Leicester battle back to beat Gloucester

Tries: Carnduff, Heyes, Blamire, Wainwright, Hassell-Collins Cons: Searle 5 Pens: Searle.

Gloucester (14) 31

Tries: Morgan, Bleuler, Trenholm, Innard Cons: Englefield 2, Barton 2 Pens: Barton

Leicester Tigers recovered from a disastrous start to battle back and beat Gloucester for their first home win of the season.

Jac Morgan and Dian Bleuler both touched down for the Cherry and Whites when Tigers had Billy Searle in the sin-bin early on, but the hosts hit back with tries from Finn Carnduff, Joe Heyes and Jamie Blamire to lead 21-14 at the break.

Aaron Wainwright and Ollie Hassell-Collins scores either side of a Will Trenholm try for Gloucester proved enough to earn Tigers a hard-earned win.

And while beaten for the first time this season, Gloucester ensured they remain top of the Prem after earning two late bonus points after Jack Innard went over and George Barton landed a 82nd-minute penalty in a game watched by the Duke of Sussex.

Prince Harry's attendance added to sense of occasion at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as Leicester kept their hands on the Slater Cup – a trophy that honours former Gloucester and Tigers captain Ed Slater, who retired in 2022 after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

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.