The match was there for Glaws to win, but they were sucked in by Leicester's big-game experience and paid the penalty for some naivety both in defence and attack on a day when their nerves appeard to get the better of them.

In the end, Glaws were left deflated and defeated as Leicester head for  Twickenham date with Wasps.
Ahead for most of the game, Glaws were caught, then took the lead near the end with a Willie walker drop goal before Andy Goode demonstrated what licester are all about by winning the game with a drop goal of his own.
If Gloucester are to become the force in European rugby Ryan and others believe they are capable of becoming, they need to take a leaf out of Leicester's book and add guile and experience to their talent.
They say there's no substitute for experience, and Tigers proved that with their dramatic win at the end of a tense, see-saw second-half that made gripping viewing for the uncommitted, but a nervous evening for the fans of both teams.
After a poor season by their own standards, Tigers only made the play-offs with a last-day win over Harlequins, and while Tigers were guilty of some cynical play to help them keep Glaws out when they were under pressure, it worked. And if Glaws had done the same and won, none of their fans would be complaining.
Ryan summed it up when he topld the BBC: "I don't think it was about temperament, I think we made stupid choices. I thought we were lacking Mike Tindall a little bit.
"He does a lot of our thought processing and we are just not smart enough when he is not there.
"For the last few weeks we have been very smart and the best side around. We have taken Wasps away and beaten Bath at home, and we could and should have beaten Leicester today."
Tindall dropped out just before the kick-off, but the chances are that was delayed for so long not because he had a chance of playing, but in order to cause confusion in the Tigers camp.
Their captain Martin Corry said: "In all fairness our consistency and form throughout the campaign hasn't been up to much, and we didn't produce our best rugby today. It wasn't a complete performance but the lads showed great fighting spirit.
"We were more dogged than anything else. It showed how much this competition means to us."
Hopefully, Glaws will learn their lesson and be back again next season.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• Glaws earn chance of Tigers revenge

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes