In the final reckoning it was Leicester’s Jamie Shillcock who edged a thrilling duel of the fly-halves against Finn Russell of Bath. Shillcock stood over a penalty with the clock in the red and clipped the decisive kick through the pouring rain – and through the posts – to vault the Tigers off the bottom of the Premiership table.
Leicester’s season is up and running before the return of their international contingent thanks to six penalties and a conversion in an outstanding display from Shillcock. A losing bonus point means Johann van Graan’s resurgent Bath stay top, one point ahead of Exeter, but they were seconds away from making it three wins out of three.
