Wiese and Liebenberg help Tigers see off Gloucester
PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Leicester Tigers claimed a bonus-point win in a 35-23 success against Gloucester at Welford Road on Saturday.
Tigers led 14-6 midway through the opening half when Jasper Wiese added to a score by Jack van Poortvliet, but the visitors fought back to lead by two points at the break.
Gloucester went into the weekend in fourth place in the table and with just two away defeats on their record, but scores from Hanro Liebenberg and finally Guy Porter, coupled with the kicking of Freddie Burns ensured a third.
Liebenberg was back as captain after starting on the bench in the win at Bath in Round 17, while Steve Borthwick gave a first start to Chris Ashton and recalled Nic Dolly, who was among the scorers in the away win over Gloucester in Round 2, to his matchday squad.
George Skivington, the former Tigers second-rower who is now head coach at Gloucester, included former Leicester prop Fraser Balmain in his starting front row and was able to name Mark Atkinson and Louis Rees-Zammit after their release from Six Nations squads.
In Saturday's other match, Bath recorded their first bonus-point win of the campaign in a real arm wrestle with Newcastle Falcons.
After five months out, Joe Cokanasiga scored two tries on his return with Ewan Richards and Lewis Boyce also on the trysheet in the 30-25 win.
Danny Cipriani kicked 10 points for the Blue, Black and White who head into a West Country derby with Bristol Bears full of confidence.
*On Friday, Bristol bears beat Wasps 31-19, while Harlequins left Sixways with a 29-21 win.
Sale Sharks and London Irish shared the spoils after an entertaining 27-27 draw at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Saturday's scores and scorers:
Leicester Tigers 35-23 Gloucester
The scorers:
For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: Van Poortvliet, Wiese, Liebenberg, Porter
Cons: Burns 3
Pens: Burns 3
For Gloucester:
Tries: Thorley, Elrington
Cons: Hastings 2
Pens: Hastings 3
Newcastle Falcons 25-30 Bath
The scorers:
For Newcastle:
Tries: McGuigan, Collett, Peterson
Cons: Haydon-Wood 2
Pens: Haydon-Wood 2
For Bath:
Tries: Richards, Boyce, Cokanasiga 2
Cons: Cipriani 2
Pens: Cipriani 2
Source: @LeicesterTigers & @BathRugby