Leicester Tigers have defeated Gloucester Rugby 29-26 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Tigers taking a bonus-point win at home and also reclaiming The Slater Cup.
A powerful second-half display sealed the win for Michael Cheika’s side who managed to outlast the high-scoring Gloucester outfit.
Tigers opened the scoring through Handré Pollard’s boot, but it was Gloucester who looked sharp early on.
The visitors got on the board firstly through Max Llewellyn, the centre taking a pop pass into a hole to slide over.
Fullback Santi Carreras added the extras.
Carreras nailed the next conversion as well after lock Freddie Thomas found his way over the line just minutes later.
Tigers got one back through Ollie Hassell-Collins, but Gloucester would regain their two-score advantage before the break with Llewellyn grabbing a second try.
It would remain 19-8 to the visitors as the teams jogged to the changing rooms.
Leicester came out with a different edge for the second period.
Pollard, off another well-worked move off a quick tap, was first to score then a blistering break from Freddie Steward saw Josh Bassett scramble over to give Tigers the lead.
Pollard converted the pair to make it 22-19.
Tigers then got their fourth and bonus-point try through Dan Kelly, which Pollard converted to make it 29-19.
Gloucester responded, and set up a tense final five minutes after Llewellyn bagged a hat-trick. Carreras converted quickly, the score now 29-26.
A nervy finish followed, but Tigers gutted out the victory. The final score 29-26.
Commentary
FULL TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
Tigers hold firm!
A second half fightback sees tries from Pollard, Bassett and Kelly earn a bonus point win at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Final score: Leicester Tigers 29 - 26 Gloucester
79
SCRUM PENALTY WON!
Superb work from the pack sees a scrum penalty won, which is kicked to touch by Shillcock.
That could be vital as we enter the final minute.
78
TIGERS FORCE LATE KNOCK ON
Gloucester hold firm at the scrum and begin successive phases that see them edge up to the 22, the likes of Mercer and Fasogbon met well by Leicester.
Eventually, the visitors try one pass too many and a knock on gives Tigers possession with two minutes left, a scrum on their own 22.
76
TENSE HERE AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
You can cut the tension here with a knife as both sides trade blows in midfield.
There are heavy carries and box kicks aplenty as both teams look to strike that final blow.
Eventually, a knock on sees the game halt for a scrum.
CONVERSION | GLOUCESTER
Carreras adds the extras from in front of the posts and it's now just a three point game with under ten minutes remaining.
TRY | GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Llewellyn gets his hat trick as the visitors score at the third time of asking.
It's another strong line from the centre, who runs it over from short range.
71
SUBSTITUTION | TIGERS
That's now back to back knock on's Tigers force through rock solid defence, superb work from the hosts.
Montoya is substituted to great applause, applause that is sustained for his replacement, Charlie Clare making his 100th Tigers appearance.
SUBSTITUTION | TIGERS
Defending on their own line, Tigers repel a Gloucester line out very well; however, an infringement in midifeld means we're back on the five metre for another line out.
In the meantime, Pollard is substituted for Jamie Shillcock.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Pollard adds the extras with a simple kick.
TRY | DAN KELLY
The centre smashes through!
Gloucester do very well to halt the maul immediately so Youngs instead begins the phases.
Manz and Wand smash up from short range before a misspass hits Kelly at full speed, the centre gritting his teeth and battering through two men to touch down.
62
SUPERB METRES EARNED
Tigers do brilliantly to turn defence into attack.
A turnover just outside their own 22 sees the ball played quickly, Liebenberg crashing up.
Manz then hits it up before Pollard fires it wide to Wand, who picks his line superbly and thunders through.
He makes it into the Gloucester half and smartly chooses to recycle the ball.
With the Cherry & Whites scrambling to cover, Pollard then opts to kick over the top into the space on the far touchline and Bassett smashes his opposite number into touch for a line out inside the 22.
SUBSTITUTIONS | TIGERS
van Poortvliet and Wells exit, replaced by Tom Manz, on for his Premiership debut, and Ben Youngs.
57
KNOCK ONS HALT MOMENTUM
Two slick moves in a the last few minutes almost result in scores but both are foiled by handling errors.
The first sees Pollard fling a lovely ball to the blindside, who allows Liebenberg to put Bassett in space. The wing offloads back inside to a charging Chessum but his hands are knocked by visiting scrum half Williams and he knocks on.
As Gloucester clear, Bassett almost skips right through their line but for a tap tackle that sees the wing lose control of the ball.
As Gloucester just try and clear from the scrum, Tigers continue to batter up aggressively, the likes of Montoya and Cracknell getting through so much work in open play.
SUBSTITUTIONS | LEICESTER TIGERS
With Leicester in front, Cheika opts to utilise the bench.
On comes Will Wand for Joseph Woodward, a move that sees Kelly move to 12, while there's huge cheers for front row duo James Cronin and Dan Cole, who replace Smith and Heyes.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Pollard extends the lead with a cool kick from the right hand side.
TRY | JOSH BASSETT
Tigers out in front!
The team have come out with a renewed vigour in this second half and it's capped off by an excellent score here.
Everyone joins the line as tight handling from the likes of Montoya and Liebenberg eventually find Steward in space, the fullback flying through.
He has the option to go himself but opts to target a 2 on 1 and executes perfectly, giving wing Bassett a simple score and handing Leicester the lead.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
The Springbok adds the extras and it's now a four point game.
TRY | Handré Pollard
Tigers fly out the blocks!
The fly half starts and finishes this score, an expert kick to touch leading to the line out.
Tigers play two physical phases then exit to the backs, Pollard cannily dummying the pass and riding the tackle to touch down under the posts.
SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY
The second 40 has begun and Tigers have already earned a lineout just five metres out from the Gloucester line.
HALF TIME
Tigers are behind at the break after three tries from the visitors either side of Hassell-Collins' scorcher.
Leicester Tigers 8 - 19 Gloucester
37
CONVERSION MISSED | GLOUCESTER
Carreras fires just wide and it remains an 11 point Gloucester lead.
TRY | GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Another score centre Max Llewellyn sees the visitors extend their lead.
It's all from Wales scrum half Tomos Williams.He puts through a cheeky dink over the top for Santi Carreras to run onto, the fullback then offloading back and getting to the 22.
The offloads keep coming as Tigers scramble back, the ball eventually fired wide to Llewellyn who pumps it wide but doesnt release, the dummy allowing him to run through on the angle to score.
31
BOTH SIDES TRADING POSSESSION
Tommy Reffell initially repels a fluid Gloucester move, somehow manifesting on the far touchline to the original line out to get over the ball and turnover.
Pollard loses it in midfield but, from a booming clearance by Atkinson minutes later, the fly half catches and bulldozes through a tackle to make metres.
JVP then tries to play quick but this is then intercepted by Mercer who stabs a kick through but this rolls into over Tigers tryline and it's placed down for a goal line dropout, which Polly duly smashes back to halfway.
End to end stuff here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!
CONVERSION MISSED | Handré Pollard
Pollard hits the post from the left touchline - six points in it thus far.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
A superb score from the flyer.
Tigers play the phases from the line out, crashing up all over midfield before finally the play is played back.
Polly's in the pocket and he goes out the back again to Dan Kelly, the centre firing a miss-pass missile over the top to OHC out wide.
The wing has a lot to do but shrugs off the challenge of wing Josh Hathaway before stepping inside two Cherry & Whites and having the leg drive to power over with them hanging off him.
19
VITAL SCRUM ALLOWS FOR TIGERS ADVANTAGE
The front row trifecta of Smith, Montoya and Heyes were destructive in the East Midlands derby last weekend and they've picked up where they left off today, winning a penalty at the set piece and allowing for Pollard to clear to touch past the halfway line.
From there, a second penalty is won after an infringement at the ruck and suddenly Tigers have an attacking line out inside the Gloucester 22.
16
CONDITIONS HAVING AN EFFECT
We can see the early rain still playing a part here, as Gloucester field a Cracknell break well and manage to slide the No. 8 into touch.
As the visitors now try and launch an attack well into Tigers' half, the ball skids out of their hands and Tigers have a scrum in their own 22.
CONVERSION | GLOUCESTER
Carreras again adds the extras from the touchline.
TRY | GLOUCESTER RUGBY
The visitors strike again, this time through lock Freddie Thomas who dives on a kick through to touch down.
CONVERSION | GLOUCESTER
Carreras adds the extras with an excellent kick from the touchline.
TRY | GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Tigers continue to probe away at the line but opt for a kick over the top.
Fielded well, Gloucester respond with a superb kick that flies over the head of Steward and bounces out for a 50.22.
From the line out, the Cherry & Whites run a well worked strike move that sees outside centre Max Llewellyn steam through untouched on a hard line.
TRY | GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Tigers continue to probe away at the line but opt for a kick over the top.
Fielded well, Gloucester respond with a superb kick that flies over the head of Steward and bounces out for a 50.22.
From the line out, the Cherry & Whites run a well worked strike move that sees outside centre Max Llewellyn steam through untouched on a hard line.
PENALTY | Handré Pollard
Pollard makes no mistake from there and slots with aplomb to open the scoring.
4
Tigers on the front foot early
An early attack from Tigers is quelled by the visitors and Jack van Poortvliet tries a crafty nudge through.
It's fielded well by Carreras and cleared to the Tigers 22. However, the hosts come back firing; first a penalty is kicked to touch before the resulting lineout allows for relentless phases of pressure.
Tigers deliver physicality through Cracknell and Montoya, they go wide out to Liebenberg and Bassett and keep chipping away at the Gloucester defence, advancing to the 22.
Eventually the pressure tells and Tigers are awarded a penalty in front of the posts as the visitors look to spoil the ruck.
KICK OFF
After an emotional Slater Cup presentation, we are underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Handré Pollard kicks us off in this round five clash in the Gallagher Premiership and Tigers instantly win the ball back and attack!
-5
PERFECT RUGBY WEATHER
From biblical rain to pleasant sunshine, it's a lovely day in Leicester.
Two cracking matches coming up today; the first kicks off in just five minutes as a thrilling weekend of Gallagher Premiership action comes to a crescendo. Head down to Mattioli Woods Welford, tune in live on TNT Sports 1 or ITV!
The second will see Tigers welcome Harlequins Women in Premiership Women's Rugby. With kick off scheduled for 5.45pm, following the men's game, it's a bumper day of rugby!
Stick with us here on Matchday Live for all the updates from both games.
-8
LATE CHANGE FOR TIGERS
A late change sees Dan Kelly enter the centres alongside Joe Woodward, Izaia Perese ruled out with a knock.
This change also sees Will Wand enter the replacements.
-10
TEN MINUTES TO GO
As well as all-important Gallagher Premiership points, it should be noted that today's contest with Gloucester will also see the Slater Cup on the line.
The Cherry & Whites currently hold the trophy, having triumphed in the last two meetings between the sides, adding an extra incentive to Tigers.
Throughout the ground, there are a number of bucket collectors, who are asking for donations to vital MND charities such as 4Ed, My Name'5 Doddie and MND Association.
-30
THIRTY MINUTES TILL KICK OFF
The rain has cleared and the sky is blue as we get set for our first Double Header of the season!
Tigers will face Harlequins in Premiership Women's Rugby but first up, in half an hour, we welcome Gloucester to Mattioli Woods Welford Road in round 5 of the Gallagher Premiership.