TIGERS head coach Geordan Murphy remained phlegmatic despite watching former player Harry Thacker help inflict their fifth home defeat of the season.
“It's sod's law. Harry Thacker is an immense player and he has been brilliant for Bristol all year. We knew the threats he would pose to us and talked about it in the week. I thought the maul was really well executed and Harry just got underneath and deserved the try.”
Asked why Leicester had let Thacker go Murphy responded: “It is a difficult one. Harry is obviously enjoying his rugby at Bristol now. I think he was enjoying his rugby here as well.”
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said his side had made club history by beating Leicester at Welford Road in the Premiership for the first time – as well as beating them at Ashton Gate. “Never before have Bristol won back-to-back against Leicester. I've been here many times and not won.”
Lam added: “The effort was huge. Although we scored three, we probably blew two or three tries.”
TEAMS
LEICESTER: Blommetjies 5 (Veainu 74); May 6, Smith 5 (Aspland-Robinson 58, 5), Toomua 4, Olowofela 6; Ford (c) 5.5, Harrison 5 (White 69); Genge 5 (Gigena 74), Polota- Nau 5 (Kerr 58, 5.5), Cole 5 (Heyes 74), Spencer 6, Kitchener 5 (Wells 64, 5), Fitzgerald 5, (Williams 63, 5), Thompson 6.5, Kalamafoni 6
BRISTOL: Protheroe 6.5; Pincus 6.5, O'Conor 7, Bedlow 5 (S Piutau 31, 6), Leiua 6.5; Sheedy (co-c) 6.5, Uren 6.5 (Randall 52, 7); Woolmore 5 (Lay 45, 5), Thacker 8, Afoa 6, Holmes 6.5, Vui 6.5, Luatua (co-capt) 7 (Smith 61, 6), Thomas 6.5, Haining 6 (Crane 62, 6)
Not used: Fenton-Wells, Thiede, Smith
REFEREE: Karl Dickson
ATTENDANCE: 20,119
Star man
Harry Thacker – Bristol
