Tigers wing it to beat Maori All Blacks

Two first half tries from Niall Morris and Adam Thompstone helped Leicester claim a famous 32-24 win over the Maori All Blacks at Welford Road yesterday.
The game was a close contest but the two tries and 22 points from the boot of George Ford meant the Tigers became only the second team to beat the world-famous touring side since 2003.
George Ford put the Tigers in front with an early penalty but it was short lived as the visitors scored the first try of the game.
All Black capped hooker Hika Elliot offloaded out of the tackle for Jason Eaton who drew the last man before sending Frazer Wilson under the posts to take a 7-3 lead after fives minutes.
Two further penalties from Ford restored the home side to a 9-7 advantage before some smooth handling from the back line saw winger Morris dive in the corner.
Ford added the conversion and a penalty but the growing lead soon went to 26-7 when Matt Smith pounced on a loose ball in his 22 to make a break and offload to Thompstone on half way and see the winger outpace everyone and dive under the posts.
But the Kiwis came right back into the contest with Crusaders centre Tim Bateman at the end of a swift move to reduce the deficit to 26-17 at the break.
Ford kicked his seventh successful kick of the game early in the second act but neither team could score again until the last quarter of the game in this close fought contest.
Replacement Dan Bowden was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle and the visitors made the man advantage count immediately with quick hands putting Charlie Ngatai in at the corner for their second try.
Ripia’s conversion cut Tigers’ lead to 29-24 but Ford completed his fine display with his successful penalty of the game to seal the famous win.
For Leicester
Tries: Morris, Thompstone
Conversions: Ford 2
Penalties: Ford 6
Sin bin: Bowden
For Maori All Blacks
Tries: Wilson, Bateman, Ngatai
Conversions: Ripia 3
Penalty: Ripia
Sin bins: Taylor, Hoeata
Leicester: Tait; Morris, Smith, Allen, Thompstone; Ford, Phibbs; Stankovich, Chuter, Balmain; Deacon (capt.), Kitchener; Slater, Crane, Salvi.
Replacements: Harris, Stevens, Brookes, Noone, Thorpe, Harrison, Bowden, Murphy.
Maori All Blacks: Taylor; Baker, Ngatai, Bateman, Poki; Ripia, Wilson; May, Elliot, Afeaki; Hoeata, Eaton; Christie, Latimer (capt.), Dixon.
Replacements: MacDonald, Ellison, Murray, Graham, Crosswell, Gibson-Park, Willison, O’Donnell.
Referee: Andrew Small
Attendance: 17,206