The game started with an exchange of penalties from Leicester's Tim Stimpson, and Quin's John Schuster. Both missed their first attempts at goal, but after 11 minutes it was level-pegging. Stimpson opened the scoring after only 4 minutes and Schuster replying 7 minutes later, to put the score at 3-3.

Geordan Murphy, increased Leicester's lead with the first try of the game on the quarter hour, taking a confidently re-cycled ball over in the corner. But 4 minutes later, Referee Chris Rees, awarded NEC Harlequins a penalty try following an infringement in a line-out. Schuster's conversion put Quins in the lead, and, for a moment at least, it looked as if the luck may have gone Quins' way. That moment was all too brief. Stimpson's attempted penalty goal hit the post, bounced back, reached Stimpson again, and he restored their lead with a dropped goal.
Leicester's second try came on the half hour from Canadian winger Dave Lougheed. With 5 minutes of the first half remaining, Leicester's Craig Joiner ran down the right wing with Murphy in support to score the third and decisive try and give the Tigers a commanding lead at half time.

The second half lacked the excitement of the first, and was marked by numerous handling errors by both teams. Stimpson kicked another penalty goal before leaving the field to receive stitches to a head wound. Geordan Murphy took over the kicking duties and scored Leicester's last points of the game with just 15 minutes to go. These last 15 minutes proved to be amongst the best for Quins. A renewed vitality was found and Australian Lock, Garrick Morgan, was rewarded with a try. Too soon for the still fighting Quins the final whistle blew - the final score Leicester Tigers 29, NEC Harlequins 17.