Battle of the Fly-Halves

Despite both team losing key players to the Autumn Internationals, they put on quite a show for the packed house on a crisp, clear autumn afternoon and the Tigers extended their unbeaten home record to 18 matches.

Gloucester opening the score with a the boot of the dependable Ludovic Mercier kicking for goal just four minutes into the game. A few short minutes later it looked as though Tigers fly-half Andy Goode would return the favour and even the score, but instead kicked for the corner. Tigers took the lineout and drove forwards for the line, sending prop Michael Holford over for the first try of the afternoon. Goode converted the score and Tigers set the tone for the rest of the afternoon’s action.

Tigers continued to apply the pressure to the Cherrie and Whites but failed to realise two further chances for tries. The home side appearing to struggle to find the line, but Tigers debutant Tom Croft cleverly found Tom Varndell who raced through with his first of a brace of tries. Goode struck the conversion well, but the ball fell wide of the posts.

Mercier and Goode traded penalties for the last quarter of the half, both missing one and cancelling out each other’s scores. Tigers again failing to make the most of a superb Austin Healey break that looked to be a terrific try-scoring opportunity, only to be fluffed at the last by a Shane Jenning’s pass.

To make matters worse, Gloucester’s only real opportunity to score came in the last few minutes of the half, with wing James Simpson-Daniel tearing through a host of defenders to set up centre Anthony Allen for his first premiership try. The ever reliable Mercier making the conversion and bringing the visitor’s back into the frame. Tigers lead by 15 points to 13 at the break.

Varndell, like a greyhound out of the trap, took just six minutes to score his second try of the afternoon, which Goode converted with ease.

Gloucester applied the pressure as Tigers appeared to take their feet of the gas for 15 minutes, giving away a penalty which Goode successfully converted.

Sadly, despite their perseverance, Tigers failed to realise the all-important fourth try and let Gloucester full-back Olly Morgan race through in the 74th minute, to score a much needed try and allow Gloucester take a losing bonus point back to Kingsholm. Mercier making the conversion and taking the final score to Leicester 25, Gloucester 20.

Tigers had their chances in the final minutes, with replacement scrum-half Neil Cole being held up just short of the line. The home crowd held their collective breaths for the last four minutes when it looked as though the visitors might steal the game from under our noses, but Tigers defense proved solid and no further scores were made.

The Bradstone man of the match was Ben Kay, but for me, the man of the match has to be the inspirational Austin Healey in his 200th start for Tigers. He captained the team in Martin Corry’s absence and made some superb breaks.