Dazzling work from wingers can't carry the day for Tigers

LEICESTER Tigers fell to a 42-24 defeat at Bristol Bears in their opening game of the Gallagher Prem season.

- By JOHN WIFFEN

Despite a good first half and a fantastic double from bagsman Adam Radwan, the home side were more consistent in scoring and edged a hard-fought contest in the sunshine.

Something that was a marked improvement during preseason was the speed with which Leicester started games, and that continued in their Prem opener at Ashton Gate.

Jack van Poortvliet was deservedly over within five minutes after slick hands from Will Wand freed Ollie Haskell-Collins with runners, but the magic was with the whipped pass from Orlando Bailey. When the winger was free it was an easy draw-and-give from the winger to the England scrum half for his first of the season as he continued his fine form from the end of the last campaign.