Leicester beat Gloucester 38-31 to move second

Leicester Tigers 38-31 Gloucester Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Gloucester Rugby claimed two bonus points despite falling to a 38-31 defeat against Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in round three of the Gallagher PREM.

The Cherry & Whites made a flying start and led 14-0 while Billy Searle was in the sin bin, but Leicester recovered strongly to lead 21-14 at half-time. The Tigers then stretched clear after the break before Gloucester fought back late to secure both a try bonus point and a losing bonus point.

Gloucester Make Fast Start

Gloucester were handed an early opportunity when Searle was shown a yellow card for deliberately knocking the ball forward inside his own 22.

The visitors kicked to the corner and made the extra man count. Their maul powered towards the Leicester line, and Jac Morgan touched down for the opening try. Caolan Englefield added the conversion.

Gloucester continued to use their numerical advantage well. Ollie Thorley broke through the Tigers defence before the visitors again kicked to the corner. From the five-metre lineout, another strong maul created the platform for Dian Bleuler to break away and score from close range. Englefield converted again to make it 14-0.

Tigers Fight Back Before Half-Time

Leicester hit back as the sin-bin period came to an end. After Gloucester conceded a series of penalties, the Tigers built pressure inside the 22 and Finn Carnduff crossed from short range. Searle converted.

The hosts then levelled the match when Joe Heyes powered over from a metre out, with Searle again adding the conversion.

Five minutes before the break, Leicester completed the turnaround. Gloucester came under pressure again and had to defend a five-metre lineout. Tigers went to their maul, and Jamie Blamire crossed. Searle converted to give Leicester a 21-14 half-time lead.

Leicester Stretch Clear

Gloucester started the second half with pressure deep in Leicester territory, but the Tigers forced a turnover and cleared the danger.

Searle then kicked a penalty to extend the home side’s lead before Leicester struck again. Ollie Hassell-Collins grubbered deep into the Gloucester 22, forcing the visitors into defensive trouble. From the resulting lineout, Aaron Wainwright scored Leicester’s fourth try, and Searle converted to make it 31-14.

Gloucester’s task became harder when Freddie Thomas was shown a yellow card early in the second half.

The visitors responded through Will Trenholm after Jac Morgan’s powerful carry took them close to the line. Englefield found Trenholm, who finished well, and George Barton converted to cut the gap to 31-21.

Gloucester Fight Back Late

Leicester appeared to have settled the contest when Searle’s 50:22 gave them field position inside the final 10 minutes. From the lineout, the ball was moved across the pitch for Hassell-Collins to score. Searle converted to make it 38-21.

Gloucester refused to fade. Jack Innard crossed late to secure the try bonus point, and Barton quickly added the conversion to leave enough time for one final restart.

The Cherry & Whites then battled back into the Leicester 22 and won a penalty in front of the posts in the 82nd minute. Barton kicked the three points to reduce the margin to seven and secure the losing bonus point.

Team News:

Leicester Tigers: Steward; Hamer-Webb, Wand, Bailey, Hassell-Collins; Searle; Van Poortvliet (c); Van der Flier, Blamire, Heyes; Carnduff, Henderson, Wainwright, Reffell, Cracknell.

Reserves: Moli, Vunipola, Hurd, Thompson, Moro, Whiteley, Woodward, Radwan.

Gloucester: Redshaw; Thorley, Joseph, Atkinson, Loader; Atkinson, Englefield; Bleuler, Lake (c), Fasogbon; Kleyn, Thomas, Ludlow, Morgan, Trenholm.

Reserves: Innard, Bellamy, Knight, Clement, Gwynne, Robson, Llewellyn, Barton.