It’s not very often that a rugby match comes down to a penalty shoot out but that’s exactly what happened in the Heineken Cup semi final between Cardiff Blues and Leicester Tigers on Sunday.
14 points up with only 5 minutes remaining, the English team leaked 2 converted tries which meant the game went in to extra time at 26 points a piece.
Another 20 minutes of playing action failed to separate the two sides, so the match was settled by a penalty shoot out – the aim to convert the ball from the 22m line.
After Tom James had blown a chance to win it for the home side, Cardiff’s British Lion Martyn Williams missed a second kick for Cardiff which swung the advantage to Leicester.
Up stepped back row forward Jordon Crane, a former goalkeeping wannabe at West Brom. Being a former footballer, the Leicester man looked supremely confident as he lined up the kick and, wearing a pair of Nike Tiempo Air Legend II boots, he calmly knocked the ball over to send the English team in to the final where they’ll meet Irish province Leinster.
Indeed, it was a great weekend for the town as Leicester City, their promotion to the Championship already assured, won 3 – 0 at Crewe to finish 7 points clear at the top of League One.
