from thisisleicestershire.co.uk

Monday, March 08, 2010

Departing Australian Test star Lote Tuqiri declared Leicester Tigers' 35-19 win over London Irish as an "awesome way to finish" his time at Welford Road.

The 30-year-old veteran of 67 caps for the Wallabies ended his fourth-month association with Tigers in thrilling fashion.

He gets on a plane today to fly back to Australia and begin a new chapter in his glittering career as a Rugby League player with Sydney-based Wests Tigers.

He signed off in Leicester with a bang, having put in a complete performance and playing a huge role in the try of the match.

"It was an awesome way to finish my time here," he said after his 14th and final appearance for the club. We probably didn't think we would score as many points against them but the boys really put it in at training this week.

"It hurt that much last week to lose to Northampton and that was a disappointing game to say the least."

He added of Saturday's game: "We may have been lucky at times with Martin Castrogiovanni's intercept.

"But you make your own luck and we are pleased to get a bonus point against one of the top teams."

Tuqiri was a pivotal figure in what Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill described as the best try Leicester have scored all season.

Young lock Calum Green stole a line-out and that began the spell of play which led to Scott Hamilton's try on 23 minutes.

Ben Youngs fizzed a pass out to Toby Flood, who found Tuqiri in space.

The Aussie showed a lightning burst of pace and sped through a gap in the Irish defence.

Taking the ball on, he then fed Hamilton with a beautiful pass and the Kiwi applied a clinical finish from 30 metres out to leave Welford Road in raptures.

"Scott's was one of the best tries we have scored while I have been here," said Tuqiri.

"We saw a bit of space and we had the conviction to take play out wide.

"Luckily enough, I was able to put Scott in over the line and it put us in a really good frame of mind before half-time, especially when Castro dotted over for the third try soon afterwards.

"We got a bit loose at 25-3 up and didn't have the mental capacity to keep the pressure on.

"They got a score, which was disappointing.

"But we came back well in the second half and, luckily enough, we got our try and bonus point.

"It has felt weird because my last game for Leicester has been building up all week.

"I have been packing all week and it was depressing. But it is good to win and leave the club on a high note."

Tuqiri will go straight into pre-season training with the Wests Tigers on his return and could make his debut against the Manly Sea Eagles a week today.