Calvisano 13-20 Leicester Tigers: English side keep control of European Challenge Cup pool

Andy Forsyth is on loan from Championship side Coventry

Tries from Freddie Steward, Andy Forsyth and Nephi Leatigaga saw a much-changed Leicester Tigers keep control of European Challenge Cup Pool 5 with victory at Italian club Calvisano.

Tigers thrashed Calvisano 59-7 a week earlier and another comfortable game seemed likely after Steward's score.

But Calvisano were very competitive until the final quarter when lock Davide Zanetti was sent off.

Forsyth then gave Tigers breathing space before Leatigaga's debut try.

It kept up Tigers' perfect record in the competition so far and they extended their advantage at the top of the pool to six points, meaning victory over Cardiff at Welford Road in round five will seal their progress to the quarter-finals.

But their dominance of the pool was under threat as a side containing nine changes from the return fixture last week struggled to assert any control on the game despite the early try for 19-year-old winger Steward.

Calvisano kept in touch with the boot of fly-half Paolo Pescetto before the red card for Zanetti after an incident at a ruck allowed Tigers to extend their lead with a try for the other winger Forsyth.

Leatigaga came off the bench for his debut and scored from close range to put the game beyond doubt with five minutes remaining before Facundo Panceyra Garrido gave the Italians a consolation try with the final play of the game.

Leicester head coach Geordan Murphy told BBC Radio Leicester:

"It was probably one of the worst games of rugby I've been involved in, conditions were poor and the pitch was a bog.

"We started the game how we wanted to but then Calvisano took the pace out of the game and the French referee was lenient in how they went about doing that

"We wanted to play fast and put the ball in behind them but it was a gritty performance and we had to stay in the game to win it."

Leicester: Veainu; Steward, Thomas, Reid, Forsyth; Hardwick, Harrison (capt); Gigena, Clare, Heyes, Lavanini, Green, Lewis, Thompson, Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Stevens, Bateman, Leatigaga, Spencer, Taufua, White, McPhillips, Worth.

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