Leicester hold off Gloucester in thrilling Premiership clash

Leicester came back from an 11-point half-time deficit to edge past Gloucester in yet another nail-biting Gallagher Premiership encounter.

It was especially harsh on Max Llewellyn, who scored a hat-trick of tries but ended up on the losing side.

The visitors to Welford Road began superbly with Llewellyn notching the opener and then Freddie Thomas racing 40m to extend the advantage.

Ollie Hassell-Collins scored a brilliant try for the Tigers, but Llewellyn’s second before the break ensured the big half-time lead.

Leicester dominated the second half with Handre Pollard, Josh Bassett and Dan Kelly getting rewarded for the work from the big men in front, creating a lead which even Llewellyn’s late third could not overhaul.

With 49 more carries, getting near two-thirds of possession and 60% territorial advantage, the game could have been a lot more one-sided, but as the pattern of scoring suggested it was indeed a game of two halves.

Gloucester showed their flair in the opener and took a deserved lead, with Tomos Williams controlling the pace of the game and keeping the Tigers on the back foot.

The second half was less easy on the eye but no game in this league is over until it’s over and when Gloucester advanced into the Leicester 22 in the final three minutes, they looked on the verge of swaying the game back their way until Josh Hathaway’s unfortunate fumble.

Gloucester, with one win in five, will grow weary of their tag as the league entertainers if they continue to lose these games, but they showed signs with a smart kicking game and resolute defence that more-rounded displays are not far away.

Certainly TNT Sports viewers will hope they do not lose what has made them must-see entertainment.

There were fine performances from both sides: Julian Montoya as always was colossal for the Tigers and Max Llewellyn is unfortunate to lose both the game and this award, but Cracknell was imperious after the break.

The big No. 8 had 25 carries in the match, eight more than the next best, Montoya, and his efforts played a big part in the ball living in Gloucester’s half, which ultimately proved pivotal in his side’s victory.

Leicester: Steward 7, Bassett 7, Kelly 7, Woodward 6, Hassell-Collins 7, Pollard 7, Van Poortvliet 6; Smith 7, Montoya 8, Heyes 7, Wells 6, Chessum 7, Liebenberg 7, Refell 7, Cracknell 8*.

Replacements: Clare 6, Cronin 6, Cole 6, Manz 6, Ilione 6, Youngs 6, Shillcock 5, Wand 7.

Gloucester: Carreras 7, Hathaway 6, Llewellyn 8, Atkinson 7, Jones 6, Atkinson 6, Williams 7; Knight 6, Singleton 6, Gotovtsev 6, Clark 6, Thomas 7, Clement 6, Ludlow 6, Mercer 7.

Replacements: Blake 6, Ruskin 6, Fasogbon 6, Alemanno 6, Tuisue 6, Taylor 6, Englefield 6, Hillman-Cooper 6.

9′ TRY! LEICESTER 3-5 GLOUCESTER (LLEWELLYN)! Atkinson holds his pass brilliantly wrong-footing the Leicester defence and then passing to Llewellyn, who ran in and then raced under the posts to touch down.

13′TRY! LEICESTER 3-12 GLOUCESTER (THOMAS)! Stunned silence at Welford Road as Thomas slid over the line under a tackle from Chessum. They checked whether he kept control of the ball, but gave the OK.

23′ TRY! LEICESTER (HASSELL-COLLINS) 8-12 GLOUCESTER! A great try from Hassell-Collins. He got the ball a couple of metres in from the left touchline and goes outside his man before brushing past Carreras and two more attempted tackles on the line.

38′TRY! LEICESTER 8-19 GLOUCESTER (LLEWELLYN)! They are so exciting, Gloucester. A great break from Carreras chasing a chip over the top got them to the brink of the line, Though the Tigers snuffed out the initial threat, when the ball came wide, Llewellyn shaped as if to pass and instead raced over the line the right corner.

43′ LEICESTER (POLLARD) 13-19 GLOUCESTER! A great set piece routine from a 5m tap penalty works for the second week running. This time, they go right to left and good hands from Montoya sets up Pollard to run in under the posts.

49′TRY! LEICESTER (BASSETT) 20-19 GLOUCESTER! Steward with a fine run up to the last Gloucester defender and then he passed wide to Bassett to run in.

66′TRY! LEICESTER (KELLY) 27-19 GLOUCESTER! They held out for a while on their own line, but it looked a matter of time and Kelly barged through the tackle of Atkinson and goes over to touch down. They have their bonus point now.

72′TRY! LEICESTER 29-24 GLOUCESTER (LLEWELLYN)! Shillcock races out to tackle Llewellyn but the hat-trick man brushes him off to score under the posts.

• 199 – The number of tackles from Gloucester in this match – 92 more than Leicester.