Leicester Tigers Crush Hollywoodbets Sharks In Champions Cup
Leicester Tigers Crush Hollywoodbets Sharks In Champions Cup
The Hollywoodbets Sharks didn't send some of their biggest stars to Leicester in Round 2, and the Tigers made them pay.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks decided not send some of their best players to England, and the Leicester Tigers took no pity on the team from Durban, South Africa.
The Tigers led 35-10 at halftime and scored 21 more points in the second half en route to a whopping 56-17 win at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Leicester on Dec. 14.
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Missing Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, among other Springboks, the Sharks, who won their Round 1 match against Exeter, led 10-7 at the 21st minute, before Leicester powered for 28 unanswered points to end the half.
Leicester Tigers Take Control
The Sharks struck first with a penalty from Siya Masuku in the third minute, but Leicester quickly responded when Julian Montoya powered over the line in the ninth minute, converted by Pollard, giving the Tigers a 7-3 lead.
The Sharks regained the lead in the 20th minute through a try by Manu Tshituka, converted by Masuku, making it 10-7.
However, Leicester dominated the remainder of the half.
Tries from Montoya (24’), Ollie Hassell-Collins (27’), Solomone Kata (34’) and Pollard (39’), all converted by Pollard, propelled the Tigers to a commanding 35-10 lead at halftime.
Leicester Tigers Maintain Momentum
Leicester continued its onslaught in the second half.
Jack van Poortvliet crossed the line in the 43rd minute, followed by Pollard’s conversion, extending the lead to 42-10.
Although the Sharks responded with a try from Ethan Hooker in the 60th minute, converted by Masuku, a yellow card to Ntuthuko Mchunu in the 70th minute stymied any hopes of a comeback.
The Tigers capitalized on their numerical advantage with late tries from Charlie Clare (71’) and Emeka Ilione (82’), both converted by Jamie Shillcock, sealing the emphatic 56-17 victory.
Leicester Tigers Vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks Rugby Scoring Summary
Leicester Tigers: Tries: Montoya (9’, 24’), Hassell-Collins (27’), Kata (34’), Pollard (39’), van Poortvliet (43’), Clare (71’), Ilione (82’); Conversions: Pollard (10’, 25’, 28’, 35’, 40’, 44’), Shillcock (72’, 83’)
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Tries: Tshituka (20’), Hooker (60’); Conversions: Masuku (21’, 61’)
What's Next For Leicester Tigers, Hollywoodbets Sharks In Champions Cup?
The Sharks will host Toulouse at 10:15 a.m. ET on Jan. 11 in one of the most anticipated matches of the competition. The Tigers will host Ulster Rugby at 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 11.
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1 Results
- La Rochelle 24, Bath Rugby 20
- ASM Clermont Auvergne 28, Benetton Rugby 0
- Hollywoodbets Sharks 39 Exeter Chiefs 21
- Northampton Saints 38, Castres Olympique 8
- RC Toulon 24, DHL Stormers 14
- Munster Rugby 33, Stade Francais Paris 7
- Saracens 27, Vodacom Bulls 5
- Glasgow Warriors 38, Sale Sharks 19
- Racing 92 23, Harlequins 12
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 42, Leicester Tigers 28
- Stade Toulousain 54, Ulster Rugby 21
- Leinster Rugby 35, Bristol Bears 12
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 2
All Times Eastern
- Sale Sharks 29, vs. Racing 92 7
- Castres Olympique 16 vs. Munster Rugby 14
- Northampton Saints 30, Vodacom Bulls 21
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 40, Ulster Rugby 19
- Leinster Rugby 15 vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne 7
- Leicester Tigers 56, Hollywoodbets Sharks 17
- Stade Rochelais vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- RC Toulon vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
- Benetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stadio Monigo
- Stade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Jean Bouin
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 12:30 PM, Sandy Park
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 3
- Glasgow Warriors vs. Racing 92, Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
- DHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 AM, DHL Stadium
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
- Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- Munster Rugby vs. Saracens, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Thomond Park
- Stade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stade Jean Bouin
- Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Castres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
- RC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
- Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Ashton Gate
- Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 PM, The Rec
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 4
- Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
- ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
- Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
- Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Champions Cup Qualifications
Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:
- United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.
Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers
- TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne
- GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers
- UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks
When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4.
The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
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