Welford Road

Tigers triumph at the death
2 December 2000
 
Gloucester pay the penalty
  
 
Leicester 31 Gloucester 28
  
NORMALLY, IF A SIDE MANAGES TO SCORE THREE FIRST HALF TRIES, with only penalties in reply, you would expect that side to wrap up a winning result.
Not so in this particular case. The Tigers eventually got their act together as Gloucester lost their way and eventually lost the match as well. Gloucester had built up a useful half time lead of 22-12. Unfortunately thereafter it was downhill almost all the way as the visitors lost their composure to hand over even more scoring opportunities to Tim Stimpson who duly took full advantage of the indiscipline to keep the Tigers in the hunt with four more successful penalty kicks.
Into the dying moments of injury time hanging on to a slender four point lead all Gloucester had to do to deny the home side was to commit an offence of some sort and the referee would blow up for no-side. They weren't cute enough and Leicester got their one and only try and that was enough to win the game for them.
Gloucester's unfortunate inability to scores tries in the second half after good starts cost them dear yet again. The previous four fixtures has yielded only nine points - a mere three penalties in the last two matches!
Last season Gloucester invariably finished the game with aperiod of prolonged pressure. This season it is just the reverse, just like the bad old days.It does not appear to be a question of inferior physical fitness or stamina but seems more like a lack of mental toughness and resolve, plus a shortage of character and the necessary nous at key times.
This season the Cherry and Whites seem to have a acquired the dubious knack of taking the wrong option at key stages in the game and an ability to concede penalties when and where it hurts most. At times some of the decision making seems absolutely incredible in a side of professional players. Schoolboy errors!
In direct comparison, Leicester, even without their wily old campaigner Martin Johnson, possessed a hard nosed edge, a never say die attitude and self belief to back up their street-wise wisdom and confidence. Can anyone really imagine a Leicester side giving away an injury-time try to lose a match. Give away a penalty almost certainly but a deciding try? I don't think so !
This season we have a better squad of players butt not better results. Injuries have cost Gloucester dear but so too have the many elementary mistakes which has meant that three matches that we could and should have won, have been lost by the narrowest of margins. Crucial league points surrendered by elementary errors and simple naivety. Considering the remaining Zurich Premiership fixtures and our recent form, any thought of an easy qualification for next season's Heineken European Cup is but a disappearing distant day-dream.
The genuine collective is clearly not yet in place.Come on Glos.