Hassell-Collins has flying start
Leicester …………………..50pts
Tries: Hassell-Collins 2, Whiteley 35, Ilione 46, 71; van Wyk 48, Atkinson 58, Cokanasiga 73, Shillcock 75 Conversions: Shillcock 2, 35, 58, 73, 75
Penalties: Rogers 25, 28
OLLIE Hassell-Collins took 90 seconds to make his mark on his debut in a comfortable win for Leicester by eight tries to nil.
The England wing, who was overlooked for World Cup duty, had a prominent first appearance after joining from London Irish.
Jamie Shillcock, another newcomer in a newlook home squad, made the try through a pinpoint cross kick in the opening exchanges which allowed Hassell-Collins to finish off.
After that the wing was a constant threat and also made one important tackle when Caldy's hooker Ollie Hearn shot clear down the touchline.
Hassell-Collins, who had lined up a move to Leicester before the collapse of London Irish, has a new opportunity to show the pace and strength which brought him two England caps last season.
His tackle to stop the quick ploy by Caldy was during the high point in a resilient first-half display from the Championship visitors on their first visit to Leicester.
Up until Leicester stretched clear in the second half, the Wirral club, celebrating their centenary this year, even had hopes of success rather than honourable losers.
Two penalty goals from fly half Sam Rogers cut Leicester's initial lead but the match started fall the home team's way when Caldy flanker Nyle David- son was yellow-carded for collapsing a maul.
Leicester eventually took advantage thorough a nimble break from scrumhalf Tom Whiteley which Shillcock improved.
That score put Leicester 14-6 at the interval and a positive start after the interval had Caldy back pedalling throughout a tough last 40 minutes. Leicester scored six further tries to hit the half-century without ever finding top gear.
As the pace slowed, Leicester took their chances including two for flanker Emeka Ilione and one each for prop Fran van Wyk and substitute back Charlie Atkinson.
When Ilione struck for his second, following a forward drive, Leicester led 36-6, Shillcock having added two more conversions.
Perhaps, the teams should have called it quits then, but Leicester had not finished and two further tries by centre Phil Cokanasiga and the impressive Star man Ollie Hassell-Collins – Leicester Shillock came when the conditions had really taken their toll. Caldy's director of rugby Gareth Davies said he was delighted at the effort of his squad and thanked the 300 supporters for travelling to make the day a special one in the history of the Wirral club.
“We showed them we good mix it with the very best,” he added. Davies hoped wing Nick Royle was ok after going off needing treatment to a foot injury early in the second half. By then Leicester were taking control in the hot conditions which had their new boss Dan Mckellar joking afterwards that the weather was so hot that he was back in his native Queensland.
He described the contribution of Hassell-Collins as “outstanding” and said: “He's going to be an important player for us.”
Overall, McKellar seemed reasonably satisfied, adding: “We started well and got some early points but Caldy never gave up.”
A plus for McKellar was Leicester's better discipline than in the friendly the previous week against Nottingham. “Some parts were very pleasing but there's always room for improvement.”
