"It's all about winning your games at this stage," said Richard Cockerill after Leicester Tigers ground out an 18-15 victory over Gloucester Rugby at Welford Road on Friday evening.Fly-half Freddie Burns kicked all of his six penalties and opposite number James Hook landed five on a rain-affected night at Welford Road as Tigers recorded an eighth win of the Aviva Premiership season in the first league game of the international period.
“It is very tight in that section of the table,” said director of rugby Cockerill as Tigers moved up to fourth place overnight.
“We could have lost tonight but we took the points. You don’t get too excited about where you are in the table at this point, you just have to keep winning.
“It was a game we had to win and we ground it out. With the weather and two teams missing players, it was always going to be very tight.
“Both sides gave away soft points at penalties but we managed to sneak the win. For any team, in the international window it is just about getting the win.
“I’m pleased for lads like George Catchpole, Laurence Pearce, Jack Roberts and Harry Thacker, they made their contribution and it puts us in a decent spot. We won’t get too excited, we have to keep going, we have to keep winning.
“And Freddie’s goal-kicking was flawless, I’m delighted for him. Even that last kick to win the game, in pretty poor underfoot conditions, he just got on with it and got on with his job. He is working hard with his goal-kicking and tonight we have got the rewards of that.”
Tigers led 6-0 in the first half but that was as much daylight as appeared between the two sides all game, with the scores level at 9-9 after 40 minutes and just three separating them in the end.
“To come in at nine-all the players were a bit down, but we played into the elements in the first half and, if we had been a bit calmer with the ball, we might have scored just before half-time,” said Cockerill.
“But we thought we had more energy and zip about us in the second half. We had opportunities to score a try but both sides’ defences were very good.
“In the last two games we haven’t conceded a try, which is good. Phil Blake is working hard there and the players have bought into that. In tight games defences will make the difference.
“It was a night for defence and to do what you had to do to win the game. There were no tries but it was a full-blooded game.”
Tigers go to London Irish next Sunday before hosting Sale Sharks on Saturday, February 28. Tickets for that game are available now. Click here to book online, call in at the Tigers ticket office or phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2).
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Cockerill: It's all about the win
14 February 2015 9:47 AM
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