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LEICESTER TIGERS v HARLEQUINS
– MATCHFILE – LEICESTER TIGERS 33-24 ULSTER RUGBY Friday April 30 2021 / European Challenge Cup semi-final Attendance: Closed doors / Referee: Mr Pascal Gauzere (Fra) LEICESTER TIGERS 15 Freddie Steward 14 Guy Porter T 13 Matías Moroni 12 Matt Scott 11 Nemani Nadolo 10 George Ford 3P/3C/DG 9 Richard Wigglesworth
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Ellis Genge Tom Youngs (c) Dan Cole Harry Wells Calum Green George Martin Hanro Liebenberg Jasper Wiese
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Tigers roared back from a half-time deficit with an impressive performance after the break to book a place in the European Challenge Cup Final. Scores from Ireland internationals Iain Henderson and Billy Burns - after an earlier score had been chalked-off for a knock-on - in a 10-minute spell when Tigers were a man short due to picking up a yellow card under pressure on their own line, gave visitors Ulster a 17-6 lead midway through the first half. But neither side added anything more in the remaining 20 minutes of the opening period, even as Tigers built set-piece pressure at close range.
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Charlie Clare Luan de Bruin Joe Heyes Tomás Lavanini Cyle Brink Ben Youngs Zack Henry Kini Murimurivalu
ULSTER: Stockdale, Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, McIlroy, Burns, Cooney; O’Sullivan, Herring, Moore, O’Connor, Henderson (c), Rea, Murphy, Timoney. Reps: Andrew, Warwick, O’Toole, Treadwell, Reidy, Mathewson, Lowry, Addison
But the home side did make a big impact at the start of the second half. After a delay in play when scrum-half John Cooney left the field injured, Tigers came flying out of the traps with Ellis Genge’s carry setting up a chance for Freddie Steward. Although the full-back was brought down in the corner, Tigers retained ball and eventually Jasper Wiese barged over the line for a trademark score. George Ford’s conversion kick brought the score back to 13-17 with 45 minutes gone and a penalty reduced the gap to just a point shortly afterwards. Tigers made the most of the swing in momentum and, after Steward had been stopped on the right,
