Two young Irish players enjoyed central roles in the Guinness A League Final second leg at Welford Road. NEC Harlequins had taken a 34-32 lead into the match from the first leg but it was the Leicester Tigers who prevailed on the night and overall with a 26-17 victory.
One of the outstanding performers on the night for the Tigers was Ian Humphreys - a brother of Ulster and former Ireland outhalf David - who contributed considerably more than the three conversions he kicked on the night, including one from the touchline, celebrating his 24th birthday in style.
He was involved in two of his team's four tries and almost scored a superb individual effort, running from just outside his own 22, exchanging passes, chipping ahead and just being beaten to the touchdown. It marks the culmination of a fine season for Humphreys in the Leicester shadow side and should enhance his claims for a place on the Ireland A squad that will travel to the Churchill Cup.
The match was played before a crowd of 12,769 and Humphreys admitted he was awestruck by the occasion. "It was unbelievable. We ran out and could just hear all the noise. It can't have been easy for Harlequins. Whenever we made any breaks, the crowd got behind us and it was such a lift. There's no doubt they helped us out towards the end of the game to bring us through.
"We've worked hard all year. We've basically had a core squad of maybe 30 or so, and we do feel like we've got our own separate team, even though we're well supported by the rest of the boys. To go out there and play with the same boys week in week out is great craic and we're just very happy to win."
Humphreys recently signed a one-year extension to his contract aware that he must try and elbow past the current England outhalf Andy Goode and fellow Irishman Paul Burke who arrives at the club from Munster during the summer.
The former underage and Sevens international has no regrets about his decision to move to Welford Road last summer. "It's been a perfect decision. I've no regrets whatsoever. Everything's been a plus this season. I've learnt so much and I've got no negative thoughts about it at all."
If it proved a memorable night for Humphreys, Harlequins replacement, former Leinster and Ireland under-21 scrumhalf-cum-wing Simon Keogh had to be content with a brilliant solo try. Keogh is the leading try scorer, not alone in the Harlequins first team but in Division One - the London club have secured promotion back to the Premiership - but was asked to sit on the bench as cover.
When introduced he transformed the pattern of the game with a fine individual try, scampering clear down the wing before chipping over the cover, regathering and scoring under the posts. It gave his side the lead at that juncture but they could not hold on. Keogh is another who'll hope that his excellent form could be rewarded with a Churchill Cup outing in June.
Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues will be trying to complete a sixth win in as many matches when they face Connacht at the Arms Park on Saturday. Having won their last five matches the Blues are now third in the Celtic League.
David Young has named a side that shows one change from the team that beat the Dragons for the first time at Rodney Parade. Robin Sowden-Taylor comes in at openside flanker with Martyn Williams dropping to the bench.
There will be a special presentation at pitch side after the match for Craig Quinnell, Dean Dewdney and Dan Baugh, who have had to retire from playing professional rugby due to injury, while the supporters club will also make a presentation to Jonah Lomu. The Kiwi legend returns to New Zealand in June.
CARDIFF BLUES: R Williams (capt); C Czekaj, M Stcherbina, T Davies, C Morgan, N Robinson, M Phillips; J Yapp, R Thomas, G Jenkins; D Jones, R Sidoli; K Schubert, R Sowden-Taylor, X Rush. Replacements: S Roberts, D Goodfield, M Lewis, M Williams, R Powell, N Macleod, L Thomas.
