Leicester 38-31 Gloucester: Tigers battle back to earn first home win of season

Seale’s sin-binning in the second minute for a deliberate knock-on proved to be a costly one in a chaotic early showing by the hosts.

And while referee Karl Dickson denied Gloucester a penalty try – insisting Tigers had the numbers back to cover the danger – the Cherry and Whites were quick to burrow over for the game’s first try through Morgan.

Another penalty, line-out and dive had Bleuler powering over for the visitors again soon after, but once they were back at full strength, Tigers hastily grabbed a carbon copy try in response as Carnduff ploughed over.

A clever cross-field kick from Seale that was collected by Freddie Steward helped set Tigers up for their second try of the night, which Heyes did well to finish from close range, while another catch and drive effort had Blamire touchdown to put Tigers ahead for the first time.

Tigers’ fierce defensive showing early in the second half eventually earned Searle a penalty to extend that lead, while the kick-chase on a searching Hassell-Collins kick had Gloucester scrambling back to defend their line before Wainwright touched down.

Gloucester also had Freddie Thomas sin-binned for being offside, following repeat infringements from the visitors, but despite being a man down they managed to hit back through Trenholm, who crossed out wide after some bruising work from Morgan.

It took a try-saving tackle from Tom Whiteley on Will Joseph, and a follow-up effort from Tommy Reffell to knock the ball from the centres, to stop Gloucester from reducing the gap further.

A 50-22 kick from Searle after that had Tigers on their way to putting the game beyond doubt, as Hassell-Collins combined with Adam Radwan to finish on the left edge.

Still, Gloucester refused to leave the East Midlands empty handed, with Innard going over in the 79th minute for a bonus-point try which was then followed up with a Barton penalty that bagged the Cherry and Whites a losing bonus point as well.

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

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

Sin-bin: Searle (2).

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

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

Sin-bin: Thomas (50)

Referee: Karl Dickson.