Leicester Tigers ………… 38pts
Tries: Carnduff 15, Heyes 29, Blamire 36, Wainwright 51, Hassell-Collins 70 Conversions: Searle 16, 30, 37, 52, 71 Penalty: Searle 48
Gloucester ……………………31pts
Tries: Morgan 4, Bleuler 9, Trenholm 60, Innard 80 Conversions: Englefield 5, 10; Barton 61, 80 Penalty: Barton 84
LEICESTER Tigers secured back-to-back victories heading into Champions Cup week to retain the Slater Cup despite a shaky start.
There were doubts hanging over Leicester following an unconvincing win at Newcastle, while Gloucester were flying high having enjoyed their best start to a season this century.
But the Tigers’ granite-like pack, combined with their outstanding playmaker Billy Searle, fought back from 14-0down to produce a statement win.
Leicester flanker Aaron Wainwright said: “It was awesome. I think we were probably about six penalties down in the first 10 minutes, so we had to show a lot of determination as a group to stay in the fight.
“Once we got through that period, particularly going into the second part of the first half, I thought we started playing really well. Then we came out after half-time and carried that on.”
Prince Harry was in attendance for the first Friday fixture at Welford Road in over 18 months, although he endured a rather mixed reception when shown on the big screen. Steve Tandy was also a keen observer given four of the six starting back rows were Welsh-qualified. One of them, Tommy ‘Turnover’ Reffell, possesses arguably the best ability over the ball in the league, and how the 27-year-old has fallen down Tandy’s pecking order remains a mystery, but his form can’t be ignored for much longer.
Searle was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on just three minutes in which resulted in an expensive sin binning, conceding 14 points and failing to carry the ball once in the opening 10 minutes.
Gloucester’s pack had been formidable heading in and it continued its red-hot form with two early tries off the back of devastating driving mauls. First, Jac Morgan crossed before Dian Bleuler followed suit.
Leicester rolled their sleeves up and responded with their own maul pressure as Finn Carnduff went over from a metre out for his first Prem try. A Searle trademark kick-pass preceded the heavies to kick into gear once more with Joe Heyes scoring to level the match.
Tigers continued their mauling avalanche, this time Jamie Blamire going over, with Searle, having overcame his early yellow, pulling the strings behind a firing pack.
Carnduff, causing havoc at the breakdown, merited three points from the boot of Searle whose tackle 5m out following a Ref-fell turnover laid the platform for Wainwright’s touchdown, with Freddie Thomas sent to the sin bin for repeated infringements rubbing salt in Gloucester’s wounds.
The visitors wouldn’t lie down as Morgan’s thunderous carry brought Gloucester AFO FASO r tight-head Gloucester ti out before Will Trenholm repeated the act to score and bring the Cherry and Whites within 10.
Searle hit a 50:22 to cap a fine display, which allowed Adam Radwan and Ollie Hassell-Collins to combine with the latter finishing brilliantly out wide. But Gloucester’s never say die attitude saw them score 10 points in the final two minutes to take away two bonus points through Jack Innard’s try, a sublime quick conversion from George Barton who then scored a further penalty.
CLOSE -UP
JOE HEYES
V
AFO FASOGBON
Leicester tight-head Gloucester tight-head
England incumbent Heyes edged the battle of tightheads, carrying strongly and powering over from close range. Fasogbon struggled against Mako Vunipola at scrum-time but impressed defensively with 12 first-half tackles. Three thunderous hits in two minutes, including a spectacular collision with Olly Cracknell, underlined his physicality. Heyes took the honours, but Fasogbon showed real promise.
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