Leicester v Bristol (Sat)

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<div align="center"> Leicester v Bristol
</div> GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP
Venue: Welford Road Date: Saturday, 19 April Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Bristol 94.9 FM, 103.6 FM, 104.6 FM, BBC Somerset 1566 AM and BBC Radio Leicester, or listen live on the BBC Sport website
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Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy returns to the Tigers line-up for the first time in six weeks and captain Martin Corry is back at number eight.

England second row Ben Kay starts his third match in eight days in a game the Tigers must win to reach the play-offs.

Bristol have made wholesale changes, with centre Luke Eves, who turned 19 last Friday, making his full debut.

Skipper Matt Salter gets the rest of the season off while Tom Arscott and Joe El Abd are set for minor surgery.

Leicester: G Murphy; Varndell, Hipkiss, Mauger, Al Tuilagi; Goode, Ellis; Castrogiovanni, Davies, White, Corry (capt); Kay, Croft, Herring, Crane.
Replacements: Kayser, Ayerza, Blaze, B Deacon, F Murphy, Humphreys, Erinle.

Bristol: L Arscott; Robinson, Brew, Eves, Lemi; Barnes, Perry (capt); Crompton, Linklater, Bracken, Sambucetti, Hohneck, Grieve, Blowers, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Prosser, Clarke, Budgett, To'oala, Beveridge, Strange, Higgitt.

Bristol prop Peter Bracken expects Leicester to be fired up for Saturday's game after losing at Bath, but insists his team-mates can match them.

It will be Bracken's first start since September because of a shoulder injury.

And he told BBC Radio Bristol: "There's a lot of players like myself who haven't played in a long time.

"Then there are young guys like Iain Grieves who are getting an opportunity, Andrew Blowers, there's a lot of guys with a lot of motivation in our team."

From BBC Sport

 

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Leicester 32-14 Bristol

Leicester (20) 32
Tries: Mauger, Herring, Varndell, penalty, Goode Cons: Goode 2 Pens: Goode

Bristol (0) 14
Tries: Perry, Beveridge Cons: Barnes, Strange

Leicester kept themselves in the play-off hunt with a bonus-point win over a weakened Bristol side.

The Tigers ran in three tries inside the opening half-hour against a side resting several key players.

They took the lead when Dan Hipkiss broke clear and Alesana Tuilagi sent Aaron Mauger over on the left.

Ben Herring was then driven over, Andy Goode converting after missing his first two kicks at goal, before Tuilagi's break set up Tom Varndell.

Leading 20-0 at the break, Leicester claimed two more scores after the interval with a penalty try and Goode also crossing, Shaun Perry and his scrum-half replacement Graeme Beveridge grabbing consolation tries for Bristol.

Leicester coach Marcelo Loffreda:

"It was very important to put in a performance like this - we have finished a tough week with a good win and five points.

"We didn't want to have a schedule like this. We have had to deal with it.

"But we will have to play better in our last two games against Newcastle and Harlequins if we want to compete."

Bristol assistant coach Paul Hull:

"We came with a young side and they showed some true grit and team spirit in the second half.

"There were some harsh words at half time and the boys responded to win the second half 14-12.

"We didn't come here to lose. I was pleased with the young players. It was a good step towards next year to get game time in front of a big crowd."

Leicester: G Murphy; Varndell, Hipkiss, Mauger, Al Tuilagi; Goode, Ellis; Castrogiovanni, Davies, White, Corry (capt); Kay, Croft, Herring, Crane.
Replacements: Kayser, Ayerza, Blaze, B Deacon, F Murphy, Humphreys, Erinle.

Bristol: L Arscott; Robinson, Brew, Eves, Lemi; Barnes, Perry (capt); Crompton, Linklater, Bracken, Sambucetti, Hohneck, Grieve, Blowers, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Prosser, Clarke, Budgett, To'oala, Beveridge, Strange, Higgitt.

From BBC Sport