The journey down to Kingsholm feels like a big occasion; the first of successive double-headers with Tigers men, a visit to the Champions and a fight for the inaugural women’s Slater Cup.

Leicester Tigers men’s team had retained their Slater Cup trophy earlier in the day, claiming a bonus-point win against the Cherry & White’s in the day’s opening match.

On a chilly Gloucestershire night, the team suffered a bruising defeat to a rampant Gloucester-Hartpury side, looking to make a statement in their opening match of the season. A spirited second half and plenty of fight throughout wasn’t enough as the team will look to lick their wounds, address the problems and go again next week.

The first half kicks off with Gloucester-Hartpury (henceforth ‘G-H’) receiving a looping dropkick from Tash Jones.

Amy Relf, starting this week over Lucy Nye, does well to drag down a rampaging Tatyana Herd as the waves of G-H attack come piling in; Eva Donaldson goes for a canny breakdown steal but the referee adjudicates an infringement and G-H kick to the corner.

Tigers hold up well from the five-metre line-out, repelling the initial waves of attack but, after 7 or 8 phases, flanker Georgia Brock drives over for an early score, complimented by a strong opening kick by Emma Sing.

A couple of minutes later, Francesca McGhie does really well to put Sing into touch following smooth interplay from the hosts.

The line-out is unfortunately lost and G-H come in waves again, the ball well held up over the line by Charlotte Fray and Eva Donaldson.

The resulting 22 drop out is knocked forward and Tigers have their first chance at sustained possession. There are good midfield carries by the likes of Rebecca de Filippo while Catha Jacobs marks her debut with a strong carry but a crushing interception means G-H can run it home for their second.

The hosts are doing a great jo of keeping possession and although there are thumping tackles from the likes of Meg Jones and Fray, prop El Perry barrels over for their third and Red Rose Sarah Beckett gets their fourth a mere minute later.

Tigers continue to grit their teeth but this time the try comes out wide, the fifth scored by wing Mia Venner.  

 ‘Mo’ Hunt has been producing a typically stellar performance at the breakdown, providing regularly rapid ball that allows the home side to stay on the front foot constantly, always probing for gaps.

 Equally, the boot of Emma Sing has been absolutely impeccable, the 15 hitting five of six conversions to keep rubbing that bit of salt in the wounds on each score.

Half time score: Gloucester-Hartpury 40 - 0 Leicester Tigers

The second half starts reasonably brightly, with Tigers making good gain line progress and establishing themselves in the hosts half for the first time in the match.

Although G-H win it back and attack themselves with crashing flat ball, Tigers repel them well, a pick and drive from Francesca McGhie gaining metres while a low chop tackle from Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele stops the opposition in their tracks, while, a few phases later, Meg Jones is up rapidly to help disrupt.

But G-H are relentless in attack, the width and after a bludgeoning break from Maud Muir, her offload finds fellow front row Neve Jones who goes over for the opening try of the second half.

The next 15 minutes sees more strong defence in the tight but, again, Tigers just can’t keep the ball for a sustained period,

First they send in their own waves of runners, the likes of debutant Lisa Cockburn driving over the gainline at pace.

G-H turnover but Caz Collie collects a clearance and dinks a chip and chase to put the hosts under pressure in their own 22.  

Debutants Jacobs, Cockburn and Nicholsen have all enjoyed competitive debuts, making strong hits in defence and carrying well when called into action.

G-H score their final try of the game with a well-worked score that allows wing Mia Venner to secure her hat-trick, following soft hands out right to exploit a well-worked overlap.

The heart that has been shown from all 23 players has been tremendous and, with twenty minutes remaining, Tigers seize the impetus and get some scores on the board.

One of the modern concepts that pundits mention is that of ‘field tilt’, also known as the preeminent areas of the field the game is played in and the direction in which play is moving. For the final quarter, for the first time all match, Tigers have the field tilt in their favour.

Lucy Nye has injected the game with further pace since coming on and the scrum-half has plenty of willing runners still going at full speed to the line.

The away side fashion a flurry of chances and are initially repelled well by the Champions who are desperate to keep a clean sheet. They resist well initially but eventually a clearance kick is gathered well by Tigers full-back, making her first start, Tess Feury.

The USA international, on the week of Thanksgiving no less, collects the ball and dummy passes wide, slaloming through the space before the cutting inside and stepping on the gas to finish.

A lovely, uplifting try is complemented by a thumping kick from wide left by M Jones.

And it’s Jones who gets Tigers’ second, just a couple of minutes later.

The backs are enjoying space to play as the clock ticks down and here a slick move from Nye, to debutant Nicholas to M Jones who then finds McGhie in space.

The wing is one on one with Venner but shows swiftness and guile in equal measure to burn past, making it to the halfway line. She’s met by a covering Sing but the Scotland wing chips daintily over the top, right outside of the home tryline. Tigers fly over the ball and secure the penalty and from there M Jones taps, gos and dives over, firing over her own conversion.

The last couple of minutes sees both sides fighting for the final word but dogged defence means it isn’t to be and the final whistle is blown.

On a cold night at Kingsholm, the players are visibly gutted by what is a tough defeat by any measure. The measure of the team will be how they look to pick themselves back up at training on Monday and go again, hungry for the opportunity to run out at Mattioli Woods Welford Road next week in a Double-Header that features a maiden derby fixture against Loughborough Lightning.

Congratulations to Gloucester-Hartpury on winning the first-ever women’s Slater Cup.

Full time score: Gloucester-Hartpury 52 - 14 Leicester Tigers