Sport

Andy comes good as Tigers catch Gloucester at death

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP SEMI-FINAL: Gloucester 25 Leicester 26:  REIGNING champions Leicester reached their fourth successive Premiership…

Mon May 19 2008 - 01:00

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP SEMI-FINAL: Gloucester 25 Leicester 26: REIGNING champions Leicester reached their fourth successive Premiership final after recording a stunning last-gasp victory against Gloucester.

Outhalf Andy Goode's injury-time drop-goal clinched a dramatic semi-final success after full-back Willie Walker had inched the home side ahead at Kingsholm.

Gloucester suffered a late setback when England centre Mike Tindall suffered a recurrence of ankle trouble during the warm-up. He was replaced at outside centre by James Simpson-Daniel, with Iain Balshaw moving to the wing and Walker lining up at fullback.

Leicester replaced injured wing Johne Murphy with Samoa international Alesana Tuilagi.

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Lamb opened Gloucester's account with a fifth-minute penalty, but Goode landed an equalising strike six minutes later, before Lamb's second successful kick edged Gloucester 6-3 ahead.

Lamb hit a third penalty after number eight Jordan Crane was sin-binned for killing possession.

Leicester were reduced to 13 when scrumhalf Harry Ellis saw yellow for deliberate offside. Yet another Tigers infringement allowed Lamb to make it 12-3.

Goode found his range from 45 metres early in the second period, then Gloucester were rocked by a Tuilagi try that Goode converted.

Gloucester were under escalating pressure, despite Simpson-Daniel's scorching try. Mauger profited from poor work by Lamb and Balshaw, pouncing in the shadow of Gloucester's posts. Goode converted and then struck a penalty that edged Tigers ahead for the first time.

Walker dropped his goal, but Goode matched him at the death.

GLOUCESTER: Walker; Balshaw, Simpson-Daniel, Allen, Vainikolo; Lamb, Lawson; Wood, Titterrell, Nieto; Bortolami, Brown; Strokosch, Qera, Delve. Replacements: Azam for Titterrell (54), James for Bortolami (64), Narraway for Delve (48).

LEICESTER: G Murphy; Varndell, Hipkiss, Mauger, Tuilagi; Goode, Ellis; Stankovich, Davies, White; Wentzel, Kay; Corry, Herring, Crane. Replacements: Vesty for G Murphy (26 mins); Ayerza for Stankovich, Croft for Herring (both 54 mins); Chuter for Davies (60 mins). Sinbinned: Crane (26), Ellis (35).

Referee: D Pearson(Newcastle).