Welcome boost for Tigers

Try-scorers: Tuilagi and Flood

Leicester gave their Aviva Premiership campaign a welcome boost on Saturday thanks to a 19-14 victory at Gloucester.

The Cherry and Whites' defeat was their third in a row in all competitions at Kingsholm and came after England fly-half Toby Flood and Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi scored second-half tries for the Tigers, who started the day 11th in the standings.

Flood also kicked three penalties, with his England half-back partner Ben Youngs doubtless relieved that a glaring blunder - a reckless pass intercepted by captain Luke Narraway that produced Gloucester's solitary try - did not cost the visitors dear.

Fly-half Freddie Burns kicked three penalties during a tight and tense match, but Gloucester again finished second best on home soil after their losses to Saracens and Harlequins.

After losing both their opening Heineken Cup pool games, Gloucester now need to put things back on track and will get their first chance with a tricky trip to Newcastle in the Premiership next Friday night.

Their latest setback also means that for the first time in six years they have suffered three successive home defeats.

Bryan Redpath made two changes from the side beaten at home by Heineken Cup opponents Quins last weekend, recalling full-back Olly Morgan and number eight Narraway, while Leicester included Youngs and Dan Cole among their replacements.

Both of Tigers' league wins this season - against Newcastle and Sale - had been away from Welford Road but they were put under early pressure when Burns made a sniping run.

Danger

Tom Croft halted the danger when he pulled off a stunning tackle from behind, before Flood put Leicester ahead through an angled 13th-minute penalty.

Burns took only five minutes to land an equalising strike, and Gloucester established a degree of control as the back trio of Narraway, Alasdair Strokosch and Akapusi Qera regularly made headway.

But Gloucester did not help themselves by making a number of handling errors - wing Lesley Vainikolo was the chief culprit - with a second successful Burns penalty a scant reward for sustained pressure.

After playing the opening 40 minutes with a strong breeze at their backs, Leicester would have been the happier team at the break despite trailing by three points.

Youngs then appeared for his first Premiership outing of the season, taking over from Sam Harrison, with Tigers rugby director Richard Cockerill clearly hoping he could inject a touch of verve to a team needing a quicker tempo.

Leicester thought they had scored only four minutes into the period, but television match official David Matthews contentiously ruled otherwise.

Tigers attacked from a short-range scrum, allowing Flood to chip ahead towards Gloucester's posts, and it looked as though he managed a fingertip touchdown before the ball squirted clear.

Matthews took his time studying the replays before ruling in Gloucester's favour, and although Flood then kicked a second penalty, Leicester could feel slightly hard done by.

They remained the most potent attacking force on view, though, and Tuilagi was just inches away from grasping Flood's cross-kick with Gloucester's line beckoning.

But it proved only a temporary reprieve as Leicester put together a slick attack that ended with Flood darting over to make amends for his narrow failure 15 minutes earlier.

Stylish finish

Leicester deserved to be ahead, but it lasted barely two minutes as Gloucester prospered when Youngs attempted an ill-judged pass and Narraway caught it before finishing in style.

The game had moved up a gear, and Leicester responded to that setback in blistering fashion, courtesy of Tuilagi's opportunism.

The Samoan international charged down an attempted clearance by England hopeful Charlie Sharples, then reacted quickest to gather possession and sprint clear for his 11th try in 11 appearances against Gloucester.

Flood could not convert, but Leicester were back in front, the lead having changed hands three times during a hectic six-minute spell.

Redpath made changes in an attempt to rescue the game, yet Leicester called on all their expertise and experience as they successfully closed it out, underpinned by Flood's third penalty after Narraway infringed.