Glasgow Warriors 43 Leicester Tigers 19
Glasgow Warriors set up a quarter-final date in Dublin next weekend against Leinster after comfortably easing past Leicester Tigers, making it three away defeats out of three for English sides in the Champions Cup on Saturday.
Leicester had a fast start but that turned out to be their peak, struggling in the scrum and for any territory and possession while having Jack van Poortvliet and Cam Henderson sent to the bin in the first half. You would not exactly describe Leicester’s history against Glasgow – remember the 43-0 defeat at Welford Road back in 2017 – and this was another grim chapter in that history. Henco Venter, one of two Glasgow back-rows to finish with two scores, was player of the match.
Leicester could not have wished for a better start in the set-piece, a scrum penalty followed by a maul before Olly Cracknell, their powerful No 8, could not be stopped diving low and hard for the line.
Dream start for @LeicesterTigers 🐯
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) April 5, 2025
Olly Cracknell with the opening try of the game after just two minutes of play 👊#InvestecChampionsCuppic.twitter.com/CXA1cKB4kr
But a mindless penalty given away by Harry Wells, taking out a player miles off the ball, invited Glasgow to respond. Five penalties later they had nothing to show for it, Leicester’s hard work in defence lasting 10 minutes as they shut down mauls and came up with a crucial turnover having made over 40 tackles.
That work-rate did not exactly feel sustainable and Leicester fell apart quickly. Jack van Poortvliet’s yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, sticking out a hand to stop a George Horne pass, gave Glasgow a maul in the corner and despite the overthrown lineout being a mess, Venter mopped up and bruised his way over to give Glasgow the lead.
Leicester’s problem now was repeat infringements and a back-pedalling scrum, turned over on their own ball with Sione Vailanu sharply scooping it up and powering over for Glasgow’s second.
Sione Vailanu brace! 🔥
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) April 5, 2025
The Tongan gets his second and it's a great start to the half for @GlasgowWarriors ⚔️#InvestecChampionsCuppic.twitter.com/uBs6lKTbYv
You do not see many tackles where a player’s shirt ends up over their head but it happened to Wells, in a ferocious defensive set from Glasgow which led to a turnover.
Only Adam Radwan’s speed stopped a third Glasgow score and Leicester might have been happy going into the break only nine points down given their lack of possession and territory, but Cam Henderson’s yellow card for going off his feet at the breakdown had them back down to 14 and bleeding three more points to trail 17-5 at ...
