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Report | Late try sees Tigers fall to Gloucester

Figure image

Leicester Tigers have fallen 27-25 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road after a late Gloucester try undid a spirited Tigers fightback.

A cagey league contest would best describe the opening 20 minutes, Tigers having a couple half chances but Gloucester looking the more settled of the two teams.

Tigers broke the deadlock through Shillcock’s boot but Gloucester would score the first try through Zach Mercer.

Carreras converted and would make it 10-3 minutes later.

Gloucester, with their tales firmly up, went hunting for more and got their second of the night through Chris Harris. Carreras made it 17-3.

Tigers would get one try back just before the break, Tommy Reffell the beneficiary of the rolling maul.

Shillcock wouldn’t find the range and it was 17-8 as the teams headed to the changing rooms.

Leicester lifted after the break, going back to their driving maul in front of the Breedon Stand, Solomone Kata the one to benefit.

That made it 17-13 though Gloucester would knock three points over shortly after the restart.

Tigers continued to hunt down Gloucester and again it was the maul, this time Jasper Wiese to score.

Shillcock’s kick hit the uprights, but he would make up for it in the 72nd minute, the flyhalf taking a beautiful pass from Jack van Poortvliet to race away for the try in the shadows of the Mattioli Woods stand.

There was to be a final twist in the tale however, and a superb late try from scrum-half Stephen Varney and Carreras’ simple conversion sunk Tigers in the end.

The final score from Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 27-25.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

LEI 8-17 GLO

FT ScoreFull Time Score

LEI 25-27 GLO

Attendance

Not available

Referee

Matthew Carley

Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
25

Full Time

Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester Rugby
27
Leicester Tigers
P
T
T
T
T
C
KOHTFT
Gloucester Rugby
T
C
P
T
C
P
T
C

Match Stats

Leicester Tigers
Gloucester Rugby
Possession
52%
48%
Territory
47%
53%
Penalties Conceded
6
6
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0
Tackles Won
131/170 77%
132/162 81%
Scrums Won
1/1 100%
3/3 100%
Lineouts Won
13/13 100%
13/15 87%

Player Stats

Leicester Tigers
Gloucester Rugby
Leicester Tigers
TCDP
15Freddie Steward
14Josh Bassett
13Dan Kelly
12Solomone Kata1T
11Ollie Hassell-Collins
10Jamie Shillcock1T1C1P
9Ben Youngs
1James Cronin
2Julian Montoya
3Dan Cole
4Harry Wells
5Ollie Chessum
6Hanro Liebenberg
7Tommy Reffell1T
8Jasper Wiese1T
16Finn Theobald-Thomas
17James Whitcombe
18Joe Heyes
19Kyle Hatherell
20Olly Cracknell
21Jack van Poortvliet
22Kieran Wilkinson
23Phil Cokanasiga

Commentary

FULL TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD

A last second score from Stephen Varney and subsequent conversion hands Gloucester a last gasp win.

Full time score: Leicester Tigers 25 - 27 Gloucester Rugby

CONVERSION | GLOUCESTER

Carreras makes no mistake from in front of the posts to allow the visitors to retake the lead in the final seconds of the game.

TRY | GLOUCESTER

This time Gloucester do make it count.

From the clearance long, the visitors run it back before scrum half Stephen Varney squeeks through an inch of space to run it home beneath the posts.

76

HELD UP ON THE LINE

The Cherry & Whites look to fire back, retaining the ball with short carries before a penalty is kicked to touch just five metres out.

The maul is set but Tigers defend doggedly on their own line, repelling successive waves before an attempted dive over the top is held up, allowing Tigers to clear long.

CONVERSION | JAMIE SHILLCOCK

The fly half converts his own score, adding the extras with aplomb from just to the left of the posts.

TRY | JAMIE SHILLCOCK

Tigers retake the lead!

Successive carries allow incremental gains upfield before the hosts win the penalty in front of the posts.

Playing advantage and with a free play, Tigers run an audacious maneuver that comes off perfectly; quick hands see a half-break in midfield but the ball is popped up to van Poortvliet, the scrum half whipping it round his back to bamboozle the rushing visitors and send Shillcock straight through a gap to run it home.

68

SEE-SAW BATTLE UNDER THE LIGHTS

A real basketball match here sees the play stretch from end to end, big carries coming in from duelling 8's Wiese and Mercer, kicking battles that see several cool takes from Steward under immense pressure and big shots coming in across the park as the game edges toward the final 10 minutes.

SUBSTITUTIONS | LEICESTER TIGERS

A switch in both the forwards and backs, Olly Cracknell entering for Reffell, while in the centres, Phil Cokanasiga comes on for Kata.

55

CONVERSION MISSED | JAMIE SHILLCOCK

The fly half is again desperately close, this time the ball ricocheting off the post to allow Gloucester to retain a slender lead.

TRY | JASPER WIESE

A huge try from the Springbok!

Steward starts this phase off, his up and under causing chaos, before centres Kelly and Kata combine to make ground and grubber through to the danger zone.

Again Tigers' chase is superb and Shillcock drags the Gloucester wing to touch to force a line out.

The initial shove sees the visitors give away a penalty so a kick to the corner sees Tigers drive over on the second time of asking, Wiese touching down to complete the hat trick of maul tries.

SUBSTITUTIONS | LEICESTER TIGERS

Both props are now switched for the hosts as Joe Heyes comes on in place of Dan Cole.

The second change sees a ripple of applause around Mattioli Woods Welford Road as Jack van Poortvliet makes his return, replacing Ben Youngs.

SUBSTITUTION | GLOUCESTER

Gloucester respond with a prop change of their own, Jamal Ford-Robinson entering the field.

PENALTY | GLOUCESTER

The visitors respond quickly, Mercer making a break through the centre before the Cherry & White's clinch a penalty in front of the posts.

Carreras again makes no mistake in adding the three points.

SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS

A switch at prop as James Whitcombe enters the field in place of James Cronin.

44

CONVERSION MISSED | JAMIE SHILLCOCK

Shillcock again can't quite add the extras from the touchline, this time over correcting and pulling his conversion too far inwards.

TRY | SOLOMONE KATA

The centre gets the second half off to the best possible start!

It all comes from Kata, the Tongan somehow catching the Gloucester defence unawares to pick and go from the ruck and shoot through the defensive line from just outside Tigers' 22.

He and Ben Youngs play a 1-2, before the scrum half pokes through a grubber kick right into the danger zone, centremetres from the visitors line and right in the corner. With the pressure high and Tigers flooding in, Gloucester concede the penalty.

A kick to the corner and Leicester pack the maul, Kata at the back of it touch down on a move he started.

BACK UNDERWAY AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD

The teams have returned to the field, Gloucester's Santi Carreras hitting a long drop kick to get the second half started.

HALF TIME

The half comes to an end with that kick, Tigers looking to get back into the game after a flurry of Gloucester points took them ahead in the final 15 minutes of the half.

Half time score: Leicester Tigers 8 - 17 Gloucester Rugby

39

CONVERSION MISSED | JAMIE SHILLCOCK

Shillcock goes devestatingly close from the left touchline, his booming attempt smashing back off the right post.

TRY | Tommy Reffell

Leicester bite back in typical Tigers fashion.

Hassell-Collins makes the initial difference, chasing down a nudge over the top to flatten Jonny May and allow the forwards to get over the ball and turn it over.

A penalty given, Tigers opt to kick to touch before setting a rolling maul which drives over, Reffell at the base to touch down.

CONVERSION | GLOUCESTER

Carreras again adds the extras from in front of the posts.

TRY | GLOUCESTER

Straight from the line out, Gloucester execute a line breaking move, centre Chris Harris collecting a delicate pop pass and shooting through a tackle to dive over the line.

PENALTY | GLOUCESTER

Carreras adds an extra three points, Gloucester turning the ball over on the Tigers 22 before winning a penalty in front of the sticks.

CONVERSION | GLOUCESTER RUGBY

Santi Carreras adds the extras and extends the Cherry & White's lead.

TRY | GLOUCESTER

No. 8 Zach Mercer goes over for the game's first try.

A break from prop Kirill Gotovtsev almost results in a score with Leicester saved by a tap tackle by Steward on Mercer, but the visitors take their time deep in Tigers territory, slick hands giving Mercer a second bite of the cherry and he makes no mistake.

SUBSTITUTION | GLOUCESTER

Chris Harris enters the field for the visitors following an injury.

PENALTY | JAMIE SHILLCOCK

Tigers claim the first points of the game!

Bassett makes an electric break out wide, sprinting past his oppisite man with an ankle-breaking side step before the side plays back infield and win the penalty.

Shillcock makes no mistake from in front of the posts and slots the three points.

20

A PLETHORA OF POPS

Leicester are knocking on the door and asking plenty of questions of the Gloucester defence.

Kata is the initial gamebreaker, smashing through one tackle before offloading from the deck.

Moments later, Wiese mirrors his physical counterpart, flicking the ball out to Josh Bassett who makes metres out right. The ball then travles back inside for a couple of forward carries before going full width, a looping ball to Liebenberg finds the flanker in space on the left touchline.

However a sustained spell of possession comes to an end as the referee pings Tigers for holding on in the ruck. Gloucester kick it to touch and attempt to launch a move but it's disrupted almost immediatly by captain Julián Montoya who wins possession back and allows Leicester to make their way back upfield.

10

TIGERS ON TOP EARLY

Gloucester look to launch from the set piece and carry hard but Solomone Kata puts in the game's first big shot, dump tackling his opposite man and allowing Tigers to rip the ball.

Shillcock puts a tempting grubber in behind the line but Hassell-Collins is just a fingertip away; moments later, Shillcock puts in a line breaking pass wide to Dan Kelly who makes it all the way up to the opposing 22 before the final pass goes awry.

5

GLOUCESTER PLAYING FOR TERRITORY

Returning from Six Nations duty this week, Freddie Steward as already had plenty to do, fielding all manner of kicks from the visitors.

Ben Youngs is also back in the starting XV today and marks his return with a cheeky out-the-back-of-the-hand pass to open up space for Shillcock to boom the ball downfield.

KICK OFF HERE AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD

Jamie Shillcock gets proceedings underway under a dark Leicestershire sky.

-2

BOTH TEAMS VYING FOR THE SLATER CUP

Both Tigers and Gloucester are fighting not just for bragging rights tonight but also for The Slater Cup, to commend former captain Ed Slater who is battling MND.

Fittingly, the trophy has been brought onto the field by Ed's children, Florence, Frank and Edie Slater.

-5

FIVE MINUTES TO GO!

We're almost ready for action at a packed Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

The teams have been announced, with the biggest roar of the night thus far reserved for Jack van Poortvliet, who makes his return to a Leicester Tigers jerset tonight, named amongst the replacements.

Gallagher Premiership action coming your way very soon.

-15

LATE CHANGE FOR TIGERS

In case you missed it, a late illness for Handré Pollard has meant the Springbok has been ruled out of tonight's fixture.

Consequently, Jamie Shillcock lines up at Fly Half, with Kieran Wilkinson joining on the bench.

-30

30 MINUTES TILL KICK OFF!

There's just half an hour to go until the Gallagher Premiership returns for The Run In!

Leicester Tigers will battle Gloucester Rugby tonight with The Slater Cup on the line.

Watch LIVE on TNT Sports or stay right here for all the updates on Matchday Live.


Opposition Lineup

Starting XV

15
Lloyd Evans
14
Jonny May
13
Max Llewellyn
12
Seb Atkinson
11
Josh Hathaway
10
Santiago Carreras
9
1
Mayco Vivas
2
Seb Blake
3
Kirill Gotovtsev
4
Freddie Clarke
5
Cameron Jordan
6
Ruan Ackermann
7
Jack Clement
8
Zach Mercer

Replacements

16
Adam McBurney
17
Harry Elrington
18
Jamal Ford-Robinson
19
Arthur Clark
20
Freddie Thomas
21
Albert Tuisue
22
Charlie Chapman
23
Chris Harris

Team News | JVP back as Gallagher Premiership returns to Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Figure image

Leicester Tigers have named their side for Friday night’s Gallagher Premiership clash at 7.45pm at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

The return of scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet headlines Dan McKellar’s first selection of the league run, van Poortvliet making his first appearance in a Tigers matchday 23 this season.

Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Freddie Steward and Tommy Reffell all start for Tigers with Ben Youngs partnering Handré Pollard in the halves.

Tigers are also boosted by captain Julián Montoya, Jasper Wiese and Solomone Kata who were ineligible last week.

Leicester Tigers head coach, Dan McKellar said: “It’s great to have the whole group back together.”

“The international boys have worked hard to reintegrate themselves and they’re ready to go and we’re focused on delivering a performance in front of our home crowd.

“It’s fair to say we’re all really pleased for Jack (van Poortvliet) to see him back fit, healthy and wearing a Tigers jersey.”

STARTING XV

15 Freddie Steward [81]

14 Josh Bassett [13]

13 Dan Kelly [76]

12 Solomone Kata [13]

11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [15]

10 Handré Pollard [27]

9 Ben Youngs [312]

1 James Cronin [28]

2 Julián Montoya [53]

3 Dan Cole [317]

4 Harry Wells [192

5 Ollie Chessum [53]

6 Hanro Liebenberg [101]

7 Tommy Reffell [109]

8 Jasper Wiese [72]

 

REPLACEMENTS

16 Finn Theobald-Thomas [9]

17 James Whitcombe [48]

18 Joe Heyes [138]

19 Kyle Hatherell [16]

20 Olly Cracknell [36]

21 Jack van Poortvliet [66]

22 Jamie Shillcock [21]

23 Phil Cokanasiga [13]

posteamteam namepldwdlfadifftftatblbpts
8
Leicester Tigers
Leicester TigersLEI189094354082755515445
9
Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester RugbyGLO185013400595-19554848432
Form Guide
Form
WLLWL
Last Match
Lost to Sale Sharks 25-39
Past Meeting
Won 29-26
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
WWWLW
Last Match
Beat Northampton Saints 25-17
Past Meeting
Lost 26-29

Matchday Live

Leicester Tigers25
Leicester Tigers
Gloucester Rugby27
Gloucester Rugby
Full Time