Runaway leaders Leicester stretched their unbeaten Zurich Premiership record
to 12 games as they inflicted a major dent on Gloucester's play-off ambitions at
sold-out Kingsholm.
But victory was achieved at a cost when Tigers lost their England number eight
Martin Corry with a dislocated elbow midway through the first half.
Corry, a star performer during England's recent autumn Test series, was helped
from the field, giving England boss Andy Robinson grave cause for concern less
than five weeks before the world champions launch their RBS 6 Nations
Championship campaign against Wales in Cardiff.
The Leicester medical staff's immediate post-match prognosis was that Corry
faces six weeks out.
If that prediction proves accurate, then Corry will miss Leicester's final two
Heineken Cup group games against Biarritz and Calvisano, and possibly the
England versus France showdown at Twickenham on February 13.
There was better news for Robinson elsewhere though, with Gloucester prop Phil
Vickery making a successful comeback seven weeks after suffering a 'blow-out'
eye-socket fracture against Wasps.
Leicester, whose last league defeat was against Sale Sharks on September 5,
went about their business in ruthless fashion after recovering from the shock of
conceding two early unconverted tries.
Tigers centres Leon Lloyd and Daryl Gibson claimed touchdowns, as did wing
Ollie Smith, with prolific fly-half Andy Goode kicking 13 points from a
drop-goal, two penalties and two conversions.
Sixth-placed Gloucester flattered to deceive following their early onslaught
that produced tries for centre Nathan Mauger and lock Adam Eustace, as Leicester
overhauled them before pulling away and completing another impressive away day
triumph.
Leicester fielded seven internationals up front, with a further five behind
the scrum as they looked to consolidate top spot.
Kingsholm was packed to its 13,000 maximum - Gloucester's third capacity crowd
this season - providing a fitting atmosphere for two of the leading clubs in
England.
And the home side made a dream start, prising open Leicester's much-vaunted
defence twice during the opening 13 minutes.
Fly-half Henry Paul made their first try on four minutes, displaying
impressive composure and awareness to arrow a kick behind Tigers' cover that
Mauger capitalised on to score.
The conversion attempt drifted wide, but Gloucester were soon at it again,
doubling their lead as Leicester struggled to impose themselves.
Centre Terry Fanolua caused the initial damage, roaming free 20 metres out,
and when full-back Jon Goodridge delivered a quality inside ball, Eustace
gratefully collected and galloped over.
Paul unluckily saw his conversion bounce back off the post, yet Gloucester had
thrown down the gauntlet in emphatic fashion, leaving Leicester facing a
sizeable deficit.
Typically though, the Tigers hit back with a 10-point blitz inside seven
minutes, and Gloucester could scarcely catch their breath.
Stunning approach work by Smith and full-back Geordan Muprhy led to a try for
Lloyd, with Goode's conversion and a short-range penalty tying things up before
Corry departed injured.
Having clawed themselves level, Leicester were in no mood to relinquish the
initiative, and they racked up another 11 unanswered points before half-time,
taking charge of a fast and furious encounter.
A Goode penalty, the result of a Gloucester infringement after home scrum-half
Andy Gomarsall put his team under pressure by throwing out a reckless pass,
edged Tigers ahead, before Tigers registered a second try.
The influential Goode's steepling up and under was caught by Goodridge, but
Leicester snaffled possession and a long pass from the fly-half put Lloyd clear,
whose clever overhead flick sent Smith over.
Goode rounded off a prolonged spell of Leicester dominance when he dropped a
goal deep into first-half injury time, handing the Tigers a 21-10 interval
advantage.
Paul, easily Gloucester's most inventive player, reduced the deficit by
slotting a short-range penalty five minutes after the restart, but Leicester's
response was predictably decisive.
Goode arrowed a grubber kick towards the Gloucester posts, and Gibson reacted
quickest, touching down to claim a try that effectively killed off their
opponents.
The final quarter fizzled out, although Tigers had Lloyd sin-binned for
obstruction.
But 2005 has started in exactly the same way as 2004 ended, with Leicester way
ahead of all their Premiership rivals, both in terms of points and form.
Teams:
Gloucester: Goodridge, Garvey, Mauger, Fanolua, Kiole, Paul,
Gomarsall, Bezuidenhout, M. Davies, Vickery, Eustace, Brown,
Boer, Hazell, Balding.
Replacements: Bailey for Garvey (69),
Sigley for Bezuidenhout (52), Buxton for Eustace (67),
Forrester for Balding (52).
Not Used: Curnier, Wood, Page.
Tries: Mauger, Eustace.
Pens: Paul.
Leicester: Murphy, Smith, Lloyd, Gibson, Varndell, Goode,
Ellis, Morris, Chuter, White, M. Johnson, Kay, Moody, Back,
Corry.
Replacements: Vesty for Murphy (60), Cornwell for Goode (80),
Buckland for Chuter (30), W. Johnson for Corry (22).
Not Used: Holford, L. Deacon, Bemand.
Sin Bin: Lloyd (56).
Tries: Lloyd, Smith, Gibson.
Cons: Goode 2.
Pens: Goode 2.
Drop Goals: Goode.
Att: 13,000
Ref: D Pearson (RFU).
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