Leicester Tigers have fallen to Bristol Bears 25-14 in round one of the Gallagher Premiership after Tigers were unable to rein the home side in after leading 22-0 at the break.
A much-improved second half saw Tigers take two opportunities for tries, Leicester left to rue not taking more of their chances in the second-half as they look forward to getting back to Mattioli Woods Welford Road next time out against Sale.
Bears wing Gabriel Ibitoye scored twice in the first half, the first coming off a deft kick in behind Tigers defence and the other from an impressive solo run from his own half.
The Bears also added a further score through hooker Harry Thacker and a penalty from James Williams, the centre having taking over the kicking duties from injured flyhalf AJ MacGinty.
Williams slotted another penalty after halftime giving the Tigers a mountain to climb at 25-0.
Tigers’ centre Dan Kelly got Leicester on the board at the 50-minute mark which Atkinson converted.
That try definitely lifted Leicester and a perfect pop pass saw captain Hanro Liebenberg go through a gap and the bruising backrow showed good speed and footwork to score.
Tigers grew in the closing 20 minutes, creating enough opportunities to close the gap. The killer pass would evade Leicester however, and the game would finish at 25-14.
Commentary
OPENING ROUND DEFEAT FOR TIGERS
A late comeback falls short for Leicester away to Bristol in the opening round of the 23/24 Gallagher Premiership season.
The Bears eventual winners by eleven points, 25-14, at Ashton Gate.
75
FINAL FIVE IN BRISTOL
Just five minutes remaining at Ashton Gate and Leicester gifted a chance deep inside the Bristol half after repeated infringements from the home side.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock converts the Hanro Liebenberg try, with six minutes left, to cut the deficit to 11 points.
TRY | HANRO LIEBENBERG
A patient build-up from almost the entire Leicester side, working themselves into an attacking position, builds momentum and Hanro Liebenberg is the beneficiary with a try after a well-timed run off Tom Whiteley.
70
TIGERS PUSHED OFF BALL
The Leicester pack is pushed back on their own feed by Bristol, winning the home side a crucial penalty deep inside their own half at the set piece to relieve some pressure.
65
CHANGES APLENTY
Both sides calling on replacements as we enter the final 15 minutes at Ashton Gate with the difference still 18 points.
60
TIGERS FIGHTING FORWARD
Leicester, on the back of a dominant scrum, working their way back into attacking positions but another error brings the opportunity to an end.
55
KICK BATTLE ONGOING
Both sides playing the territory game, through the boot, in Bristol approaching the hour mark.
CON | CHARLIE ATKINSON
Charlie Atkinson adds the extras to make it an 18-point game, 25-7, after 53 minutes in Bristol.
TRY | DAN KELLY
Leicester have their first, 51 minutes into the fixture, after Tom Whiteley - just on the field as a replacement - chips from the base of a ruck over the Bears defensive line and Dan Kelly chases well before regaining possession and going over to score.
50
CHANCE GOES BEGGING
Leicester put together several impressive, patient phases before another error ends the attack inside the Bristol half.
PEN | BRISTOL BEARS
The Bears lead is out to 25-0 just two minutes into the second half at Ashton Gate after a long-range penalty goal from James Williams.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
The second half is underway at Ashton Gate!
BEARS LEAD AT THE BREAK
A strong first 40 minutes from Bristol sees them lead 22-0 at the break.
PEN | BRISTOL BEARS
The Bears extend their lead to 22-0 with just two minutes remaining in the first half with a penalty-goal from 25m out, in front of the uprights.
35
PHYSICALITY AT FOREFRONT
Both sides throwing themselves into everything as the first half approaches its conclusion and the Bears have suffered two injuries, forcing replacements in their pack and at fly-half through the knocks.
30
BRISTOL MISS CHANCE TO EXTEND
Both sides looking for territory approaching the half hour mark in Bristol and the Bears fly-half, AJ MacGinty, misses a long range drop-goal attempt.
CON | BRISTOL BEARS
Bristol lead 19-0 after 25 minutes as AJ MacGinty adds another successful conversion.
TRY | BRISTOL BEARS
Seconds after the re-start, Gabriel Ibitoye has a second and Bristol have a third after a mistake in trying to regather the kick-off from Leicester ends up in the hands of the home side.
A race down the touchline is finished by the Bears wing.
CON | BRISTOL BEARS
Bristol's lead is out to twelve points, after 22 minutes, with a successful conversion from AJ MacGinty.
TRY | BRISTOL BEARS
The home side have a second, through Harry Thacker, after a lineout from 5m out is brought down and driven over the Leicester try line.
20
TIGERS COME UNDONE
After weathering an early onslaught from the Bears, Leicester find themselves deep in the Bristol half but - after six phases - a pass goes to ground and in the hands of the home team, who kick clear and win a lineout 5m from the Tigers line.
15
LEICESTER PACK HIT BACK
The Tigers forwards respond and respond in the best way they know how.
A huge scrum from Leicester, against the feed, wins them a penalty and chance to relieve some pressure.
14
PRESSURE BEING PILED ON
The home side continue to pile on the pressure, again through a short kicking game, as they grubber one phase off the scrum and end up dragging Mike Brown backwards and winning a 5m scrum in their favour.
13
TOO BIG, TOO STRONG
A clearing kick from deep inside his own half from Ollie Hassell-Collins, in the midst of a kick tennis battle, ends up trickling over the deadball line and wins Bristol a scrum on Leicester's 22m line.
10
TIGHT AFTER TEN
The difference remains just five points, with the lone try for the hosts, after ten minutes at Ashton Gate in the season opener.
TRY | BRISTOL BEARS
The first points come just two minutes into this clash as Bristol Bears bring it wide to the left, before dropping a grubber in behind the Leicester line and Gabriel Ibitoye beats the retreating Tigers to the ball to dot it down.
THE PREM GETS GOING
The 23/24 Gallagher Premiership season is underway!
The home side kick deep into Leicester's half to start the new league campaign.
FINAL PREP UNDERWAY
-15
NOT LONG NOW...
The 23/24 Gallagher Premiership season is almost here!
Dan McKellar's side are in Bristol to take on the Bears under the Ashton Gate lights in Round 1 of their league campaign.