Leicester Tigers 33-19 Bristol Bears result - Tigers secure late bonus point in pivotal win for Gallagher PREM hopes

Leicester Tigers took their Rugby Cup momentum into the Gallagher PREM as they secured a late bonus point to beat Bristol Bears 33-19.

After putting the visitors under early pressure, Tigers finally found a breakthrough as Joaquin Moro and Hanro Liebenberg went over within four minutes of each other to race into the lead.

However, Bears came back strong with two quickfire tries of their own through Fitz Harding and Kalaveti Ravouvou to cut the arrears to just two points.

Billy Searle’s kicking was fantastic throughout the match and two penalties either side of half-time, including a 46-metre effort, helped Leicester build a cushion.

But when Harding went over for the second time with 25 minutes to go to cut the gap to one point, the tension built at a raucous Welford Road.

Both sides challenged for a crucial try before Izaia Perese got the ball over at full stretch but Searle’s missed conversion kept Bristol within touch of their opponents.

Searle’s late penalty all-but secured the win but, with both sides chasing a bonus-point try, it was Leicester who won out, as Gabriel Hamer-Webb countered to cap off a perfect day.

Leicester move up to third while Bristol go home empty-handed, slipping out of the play-off spots as the run-in heats up.

Leicester head coach Geoff Parling speaking to TNT Sports: "It didn't feel like fun for me at the time. Look at the end, I was screaming for them to kick it out. But the lads backed themselves and played what they saw and it finished off.

"It is a challenge. They've been away for two months. The positive is you have quality coming back, but you do lose a bit of cohesion because they're not quite used to how we play. But their attitudes, every single one of them was outstanding. I'm really proud of them."

On Chessum's performance: "He's been brilliant, since the day I came. He's been fantastic. I think he was outstanding in the Six Nations even when England struggled. I was very clear to him and the others coming back that I want him to be himself and drive our team, and that's what he's done this week.

"Our training is at a standard right now that's really driving our performance, and we can never let that drop. But if the lads have the chance to enjoy eachother's company, I want them to do that.

"We've been week to week, and the disadvantage of that is you don't get to refresh as much as you like. The advantage of that, I think we're more battle-hardened than other teams. We'll just keep running and playing well."

Leicester and England lock Ollie Chessum speaking to TNT Sports: "It's been a strange few weeks, but I love this place, this team. I love playing here and was chomping at the bit to get back with the boys.

"When you play against these boys you have to do plenty of running, they can score from anywhere. We said defence was going to win us this one, and I believe it truly did. And then for Gabe and the boys to do what they did in the corner at the end to score the bonus point.

"Can't predict the future. We don't talk about it too much but we knew there was a lot riding on this one. It was fourth v fifth and there was plenty in this. I'm super proud of the boys.

"It's a challenge with the first game back after a Six Nations, how quickly can you get back. We are fortunate in this squad. We have boys playing all over the place. But the boys playing over the last six weeks have been fantastic for this transition.

"We're gonna take it game by game. It's a sprint finish. This part of the season, you can blink and it's gone so we're going to take it week by week and keep bringing performances like that.

"We've got some tough few games coming up but today was a big one, and I'm really proud of the group."

Leicester Tigers fly-half Billy Searle speaking to TNT Sports: "For me, let's try and get five. Why not? Back our ability. A money kick from Fred, thankfully I had Gabriel inside me to finish it, there was no way I was getting there. It came off today, big five points.

"It's about trusting your defence and those spark moments when you get turnovers to really come alive. We got a couple good tries off linebreaks and it was about squeezing their attacking game today. You saw their tries today, you just have to regroup and go again.

"I'm loving it. It suits my game to a tee. Loving having boys around to feed them, the wingers. All the internationals coming back, it's exciting. We had a really good PREM Cup spell and won a trophy, and to bring these boys back in lifts the energy and intensity in training. For me, it's about putting them in space."

Both sides were going at it late on, with bonus points at stake, even though the overall result was settled.

Bristol put the pressure on, but Hamer-Webb hit on the counter and, given that Bristol were attacking, that move could have been a three-point swing which could have big ramifications come the end of the season.

Tigers move third, while Bears slip down to fifth, out of the play-off spots.

Leicester counter! And Hamer-Webb has the pace to get a huge fourth try!

Leicester are in dreamland and they have got a huge, huge bonus point!

That will be all too!

The final result might be done but both sides can chase bonus points here.

It's Bristol who have possession, and they will get two bonus points with a try. Knock-on for Leicester and Bristol have time for a final try.

Leicester are on the attack. A fourth try would surely seal the game and a bonus point.

They get into the 22 and look to have lost it, but the referee deems the jackal illegal.

Now then, kick for a nine-point lead, or go for the bonus point?

Searle goes for the sticks and that should be enough!

Chawatama fumbles the ball for Bears and it costs his side a scrum, with the clock ticking down.

Final result aside, both sides could be tempted to go for fourth try and secure a bonus point.

The game has become quite scrappy since that Tigers try.

So all that separates the two teams are those two Searle penalties, but that missed conversion keeps Bears within one score.

A stoppage here as Watson gets some treatment for Tigers, but should be good to go after the physio wraps copious amounts of tape round his right knee.

Heward has been replaced by Boshoff for Bears.

Huge, huge try in the race for the play-offs!

It looks like Moro is going to get held up but he drives forward and keeps the ball to keep the move going.

Again, Perese looks like he has fallen short, but stretches his arms over to get the points!

The biggest surprise is that Searle, whose kicking has been exemplary all season, misses the extras.

Now it's Leicester's turn to have a spell of possession. Blamire nearly scampers through but gets held back. Heward then gathers to relieve the pressure.

Williams is under investigation for a high tackle on Hamer-Webb. Definitely a penalty, but will it be a yellow card.

Oohs from the very partizan crowd whenever a replay is shown. There is a bit of a Glasgow kiss in there, but since it's passive and low-danger, Williams escapes the sin-bin.

Searle kicks to the corner.

Leicester counter but spill it at the death!

It is absolutely sensational as Hassell-Collins chips the ball into a gap and the green shirts fly forward.

Searle is instrumental as Tigers get to the try-line but Moro fumbles on the line!

Tigers wiggle out of the line-out and the clearance is excellent, kicking into touch around the halfway line.

Heyes goes off to a round of applause and is replaced by Hurd. Williams's kick bounces cruelly for Tigers and Bristol keep possession, closing into the 22.

However, a forward pass halts their momentum.

Bristol's maul goes nowhere as Leicester push bears back. However, Harding produces a lovely run to flit through the gap and gain several yards.

Bristol are back inside the 22, but Tigers are keeping them at arm's reach for now.

Oghre tries to sneak through on the left flank but gets tackled into touch.

Tigers are under serious pressure here. Surely a try is imminent.

Bears are held up right on the line, and need just inches. Eventually, it's the skipper again as Harding finds that extra push to get his second try of the afternoon.

The kick is good and we have a one-point game.

Ravouvou's pace is causing all sorts of problems, but his pass is intercepted by Hamer-Webb, who can't gather cleanly and concedes a scrum as a result.

Bears get the penalty advantage so it's a free run here.

Still Bristol come, and they get over the try-line. Has it been held up though? Yes it has.

Back to the advantage, and Bristol kick into touch.

More changes for Leicester as Wand and Smith come off for van der Flier and Perese.

Ibitoye does well to block a bobble kick to get Bristol some possession but they just can't get out at the moment.

Tigers make their first changes as Van Poortvliet comes on for Whitley, while Moroni replaces Worsley for the Bears.

Rensburg does well to catch and shield a Searle kick, but Leicester keep the pressure on.

They win a penalty from their own scrum, and Searle decides to go for the posts. Risky, given the distance and the angle.

It's tight, both on line and distance, but he just about squeezes the 46-metre kick in.

A half of two halves to start with. Leicester have the slight advantage but Bristol are still within one score.

Either way, bonus points could be crucial come the end of the season so plenty to play for.

Worsley gets the second half started for Bristol.