Five times champions Leicester surged into yet another Tetley's Bitter Cup
quarter final with a superb second-half display.
The Tigers were 13-10 down at the interval but they took charge of the game
after the break to deny Gloucester any further scores.
Their hero was left winger Leon Lloyd who scored a try in each half - his
second in injury time ending all Gloucester hopes.
Yet Gloucester had often looked the more likely victors after a tremendous
start and a late second-half fightback which looked almost certain to reap
dividends.
The match had begun in typically fiery fashion between these two old rivals.
Just three minutes into the game a skirmish between Gloucester number eight
Steve Ojomoh and Leicester prop Darren Garforth led to referee Brian Campsall
lecturing the two skippers.
It had little effect. Two minutes later another fight close to the Leicester
line led to both hookers - Gloucester's Chris Fortey and Leicester's Dorian West
- being shown yellow cards.
The first score came after 10 minutes when Gloucester were driving over the
Leicester line and the Tigers pulled them down. Referee Campsall gave a penalty
try which fly-half Byron Hayward converted.
Two minutes later Leicester fullback Tim Stimpson reduced the arrears with a
penalty from 30 metres out but it was not long before Hayward re-established
Gloucester's lead with a penalty in front of the posts in the 20th minute.
At that stage Gloucester were looking comfortably in charge with locks Rob
Fidler and Mark Cornwell winning plenty of possession and Franco Jake Boer and
Andy Hazell more hungry in the loose.
But in the 24th minute Leicester drew level in one of their few attacks deep
into Gloucester territory.
Fly-half Andrew Goode punted a high kick across the width of the field in
front of the Gloucester posts and winger Lloyd was perfectly placed to catch and
dive for a soft try which Stimpson converted.
Gloucester were quickly in front again. Hayward landed a 25 metre penalty two
minutes later and that lead held until half time with Leicester's only chance to
score again coming a minute before the interval when Stimpson missed a penalty.
Leicester emerged in the second half after clearly having had a much more
inspiring interval team talk.
They took charge and pinned Gloucester back for the opening 15 minutes during
which Stimpson landed a 35 metre penalty and Oliver Smith weaved his way through
two tackles for a lovely try in the 56th minute.
Stimpson missed the conversion giving Leicester a cushion of only five points
and they were made to defend their lead hard in the closing stages as Gloucester
stepped up a gear.
The desperate home side laid siege to the Leicester line and there were almost
tries for Terry Fanolua and full back Chris Catling.
But in injury time Leicester, having survived the onslaught saw Lloyd run in
for his second try which Stimpson converted.
Gloucester: Tries: Penalty. Cons: Hayward. Pens: Hayward 2. Gloucester: Catling, Jewell,
Ewens, Fanolua, Beim, Hayward,
Gomarsall, Vickery, Fortey, Deacon, Fidler, Cornwell, Boer,Hazell, Ojomoh.
Replacements: Yates for Jewell (55), Djoudi for Fortey (70),
Sanchez for Deacon (70), Pearce for Fidler (55).
Not Used: Walton, Gregoire-Mazzocco, Paramore.Sin Bin: Fortey (5).
Leicester: Tries: Lloyd 2, Smith. Cons: Stimpson 2.
Pens: Stimpson 2. Leicester: Stimpson, Healey, Smith, Howard, Lloyd, Goode,
Hamilton, Rowntree, West, Garforth, M. Johnson, Kay, Gustard,Moody, W. Johnson.
Replacements: Balding for W. Johnson (53).
Not Used: Freshwater, Gelderbloom, Newmarch, Short, Cockerill,Nebbett.
Sin Bin: West (5).Att: 5,100Ref: Brian Campsell (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook