Gloucester Rugby faced a tough night at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as they were overwhelmed 45-14 by Leicester Tigers in Round Seven of the Gallagher Premiership. The hosts scored seven tries through James Thompson, Solomone Kata, Tom Whiteley, Tommy Reffell, Billy Searle, Ollie Chessum, and benefitted from a contentious penalty try just before half-time, which followed a yellow card for Charlie Atkinson. Fly-half Billy Searle contributed three conversions, while replacement Orlando Bailey added two more, helping Leicester climb to the top of the table alongside Bath.
For Gloucester, Josh Hathaway and Jack Clement found the try line in the second half, with Ross Byrne converting both efforts. However, by the time Gloucester opened their account, the Tigers had already built a 31-0 lead, largely exploiting the period when Atkinson was off the field. The only disciplinary blemish on Leicester’s night was a 20-minute red card issued to replacement hooker Charlie Clare for a dangerous clearout.
South West rugby correspondent John Evely reviews the individual performances for Gloucester:
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15 Charlie Atkinson – 6
Atkinson was Gloucester’s most dynamic attacking player, producing excellent handling and a creative offload that led to Hathaway’s try. However, his late yellow card, deemed harsh, resulted in a penalty try and swung momentum decisively in Leicester’s favor.
14 Rob Russell – 5
Russell showed promise early on but was forced off due to injury, a setback following his recent return from a pre-season layoff.
13 Will Butler – 4
Butler’s performance was marred by a crucial error, as a misplaced pass squandered a try-scoring opportunity.
12 Seb Atkinson – 5
The England international made some direct runs but was thoroughly outperformed by his opposite number Solomone Kata, the game’s standout player. He also failed a late Head Injury Assessment (HIA).
11 Ollie Thorley – 4
Thorley was close to scoring but was stopped short after opting to cut infield rather than use the corner. He struggled under pressure and forced several poorly timed passes.
10 Ross Byrne – 4
Byrne’s attacking decisions led to numerous breakdowns, although his goal-kicking was accurate. A poorly judged kick to touch after a scrum penalty was a costly error.
9 Tomos Williams – 4
In what was arguably his poorest display for Gloucester, Williams struggled defensively and in attack, showing a lack of connection with teammates on a week when his summer departure was confirmed.
1 Val Rapava Ruskin – 5
The loosehead prop had a difficult scrum battle but performed admirably for his first Premiership start of the season after recovering from knee issues.
2 Seb Blake – N/A
Blake left the field early due to a hand injury, limiting his impact.
3 Nepo Laulala – 4
Returning from suspension, Laulala engaged in a physical scrum war but saw Gloucester gain momentum after his exit. He showed good passing skills despite the team’s struggles.
4 Freddie Thomas – 5
Thomas contributed some strong moments but was hampered by inconsistent handling throughout.
5 Arthur Clark – 5
Clark put in a robust physical effort and executed a notable turnover, but Leicester dominated the forward exchanges overall.
6 Josh Basham – 4
Basham was overpowered for Leicester’s opening try and missed a key chance to launch a line break.
7 Lewis Ludlow – 5
Ludlow’s defense was exposed on the wings during critical phases, allowing Leicester’s backs to make significant gains.
8 Jack Clement – 6
Clement scored a well-worked try from a maul and showcased great stamina throughout. He was also the victim of Clare’s dangerous clearout.
Replacements:
16 Jack Innard – 5
17 Jamal Ford-Robinson – 5
18 Afo Fasogbon – 7
19 Cam Jordan – 5
20 Harry Taylor – 6
21 Mikey Austin – 5
22 Will Knight – 5
23 Josh Hathaway – 6