements after the break and they found themselves under immediate pressure.

Wing Steve Booth was penalised for foul play and Jones slotted over his sixth penalty.

Leicester's form has been magnificent this season, but the Heineken Cup is all about one-off occasions like these

Gareth Jenkins
Llanelli coach

The Scarlets survived the first 20 minutes of the onslaught, thanks to some impressive defence, before Guy Easterby knocked-on a prime tap-penalty opportunity.

Leicester replaced Moody with All Black Josh Kronfeld, but the home side continued to exert pressure and Jones made it 21-12 with another successful kick.

Always the elusive runner, Goode then attempted to make an all-important break, but was hauled down by a timely Neil Boobyer.

Instead, it was Llanelli who resumed the attack and Jones made it eight out of eight from 40 metres to clinch an historic and well earned victory as well as the all important quarter-final spot.

Llanelli: Pens: S Jones (8).

Leicester: Pens: A Goode (4).

Llanelli: G Evans; W Proctor, N Boobyer, L Davies, S Finau; S Jones, G Easterby; M Madden, R McBryde, J Davies, V Cooper, C Wyatt, S Easterby, D Hodges, S Quinnell (capt).
Reps: P Booth, M Thomas, L Gross, D Jones, D Peel, G Bowen, M Jones.

Leicester: G Murphy, S Booth, L Lloyd, R Kafer, F Tuilagi; A Goode, J Hamilton; G Rowntree, D West, D Garforth, M Johnson (capt), B Kay, W Johnson, N Back, M Corry.
Reps: R Cockerill, R Nebbett, L Deacon, L Moody, H Ellis, O Smith, J Kronfeld.

Referee: Rob Dickson (RFU).

Att: 10,614.


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