Leicester lead at half-time

Gloucester were the better side in the first-half of their Powergen Cup semi-final against Leicester, but the Tigers are 6-3 up at half-time.

The Cherry and Whites backs stretched Leicester and their back row took the game to the Tigers.

But Gloucester had only a 26th minute Ludovic Mercier penalty to show for their possession.

Tim Stimpson put Leicester ahead with a penalty after five minutes and gave them the lead again in the 42nd minute.

Martin Johnson overcame a midweek hamstring scare to lead the Tigers out. Gloucester lost both first-choice centres - Terry Fanolua to injury and Robert Todd (suspended) - so James Simpson-Daniel and Henry Paul featured in midfield together for the first time.

Leicester made the early running, and went ahead through a Stimpson penalty when Mercier high-tackled Ollie Smith.

Paul was a midfield menace and it took some superb defensive work from Smith before Leicester could snuff out a dangerous 17th-minute Gloucester attack.

Cherry & Whites lock Rob Fidler left the action with an injury as a frantic opening quarter reached its conclusion - Adam Eustace replaced him - but there was no let-up in terms of Gloucester pressure.

Leicester were showing signs of cracking, and Josh Kronfeld remarkably avoided a yellow card after blatantly killing a Gloucester ball 15 metres out. Mercier landed the resulting penalty.

Mercier missed a 32nd-minute penalty chance to edge Gloucester ahead after referee Steve Lander spotted a stamp by Jamie Hamilton on Simpson-Daniel.

Stimpson was narrowly wide with a monster 60-metre penalty strike in first-half injury time. He found the target from 38 metres just a minute later and Leicester trooped off at half-time, 6-3 ahead.