Leicester Tigers overcame a half-time deficit to record a 15-point, 28-13 win over Gloucester Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
A try-less first-half from the home side saw them head into the break trailing Gloucester by two points before a memorable solo effort from Guy Porter and brace for Anthony Watson helped to secure Tigers victory in the inaugural Slater Cup fixture.
It was all Gloucester in the opening stages of match as Tigers spent the first five minutes defending deep in their own half before denying their Christmas Eve guests a score with a last-ditch effort over the line.
However, after preventing the pushover, the hosts were penalised and Gloucester went ahead by three with a successful long-range attempt from Adam Hastings.
Freddie Burns, who finished the night with 13 points from the tee, levelled the scores with his first of the night just five minutes later before seeing Leicester go ahead with his second after 19 minutes.
It became a battle for territory in the second quarter before, on the half hour mark, Hastings missed a chance to level things up with his first miss of the match.
As the first-half entered its final five minutes, Tigers looked to have scored their first try when Jack van Poortvliet broke from the back of a breakdown and put away Dan Kelly to dive over and send Mattioli Woods Welford Road wild.
However, after TMO intervention, Dan Cole was ruled to have obstructed a Gloucester player - from the floor - and the score was rubbed out.
The visitors made the most of the opportunity to kick for touch inside Leicester's half and, after successive infringements from the home side, Gloucester crossed from the back of a driving maul through Albert Tuisue to take a two-point, 6-8 lead into the break.
It didn't take long for a response from Tigers when Porter, on the end of some slick and quick hands to the left in attack, dummied his way through the first line of Gloucester players before carrying a pair of them over with him to dot it down.
Burns converted from out wide to see Tigers lead 13-8 after 45 minutes, before extending it to eight points with a third penalty-goal ten minutes later from in front of Gloucester's posts.
Hanro Liebenberg, who was awarded Gallagher Player of the Match at full-time by BT Sport, opted to kick for the touchline when Tigers were awarded a penalty approaching the hour mark and the bravery was rewarded when - just a few phases later - Watson dived over for his first.
Burns kicked his fifth and final for the night to see the lead out to 15 points with 20 minutes remaining.
Watson had a second six minutes later, with a brilliant finish to secure his first Tigers brace, before a try in the dying stages for Jonny May confirmed the 15-point margin and got Richard Wigglesworth's coaching career off to a winning start.
Commentary
TIGERS WIN SLATER CUP
Leicester Tigers win the inaugural Slater Cup with a 28-13 victory over Gloucester on Christmas Eve.
TRY | GLOUCESTER
Jonny May scores down the left wing in the final sixty seconds of the match.
TRY | ANTHONY WATSON
Anthony Watson has a second, again on the end of some slick and quick hands to his side of the field, to extend the lead to 20 points with just over 10 minutes remaining.
CON | FREDDIE BURNS
Freddie Burns again does the job from the kicking tee from out wide, extending the lead to 15 with 20 minutes remaining.
TRY | ANTHONY WATSON
Bravery to kick for the corner in a position to add three points is rewarded as Anthony Watson dives over on the end of some patient,
PEN | FREDDIE BURNS
Well-worked attacking, patiently played inside the Gloucester half, is rewarded with a penalty and Freddie Burns adds three from the kicking tee to extend the lead to eight on 55 minutes.
CON | FREDDIE BURNS
Freddie Burns extends the lead top five points, with a successful conversion from the touchline, with 35 minutes remaining.
TRY | GUY PORTER
Guy Porter dummies his way through the Gloucester line on the end of some slick hands to the left before carrying defenders with him over to score the home side's first.
HALF TIME: 6-8
Leicester Tigers head into the break behind by two points in the inaugural Slater Cup fixture.
TRY | GLOUCESTER
The visitors cross in the final play of the game as No8 Albert Tuisue crashes over at the back of a driving maul from close range.
36
TRY DENIED
Tigers denied what appears to be a certain score as the TMO intervenes to find an obstruction in the build-up to what was a brilliant finish from Dan Kelly in combination with JVP.
30
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Gloucester with an opportunity to level the scores but the penalty-goal attempt goes wide from Adam Hastings on the half hour mark.
25
TERRITORY & TACTICS
Both sides continuing to search for a territorial advantage with a tactical kicking game here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as we approach the half-hour mark.
PEN | BURNS
A patiently worked attack is rewarded after Gloucester are penalised for back-to-back infringements at the breakdown and Freddie Burns adds a second penalty-goal to see the home side lead by three after almost 20 minutes.
PEN | BURNS
Freddie Burns sends his first attempt from the tee through the uprights and levels things up at 3-all after 12 minutes at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
10
KICK BATTLE
Both sides enter the kick battle, searching for territory and an error from their opposition, which ends with Harry Potter chasing down a JVP bomb and following up with a big defensive effort - before the cavalry arrive and send Gloucester into touch.
PEN | GLOUCESTER
The home side are the first to register points, through the boot of Adam Hastings, who lands a long-range penalty-goal.
5
DEFENSIVE START
Gloucester with all the ball in the opening five minutes here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, testing the defence of the home side - who hold strong and prevent a driving maul from forcing its way over.
SLATER CUP UNDERWAY
The inaugural Slater Cup gets going with Freddie Burns kicking off towards the Beehive Stand.
-5
NEARLY TIME
Both sides are back in the changing rooms as we approach kick off in the inaugural Slater Cup at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.