Glaws fightback send out a message

Coaches on both sides had cause for complaints as Gloucester and Leicester produced what must have been one of the most exciting games in the history of the Premiership at Welford Road. At 41-41 it was the highest-scoring draw since the Prem began, and the scores were also identical at five tries, five conversions and two penalties each.

The coaches were pulling their hair out, while the fans were shouting themselves hoarse at the sort of spectacle that doesn’t happen very often – let’s face it, it was only the fourth draw in the Prem this season, but none could match this for excitement.

Glaws assistant coach Carl Hogg described it as a roller-coaster, and that must surely be the understatement of the season. It was far, far more than that and while both teams might have felt they could have won, the real winner was Premiership rugby.

Glaws had to produce a dramatic late fightback to earn the result, but they fully deserved it.

Hogg told the BBC: "This was a rollercoaster of a game. The effort and the desire that was shown in the 80 minutes was outstanding. They got themselves off to an excellent start in the first 20 minutes.

"We just hung in there, we made a few mistakes defensively, but our work ethic was outstanding and that's something that may have been lacking in the last week or two and it was certainly back today.

"We gave away two soft tries just after half time and you do wonder have we got the resilience to bounce back - particularly at a place like Welford Road - but we showed bag loads of character today. I'm very pleased for the players."

Leicester’s Richard Cockerill wondered if some of his players thought it was a testimonial match, and at times it was difficult to believe that there was so much at stake.

The Tigers stay top and Glaws are still third – just. But this result and performance will give them much heart for the run-in as they try to stay in the top four – Tuesday night’s Kingsholm showdown with fourth-top Northampton could be vital.

Few could have suspected what they were in for when Olly Morgan scored an early Glaws try, only for Scott Hamilton to cancel it out.

Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu regained the Glaws lead, but a stunning hat trick from Alesana Tuilagi appeared to have put the Tigers in total control.

However, Andy Hazell and Tim Molenaar scored to show Glaws were in no mood to surrender before a Billy Twelvetrees try gave Leicester the edge again.

It was EFS who scored that vital late try at the end of a breathless 80 minutes, reward for a dogged, determined and entertaining display by Glaws.

Hopefully players and fans alike will get their collective breath back by Tuesday.