Leicester Tigers produced a clinical performance to dispatch Gloucester 45-14 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with Solomone Kata starring as the Tongan centre scored a superb individual try and created another. The victory moves Leicester level on points with Premiership leaders Bath and marks their fourth consecutive league win.

First Half: Kata Sparks Early Dominance

Leicester raced into a 19-0 half-time lead thanks to Kata’s brilliance. In the 12th minute, he broke deep into Gloucester territory with a smart outside line, setting up James Thompson for a short-range try. Nine minutes later, Kata cut back from a scrum on halfway and sprinted unopposed to score his individual try.

Ulster’s ill-discipline also contributed to Leicester’s early dominance. Just before half-time, referee Karl Dickson awarded a penalty try after Gloucester illegally prevented Ollie Hassell-Collins from scoring, with Charlie Atkinson yellow-carded for the infringement.

Gloucester did respond with tries from Josh Hathaway and Jack Clement, but they trailed significantly at the interval, unable to match Leicester’s attacking fluency.

Second Half: Leicester’s Bench Makes an Impact

Leicester’s replacements, including Ollie Chessum, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, and Jamie Blamire, helped maintain the momentum. Tom Whiteley and Tommy Reffell added further scores following breaks from Freddie Steward and Leicester’s dynamic forwards.

Billy Searle contributed with the boot and a solo effort through the Gloucester defence for the sixth try. Even after a 20-minute red card for replacement hooker Charlie Clare, Leicester added a seventh try, with Ollie Chessum powering over from Jamie Blamire’s offload in his return from a six-week foot injury.

Gloucester Struggle Amid Injuries and Discipline Issues

Gloucester, positioned second-bottom of the Premiership, struggled throughout the game. Early injuries to Seb Blake, Rob Russell, and Seb Atkinson left the visitors depleted. Captain Tomos Williams admitted the team’s poor performance:

“We had a pretty poor start and continued in the same fashion. It was a lot of our own inaccuracies, and Leicester forced errors as well. We need to regroup ahead of our Christmas fixture against Saracens.”

Leicester’s dominance, particularly through Kata’s creativity and the bench’s energy, proved too much for Gloucester to handle.

Standout Performers

• Solomone Kata: Two tries and a try assist; outstanding individual skill and line-breaking ability.
• James Thompson & Tommy Reffell: Key try scorers supported by Kata’s vision.
• Ollie Chessum: Return from injury highlighted by a powerful finishing try.
• Billy Searle: Accurate with the boot and dynamic in open play.

Teams

Leicester Tigers: Steward; Radwan, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Whiteley; Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Henderson, Wells, Thompson, Reffell (c), Moro.
Replacements: Clare (RC), Haffar, Hurd, Chessum, Williams, van Poortvliet, Bailey, Woodward

Gloucester: C Atkinson (YC); Russell, Butler, S Atkinson, Thorley; Byrne, Williams (c); Rapava Ruskin, Blake, Laulala, Thomas, Clark, Basham, Ludlow, Clement
Replacements: Innard, Ford-Robinson, Fasogbon, Jordan, Taylor, Austin, Knight, Hathaway

Referee: Karl Dickson

Next Fixtures

Leicester now look ahead to their next Premiership clash against Saracens over the Christmas period, while Gloucester must regroup at Kingsholm to try to arrest their disappointing run.