Deano's beano!

Leicester sent former England hero Dewi Morris into heartbreak retirement yesterday after one of the worst finals in Pilkington Cup history.

The quality of rugby at Twickenham will not have scared South Africans watching on TV for clues about Leicester's six British Lions.

But that didn't matter to the Tigers. After being thrashed in the European Cup final and tossing away the Courage League title, Martin Johnson's side were desperate to avoid finishing the season empty handed.

And despite the poverty of the occasion, they follow the county cricket team and Coca-Cola Cup-winning soccer team in bringing home the silverware to the sports mad city.

In a touching tribute, Leicester sent their great old warhorse Dean Richards up to collect the trophy even though he had to settle for a walk-on sub's role after being replaced in the team by young Irishman Eric Miller.

Richards admitted: "This is one of the best moments a club player can ever have, picking up a trophy in front of 75,000 people."

Tigers' skipper Martin Johnson said: "It was entirely right that Dean should pick up the trophy after all his years of service.

"It was a tense game and the last few minutes seemed very long.

"It's been a tough season. People have been getting on our backs, but we have come through."

A sell-out crowd of 75,000, who paid more than pounds 1.2m, had little to cheer.

They did see South Africa's World Cup winner Joel Stransky win the game with his trusty right boot.

But, in keeping with the game, the most reliable kicker in the country managed just three penalties from seven kicks.

That was good enough, though, to kill off the taunts of "bottlers" thrown at the proud club for the way they freeze on big occasions.

Last year they lost the final to Bath after a controversial penalty try which sent Neil Back into such a fury that he pushed the referee over and earned himself a six-month ban.

This time, Back was the first to stretch out a hand and thank referee Brian Campsall.

Poor Sale, pipped by Leicester for the remaining place in Europe, tried to open the game up but their handling let them down.

Morris, never before beaten at Twickenham in 11 appearances for England and Lancashire, had one of those days when it all went wrong.

His link with player-coach John Mitchell broke down at key moments and he leaves the big time with a shattering disappointment.

Stransky had an early chance to settle Leicester's nerves but his 35- yard penalty was caught by the wind and hit a post. But the little Springbok was on target nine minutes later.

His opposite number, former All Black Simon Mannix, found kicking conditions equally difficult and suffered double agony in the 20th minute. His penalty bounced off the crossbar and when it came back he sent a snap drop-goal against a post.

Stransky kicked his second goal, only for Mannix to make it 6-3 with the last kick of the first half.

Morris' high tackle on Stuart Potter in the 49th min enabled Stransky to make it 9-3, but for the rest of the match Leicester had to dig deep to hold on as Sale ran the ball from everywhere.

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