Booth saves Leicester's blushes

It was only a year ago that Steve Booth was begging Leicester for a trial and sending them videos of the tries he had scored in rugby league. He has no need of such desperate PR these days.

The try he ran in at a raucous Stade Aime Giral to douse the passion of Perpignan can now be added to the impressive showreel that the Castleford-born winger is putting together in his first season in union.

Leicester trailed 27-15 after an hour, with former Harlequins and Saracens fly half Thierry Lacroix going on to kick nine penalties and a drop goal for the home side. But Dean Richards' men managed to scrape the win which equals Brive's Heineken Cup record of nine in a row thanks to their unquenchable spirit - and the blistering finishing of the 5ft 8in Booth, who flew in at the corner after Leicester's only sustained attacking move-ment of the game.

'I'm improving with every game,' said Booth, 25, whose size, speed and league background have led to him answering many questions regarding Jason Robinson. 'I'm not in that league at the moment, and any thoughts of playing for England are just a pipe dream right now.'

Perhaps - but England manager Clive Woodward was present and could not have been less than impressed.

Tim Stimpson missed three kickable penalties in the first half but his seventh and last - a complete mis-hit in added time - was enough to seal Leicester's 31-30 win.