Gloucester lift Premiership Rugby Cup with comeback victory over Leicester

Gloucester lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup for the first time with a 23-13 comeback victory over Leicester at Kingsholm.

Leicester led 6-0 through two penalties from World Cup winner Handre Pollard but indiscipline would cost the Tigers dear.

Former Gloucester hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas was yellow carded for slowing the ball down on the deck and Lloyd Evans’ kick cut the deficit to three on the stroke of half-time.

Leicester were reduced to 13 when Mike Brown was sent to the sin-bin soon after the restart and Gloucester capitalised with two tries in three minutes from Seb Atkinson and Cameron Jordan.

George Barton, who was back on the field after a first-half HIA, converted both tries and added two penalties as Gloucester galloped to a 23-6 lead.

The Cherry and Whites were themselves a man short in the closing stages after Jordan was sent to the sin bin as he attempted to keep some late Tigers pressure at bay.

But Hanro Liebenberg’s try – converted by Pollard – was nothing more than a consolation for Leicester as Gloucester ended a nine-year wait for silverware.