Leicester's explosive spell sinks Baa-Baas

Leicester 42 Barbarians 19

All attempts to kill-off the Barbarians may have failed so far, but the inescapable fact is that the world-famous invitation club is only a step away from being the most notable casualty of the professional era.

All attempts to kill-off the Barbarians may have failed so far, but the inescapable fact is that the world-famous invitation club is only a step away from being the most notable casualty of the professional era.

There was a time when this fixture was the high point of Leicester's season. This season it is the only game which has not attracted a capacity crowd.

It was Pat Howard, who will replace John Wells as the Tigers' coach next season, who set the ball rolling with some delicious sleight-of-hand for a try in the fourth minute. The only other try of the half came from the tight-head Christian Califano after a driving maul.

After the break Leicester ran in three tries from Will Johnson, Henry Tuilagi and Alesani Tuilagi. That explosive spell made the game safe. The Baa-Baas replied through Philippe Bernat-Salles and Paul Volley before two more tries from Alesani Tuilagi and one from Sam Vesty settled the issue.

Leicester: Tries Howard, W Johnson, H Tuilagi, A Tuilagi 3, Vesty; Conversions Warren 2 Penalty Warren. Barbarians: Tries Califano, Bernat-Salles, Volley Conversions Gelez 2.

Leicester: R Warren; L Lloyd, D Hipkiss, P Howard, A Tuilagi; S Vesty, S Bemand (capt); M Holford, E Taukafa, J Rawson, J Hamilton, L Deacon, B Deacon, D Montagu, W Johnson.

Replacements: J Buckland for Taukafa 53 P Cook for Holford 53 H Tuilagi for Hamilton 53 J Wheeler for B Deacon 53 A Healey for Warren 69 A Dodge for Lloyd 53 F Tuilagi for Howard 64 M Johnson for W Johnson 78 A Wright for Montagu 82

Barbarians: J Swart (Natal & South Africa); P Bernat-Salles (Biarritz & France), A Snyman (Leeds & South Africa), R Dourthe (Castres & France), K Logan (Glasgow & Scotland); G Townsend (Montpellier & Scotland), M Williams (Saracens & Canada); G Faliva (Treviso & Italy), J-M Gonzalez (Biarritz & France), C Califano (Agen & France), R Strudwick (London Irish), K Chesney (Saracens), P Gustard (London Irish), P Volley (Castres; capt), F Ntmack (Montauban & France).

Replacements: M Holt (Leeds) for Faliva 73 R Rawlinson (Leeds) for Gonzalez 73 A Codling (Northampton & England) for Chesney 65 E Pavenello (Treviso) for Ntmack 51 M Powell (Worcester) for Williams 65 F Gelez (Agen & France) for Snyman h-t D Doherty (Leeds) for Dourthe 41.

Referee: M Fox (Leicestershire).