Heineken Champions Cup: Leicester 23-16 Clermont Auvergne - Tigers remain unbeaten

Jasper Wiese was playing in his 50th match for Leicester Tigers

Leicester made it two wins out of two in the Heineken Champions Cup after a battling display against ASM Clermont-Auvergne at Welford Road.

Two converted first-half tries gave the Tigers a lead extended by Charlie Atkinson's second-half penalties.

Anthony Belleau landed two early penalties before tries from Jasper Wiese and Julian Montoya helped Leicester to a 17-6 lead at the break.

Clermont earned a bonus point through Sebastien Bezy's late converted try.

Leicester head coach Steve Borthwick praised his side's resolve but, following a week of speculation linking him to the vacant England post, would not confirm if he would be in charge for their next game against Gloucester on 24 December.

"We allowed the game to slow down and become an arm-wrestle, which is not what we wanted, but you have to hand it to our team as they just keep fighting," said Borthwick.

"It's a productive two-week period as we will take two from two and we have a few players coming back now which will add to our strength.

"I'll enjoy this win today as it's a special club here, and I feel privileged to be part of it over the last two and a half years."

The French side, three-time runners up in this competition, were 6-0 ahead after 15 minutes thanks to the boot of Belleau.

Hooker Montoya bundled over from a line-out and, after a second successful conversion, Atkinson extended the lead with a penalty.

Two more long-range penalties from Atkinson stretched Leicester's lead to 23-9 in the second half, but Clermont finished strongly.

Full-back Alex Newsome crossed after a superb run, but the Australian was then held up over the line by a combined effort from Atkinson and Dan Kelly.

And the French side still had time to earn a bonus point in reducing Leicester's lead to seven points as scrum-half Bezy darted over from the base of the scrum for a converted try that turned out to be the last action of the game.

The two sides face each other in the return Pool B fixture on 13 January 2023.

Line-ups

Leicester: Steward, Watson, Porter, Kelly, Potter, Atkinson, B Youngs, Cronin, Montoya, Cole, O. Chessum, Green, Liebenberg, Reffell, Wiese.

Replacements: Clare, Leatigaga, Hurd, Wells, Cracknell, Wigglesworth, Burns, Ashton.

Clermont Auvergne: Newsome, Penaud, Tiberghien, Naqalevu, Delguy, Belleau, Bezy, Falgoux, Behergaray, Kubriashvili, Jedrasiak, Lavanini, Tixeront, Fischer, Iturria.

Replacements: Boudou, Bibi-Biziwu, Slimani, Amatosero, Lanen, Jauneau, Plisson, Barraque.

Referee: Andrew Brace

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