English Premiership/ Leicester 40 London Irish 8: Leicester cruised into the Guinness English Premiership final on May 27th - and booked a title shoot-out with Sale Sharks at Twickenham - by demolishing form team London Irish at Welford Road.
The Tigers, who were last crowned English champions four years ago, left Irish reeling by building a 15-point interval advantage through tries from wing Alesana Tuilagi and scrumhalf Harry Ellis.
Second-half touchdowns by substitute wing Leon Lloyd, who claimed a quick-fire double, and fullback Geordan Murphy finished off a lacklustre Irish outfit, while outhalf Andy Goode booted three penalties and three conversions.
Martin Corry and his fellow forwards established a level of the dominance that reduced Irish to a shadow of their recent selves, only managing an Olivier Magne try and a Mike Catt penalty.
Irish could make little territorial impression, and Goode opened Leicester's account through a sixth-minute penalty.
Tigers centre Ollie Smith required treatment for an ankle injury before he was able, somewhat gingerly, to continue, as Irish were reduced to 14 men. Scrumhalf Paul Hodgson, frustrated by Leicester's control, waded feet-first into a ruck and referee Dave Pearson sin-binned him for stamping.
Leicester made him pay just two minutes later, utilising blindside space for Samoan wing Tuilagi to crash over from close range. Goode slotted the touchline conversion.
Irish did profit from Ben Kay's yellow card for a technical infringement as Magne benefited from a break by Samoan centre Dominic Feau'nati to touch down, but further tries by Ellis, and Lloyd (two) left Irish demoralised.
LEICESTER: Murphy; A Tuilagi, Smith, Gibson, Varndell; Goode, Ellis; Rowntree, Chuter, White, Kay, Cullen, Jennings, Moody, Corry. Replacements: Lloyd for Varndell (59 mins); Hamilton for Cullen (67 mins), Vesty for A Tuilagi, Healey for Ellis, Holford for Rowntree (all 71 mins). Not Used: Buckland, Johnson. Sinbinned: Kay (24 mins).
LONDON IRISH: Armitage; Ojo, Feaunati, Catt, Tagicakibau; Flutey, Hodgson; Hatley, Russell, Skuse, Casey, Roche, Danaher, Magne, Leguizamon. Replacements: Paice for Russell (48 mins); Kennedy for Magne (56 mins); Pedro Tiesi for Feaunati, Murphy for Leguizamon (both 62 mins): Everitt for Tagicakibau, Willis for Hodgson (both 73 mins). Not Used: Warren. Sinbinned: Hodgson (12).
Referee: D Pearson (RFU).
