Leicester Tigers showed sustained periods of quality but were unable to challenge a classy Gloucester-Hartpury side.
The reigning PWR champions took an early lead that was never relinquished, with Tigers responding early in the second half through Claire Gallagher before the visitors put the game to bed.
It’s a grey and chilly day at Mattioli Woods Welford Road
With the ball out of play from kick off we begin with a scrum to the visitors, which is defended well by the midfield of the Joneses and Evie Wills and don’t allow Gloucester any momentum.
Despite the disappointment of losing Charlotte Fray early on, Tigers quickly win the ball back through a big shot from Julia Omokhuale.
Both sides trade possession over the next 10 minutes, Tigers time with the ball featuring an enormous carry from Sophie Benavent, a hot-stepping run from Meg Jones and a bursting sprint from Claire Gallagher, who can’t quite execute the two-on-one.
Gloucester come closest to breaking the deadlock in this time, Red Rose Emma Sing scything through but stopped just short by a sensational cover shot from Natasha Jones.
Eventually, a quarter of an hour in, the visitors do open the scoring; after a sustained period of possession and short carries, scrum half Meg Davies dances through.
It looks like Tigers will get straight back into it when Roisin McBrien makes a break from out of nowhere, making 30+ metres before being hauled down; however, the captain is pinged for playing the ball on the floor, with a lack of ruck support.
The champions take this chance and strike again for their second score. A slick line out move sees prop El Perry steam through before a pair of offloads get them up to the line before flanker Carmen Castellucci picks a line and dives over.
This begins Leicester’s best period of possession, taking up the next 20 minutes of play.
It starts off with a canny interception from Tahlia Brody, with the No. 8 then feeding Emily Henrich for a break from the 22 up to halfway.
Moments later, the Eagle produces a sensational block to keep play upfield, with the defence then forcing a knock on; the hosts are camped on the line but cannot make it count, Gloucester defending doggedly from a medley of hard lines and a cheeky grubber through from Claire Gallagher.
However, eventually, the champions win possession back and go all the way to the line; a penalty is won and when the maul gets rolling, a penalty try is awarded to finish the half.
Half time score: Leicester Tigers 0 – 19 Gloucester-Hartpury
The second period could not start much better for the hosts as Claire Gallagher plucks a floated pass out of the air and runs virtually the length of the field to score before converting her own try.
Tigers enjoy an early spell of possession here as they look to close the gap but Gloucester win back possession after a few minutes and exploit space wide to put Hannah Jones over unopposed.
As both sides make changes, neither side are able to string together a sustained period of play until 15 minutes later, replacement prop Kathryn Buggy drives low and placing the ball right on the line to extend the visitors lead.
Leicester come back with incremental hard carries getting them into the opposition's half but the ball is lost, only a superb Henrich tackle halting the visitors scoring again.
This reprieve is only temporary, however, as Gloucester eventually maul over the line, replacement hooker Gillian Boag touching down.
The final ten minutes are all Tigers but the hosts just cannot find a way through and eventually the whistle blows for full time.
Full time score: Leicester Tigers 7 – 38 Gloucester-Hartpury
