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.