Tigers capitalise on Morgan sin-bin to snatch late victory over Gloucester

A Tommy Bell conversion of Logovi'i Mulipola's late try completed Leicester Tigers' dramatic 19-18 Aviva Premiership victory at Kingsholm, after Gloucester lost number eight Ben Morgan to the sin-bin with only four minutes remaining.

Morgan was yellow-carded on 76 minutes following an off-the-ball challenge on Leicester wing Telusa Veainu, and Tigers made their numerical advantage count when substitute prop Logovi'i Mulipola crashed over for a try that Bell converted with barely a minute left.

Gloucester looked to have transferred strong European form into the domestic arena as they resumed Premiership business.

Gloucester looked to transfer their strong European form - they are unbeaten in this season's European Challenge Cup competition as they attempt to successfully defend their title - to the Premiership following the resumption of domestic duty, and tries from international cast-offs Morgan and James Hook meant Leicester were desperately playing catch-up as the game winded down. 

Fly-half Hook, a high-profile absentee from Wales' RBS 6 Nations squad, also added two penalties and a conversion, while overlooked England forward Morgan touched down midway through the first half.

Leicester, minus England squad members Ben Youngs and Dan Cole, as well as suspended hooker Tom Youngs, saw prop Marcos Ayerza score a close-range try that former Gloucester fly-half Freddie Burns converted in the first half, before Tongan international Veainu finished off a brilliant long-range move 11 minutes from time that sparked the Tigers' fightback.

Leicester dominated initial possession and territory, keeping Gloucester pinned in their own half, but they missed a fifth-minute chance to go ahead when Burns rifled a relatively straightforward penalty attempt wide and that was the cue for Gloucester to embark on a sustained spell of pressure themselves.

Leicester's impressive defensive organisation was to proved adequate initially, but Gloucester finally found a way through after 21 minutes - and then added a second try barely 60 seconds later.

Hook eluded four tacklers on a jinking, short-range dart to the line for a try that he converted himself, then centre Billy Meakes made headway directly from the restart before Gloucester moved possession wide and No.8 Morgan touched down on the wing.

Hook saw his touchline conversion attempt bounce back off the post, but Gloucester were off and running, 12-0 ahead and good value for their lead.

Burns, though, had other ideas, and his quick-witted kick and chase into Gloucester's half caused disarray, allowing his team-mate Tom Croft to collect and recyle possession before Ayerza dived over unmarked and Burns' conversion cut the deficit to five points.

But Gloucester finished the half on top, with Hook kicking a penalty after Bell was punished by referee JP Doyle for not releasing possession following a misjudgement of a testing Hook up and under.

Hook continued to challenge the Leicester defence by cleverly mixing his attacking game, and he was largely responsible for ensuring that Gloucester maintained front-foot control for the majority of the game's (scoreless) third-quarter.

But Leicester guaranteed the game would have a tense finale when Bell caught the ball deep inside his own half, and wing Peter Betham set off on a mesmerising run before linking with substitute back-row forward Jordan Crane who in turn put Veianu in for an outstanding try.

Burns again failed to find his range off the tee, and Hook showed him how it should be done when he rifled over an angled penalty nine minutes from time that meant Gloucester led by six points.

Morgan was then yellow-carded, though, for an off the ball challenge on Veainu, which meant Leicester had numerical supremacy that they emphatically made count in a dramatic finish.