Leicester 17-20 Harlequins: Tigers e book play-off in opposition to Sale regardless of defeat however retiring Chris Ashton might have performed his final sport after being despatched off for prime deal with in useless rubber
- Ashton was despatched off in what is likely to be his closing Premiership look
- Wing was proven a pink card following a shoulder to the top of Cadan Murley
- Premiership’s all-time document try-scorer introduced his retirement final month
Chris Ashton’s storied profession ended with a flash of pink relatively than the Ash-splash followers craved following his final-round dismissal.
With Leicester Tigers’ place within the Premiership play-off semi-finals secured forward of their useless rubber in opposition to Harlequins, the previous England worldwide was despatched to the stands by referee Ian Tempest following a shoulder to the top of Cadan Murley.
The Premiership’s all-time document try-scorer, who introduced his retirement final month, left the Mattioli Woods Welford Highway pitch choked with emotion earlier than half-time. His hopes of that includes within the knockout video games and a visit to a different of his former golf equipment, Sale Sharks, subsequent weekend hinge on a profitable attraction which Tigers head coach Richard Wigglesworth didn’t rule out.
‘We’ll see what we will get executed there [appeal], hopefully that’s not his final [game],’ Wigglesworth mentioned. ‘He had a wry smile, “solely me” he mentioned. That’s been the story of Chris, it’s all the time headlines, isn’t it?
‘We’d have appreciated them to jot down them like he did in opposition to Exeter nevertheless it wasn’t to be.’
Leicester wing Chris Ashton was despatched off in what is likely to be his closing Premiership look
Ashton was proven a pink card following a shoulder to the top of Cadan Murley on Saturday
The storm surrounding Tempest in hostile Leicestershire waters began with the sport’s first rating as Harlequins have been awarded a penalty attempt after a rolling maul crumpled.
The Tigers response was fast, even with Cameron Henderson within the sin-bin, as Julian Montoya drove over from shut vary.
A second of magic from Marcus Smith put Louis Lynagh behind enemy traces earlier than Josh Bassett generously offloaded to his wing companion Murley to strengthen his place because the division’s high tryscorer along with his fifteenth of a prolific marketing campaign.
Mike Brown, taking part in in opposition to the membership for which he made a document 351 appearances, was despatched tumbling to the bottom following an aerial collision with Lynagh.
A prolonged TMO examine ensued earlier than play was waved on.
There was no such reprieve for Ashton as he was red-carded and Smith’s penalty put Quins 10 factors up on the break. Handre Pollard’s place kick shortly after the restart closed the hole earlier than Danny Care sportingly conceded he fumbled reaching for the road after Harry Potter hauled him in.
Smith’s third profitable shot at objective gave Quins a cushion that was wanted as Tommy Reffell’s late attempt minimize the hole to a few come the ultimate whistle, regardless of Tigers’ last-ditch makes an attempt to win it.
