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Wales back rower Aaron Wainwright scored his first try for Leicester Tigers how they defeated Gloucester 38-31 in a forward-dominated contest in the Gallagher Prem.
The hosts were 14-0 down after just 10 minutes at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, but a sustained period of dominance saw them score 31 unanswered points to put them well on their way to a second straight win.
For the Cherries and Whites, this was their first league defeat of the season as they lost in a match where the forwards scored eight of their nine tries.
They were forced into a late change as the injured Arthur Clark dropped out, Lewis Ludlow came into the back row and Freddie Thomas switched to lock.
It was Leicester who quickly found themselves under pressure when they sin-binned Billy Searle after just three minutes for deliberately kicking Ben Loader’s forward pass inside his own 22.
The Cherry and Whites quickly made the most of their one-man advantage when Wales winger Jac Morgan broke through after a series of pick-and-gos from his fellow forwards.
Try number two for the visitors soon followed when a spot-kick went over and a loose-headed Dian Bleuler grounded the ball. Caolan Englefield converted both early scores in style from the goal.
Shortly after Searle’s return to the pitch, Leicester were on the board when Finn Carnduff managed to force his effort over the whitewash from close range.
The Tigers began to dominate territorially and were level after half an hour England stalwart Joe Heyes slotted over from a few yards and Searle added the extras.
The turnaround was then completed in the 36th minute when Jamie Blamire scored from behind on a drive to give Leicester a 21-14 advantage at half-time.
The hosts then pulled one back when Searle kicked a penalty before the bonus point was sealed in the 50th minute with another close-range effort as Wainwright this time went over from inches.
To make matters worse for Gloucester, Thomas was sin binned immediately after the try was awarded as their night threatened to unravel.
They had a lifeline on the hour mark when a great carry from Morgan brought them close to the line before an Englefield pass allowed Will Trenholm to slot in down the left.
But their comeback hopes were dashed with 10 minutes remaining when Ollie Hassell-Collins became the first full-back from either team to score when Adam Radwan’s pass headed him into the corner.
However, there was still time for the visitors to take two bonus points late on as Jack Innard scored his fourth try before George Barton knocked over a last-ditch penalty.
