Edinburgh beaten in Leicester

Jasper Wiese’s opportunistic try proved a decisive moment for the hosts, while Handré Pollard contributed 11 points from the tee in testing conditions.

The unrelenting drizzle made for a scrappy affair and Leicester were on top during the opening exchanges, fly-half Pollard slotting a penalty on four minutes to give the hosts the lead.

Leicester’s forwards would largely be in command for the first 20 minutes, though Pollard couldn’t take advantage of his second kick at the posts after a scrum penalty.

Edinburgh began to gain possession more frequently at the breakdown as the half wore on and went into the break in the ascendancy, but they were unable notch any points after a mounting series of attacks in the final 10 minutes.

But the capital side carried that momentum into the second half and full-back Emiliano Boffelli kicked two penalties in 10 minutes to hand them the lead as they began to regularly cross the gainline.

However, No.8 Wiese, who came off the bench half-time, produced a momentum of magic for Leicester after Edinburgh lost the ball in contact five metres from their own line.

With his back to the whitewash, Wiese scooped up, looped round and ploughed through the onrushing defence before tiptoeing down the touchline and crossing.

That score took the sting out of Edinburgh somewhat, and Pollard, who had added the extras, hit the target again from a penalty to take Leicester seven points clear on the hour mark.

Handling errors continued to litter the contest and Edinburgh let another ball spill forward before Ritchie was penalised for not rolling away, allowing Pollard to kick Leicester 10 points clear with 10 minutes to go.

Edinburgh’s quarter-final hopes faded as a combination of inaccuracy and Leicester’s physicality allowed the Gallagher Premiership side to see the game out.