Josh Bassett Stars as Leicester Tigers Dominate Ulster

Josh Bassett’s hat-trick powered Leicester Tigers to a resounding victory over Ulster, securing their place in the knockout stage of the Investec Champions Cup. Despite a shaky start in freezing conditions at Welford Road, Leicester recovered to dominate the Irish side, who remain winless in Pool 1. Ulster shocked the hosts early with Nathan Doak’s penalty and Nick Timoney capitalizing on a fortunate bounce to score the opening try.

Leicester struggled to find fluency in their wider attacking game but gained momentum late in the first half. Bassett’s sharp finish out wide opened the scoring for the Tigers and a well-executed backs move saw him cross again just before halftime, giving Leicester a narrow lead. Head coach Michael Cheika’s halftime pep talk spurred the Tigers to an impressive second-half display. Leicester’s pack laid the groundwork and their backline took full advantage.

Ollie Hassell-Collins added two quick tries, showcasing the Tigers’ attacking width, despite the biting cold. Bassett sealed his hat-trick with a clever chip-and-chase, exploiting gaps in Ulster’s youthful backline. Izaia Perese then added a final flourish, skipping past defenders near the touchline to cap off Leicester’s emphatic win. The victory leaves Leicester third in Pool 1 with a challenging trip to champions Toulouse next Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ulster face Exeter in a must-win match, requiring a bonus point and other results to go their way to qualify. Leicester’s second-half resurgence highlighted their adaptability and attacking prowess with Josh Bassett and Hassell-Collins leading the charge. Despite early struggles, the Tigers showcased their growing confidence and depth, marking them as strong contenders in the competition’s latter stages.