Pollard’s boot guides Leicester to Champions Cup win over Edinburgh

Jasper Wiese scored the game’s only try on a wet night at Welford Road as Leicester Tigers reached the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup with a 16-6 win over Edinburgh.

The South African replacement’s individual effort came at a time when the visitors had momentarily turned the game on its head through two penalties from Emiliano Boffelli.

The conditions led to the game becoming something of an arm wrestle, and not much of a spectacle, but that will not bother the Tigers as their sixth successive win in all competitions booked them a last-eight tie against either Leinster or Ulster next week.

Leicester began on the front foot and had the first points of the game after five minutes through a Handrè Pollard penalty, slotted without fuss from in front of the posts.

The hosts then pressed for the opening try, only for a series of pick-and-goes from their forwards close to the try line to come to an end when the ball was knocked forward. A creaking lineout also prevented the Tigers from capitalising on their early territorial dominance, with Edinburgh’s struggles under the high ball repeatedly gifting them possession.

The visitors were also conceding too many penalties, although Pollard was unable to extend Leicester’s lead off the back of their indiscipline as he sent a kick from about 40 metres wide.

Edinburgh grew into the contest the longer the first half wore on and Darcy Graham almost made the most of a rare Freddie Steward mistake under a high kick, but his hack on ran dead.

It was the final half-chance of a scrappy first half as Leicester retained their 3-0 lead going into the break, but this was quickly cancelled out as the visitors flew out of the traps in the second half.

Advantage was being played as Hamish