Gloucester
Glaws lead cut as Tigers end unbeaten home run
Olivier Azam - try
By Cherry Picker
February 9 2008
After their 17-month unbeaten home record was ended by Leicester Tigers, Gloucester are still top of the Guinness Premiership – but only just. With 22 unbeaten Kingsholm games behind them, it had to happen some time, of course, but what a shame it had to be their main rivals at the top of the GP table.
With both sides hit by injuries and Six Nations calls, it was Leicester who adapted better to the situation as Gloucester’s lack of experience in some vital places was exposed.
But this is NOT the end of the world. There’s no doubt at all that both sides would have been better if they had their full squads to choose from, but the chances are that the bigger improvement would have come from Glaws, who won at Welford Road earlier in the season.
Coach Dean Ryan (right) told the BBC: "With the amount of injuries and contributions to Tests, I thought it was an outstanding display and I'm very proud of the guys.
"Some of our young guys have been playing at Moseley, so you've got to take your hat off to them.
"As a collective we did everything we wanted. The senior guys turned up and the younger guys flourished."
Leicester coach Marcelo Loffreda added: "A game against the top side in the league is important and maybe that made it one of our best games of the season.
"But we have a long way to go. We were sharp when we were attacking, but tried to control the tempo and couldn't. "We have to work on that and get a better quality of ball out."
Ollie Smith was sent clear for the opening try for Tigers, converted by Andy Goode, but Willie Walker’s penalty made it 7-3 at half-time.
Olivier Azam’s try and Walker’s conversion gave Glaws the lead in the second half, but Goode’s penalty levelled before Tigers won the game with Ayoola Erinle’s converted try.
The losing bonus point kept Glaws top.
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Quite fitting then that we returned the compliment on Saturday.
