RUGBY FRIENDLY Leicester 15 Australia 26:THE GAME at Welford Road was in the balance until two minutes from time, when outhalf Berrick Barnes dropped a goal. He scored 21 points in all for the Australians' midweek side.
Barnes may be behind Quade Cooper in the Test pecking order, but he was invaluable to a young squad which included seven uncapped players.
The scoreline was rough on Leicester.
When they attempted to run the ball in the last move of the game it was intercepted and flanker Scott Higginbotham ran in unopposed for the second try.
Leicester turned back the clock by wearing lettered shirts and there was a rare run-out for 37-year-old prop Julian White. But if the Tigers thought they were going to spend the evening out-scrummaging the Wallabies they were mistaken.
The visitors won an early lineout, scrumhalf Luke Burgess made a sharp break and Lachie Turner broke Thomas Waldrom’s tackle to roll over for a try.
The first half developed into a kicking duel between Barnes and his opposite number, or rather letter J, Billy Twelvetrees. The former reduced Australia’s lead to 13-12 with four penalties before the break.
As the rain sluiced down in the second half, Leicester tried to up the tempo but they were lucky not to fall further behind when George Chuter was penalised for punching Van Humphries. Barnes missed the very kickable penalty.
A searing break by Twelvetrees then took play inside the Australian 22 and the visitors were penalised for offside. Twelvetrees put the Tigers ahead for the first time.
Barnes, though, was on target with a mammoth penalty eight minutes from time that put Australia ahead.
Guardian Service
LEICESTER: G Murphy (capt); S Hamilton, M Smith (D Hipkiss 76), A Allen, M Tuilagi; B Twelvetrees, J Grindal; P Bucknall, G Chuter (R Hawkins 65), J White, E Slater, G Skivington, T Waldrom (S Mafi 62), C Newby, J Crane.
AUSTRALIA: P Hynes; R Davies, P McCabe, A Faingaa, L Turner (L Morahan 65); B Barnes (captain), L Burgess; J Slipper, H Edmonds (S Faingaa 65), S Ma'afu, V Humphries, R Simmons (D Mumm 65), S Heginbotham, M Hodgson (P McCutcheon 65), R Brown.
Referee: J Kaplan(South Africa).
