Apart from taking an early 3-0 lead, little went right for the Cherry and Whites on a day when they did, to be fair, contribute a lot to their own downfall.

Starved of possession and very much on the back foot, they conceded three disappointing first half tries which very much set the home side on their way to victory.

The Tigers really don't need any encouragement of this sort, especially at home, and had an iron grip on the game by half time.

With their quick running backs largely negated by the conditions, Gloucester did dig deep in the second half but were powerless to stop Leicester clinching the try scoring bonus point and easing to victory.

It was a disappointing day at the office for Gloucester after three excellent wins and, although Bryan Redpath's side could reflect on not getting the rub of the green in terms of luck, they were second best on the day.

Thomas Waldrom was their stand out performer but the Tigers basically got the simple things right on the day and it turned out to be more than enough.

Gloucester will learn from this but, for now, it's all about regrouping ahead of the final five games of the Aviva Premiership season.

Gloucester were forced into a late change as wing Charlie Sharples failed a late fitness test on a calf injury which meant that Ollie Phillips would make his debut for the club.

Rain had been falling steadily all morning in Leicester and there was no sign of it abating as kick off approached with areas of standing water clearly visible on the pitch.

But Gloucester got off to a good start as Jonny May was taken out in the air while fielding a high ball and Freddie Burns kicked an excellent long range penalty.

The 3-0 lead was a welcome early boost but Burns was off target two minutes later when presented with another opportunity as Leicester were penalised at a ruck.

The Tigers predictably came back strongly and the Cherry and Whites conceded several penalties in succession, but the defence held out with Tom Savage putting in a couple of big early tackles.

There was a lucky escape though as Gloucester spilled a high ball and quick hands freed Thomas Waldrom but Dave Lewis put his body on the line as the big number eight was forced into touch at the corner.

Under pressure, Gloucester conceded a 5 metre scrum and then a penalty which was taken quickly by Waldrom who was stopped just short. However, Mulipola crashed over from close range to score. Flood added the conversion for a 7-3 lead.

Understandable given the conditions, the first quarter drew to a close with little seen of Gloucester's backs who were mainly limited to fielding high kicks from Toby Flood.

Gloucester then conceded a really soft score. Steve Mafi rose to claim lineout ball at the front, then simply wasn't tackled and romped home from 20 metres out. Flood was off target but the home side had a handy 12-3 lead.

The Cherry and Whites were then opened up far too easily in midfield. Waldrom made the break, Skivington took it on but the Tigers were denied by a knock on when they thought they'd added their third try. They settled for a Flood penalty and a 15-3 lead.

Still the pressure came as Gloucester looked for the sanctity of the half time whistle. Waldrom was at the hub of everything for the home side, whether punching holes in midfield or doing the hard work in the tight.

But it was Ben Youngs who did more damage, spinning out of a tackle on the 10 metre line before scampering into the 22 and just making the line. Flood added an easy conversion for a 22-3 half time lead.

The Tigers were well worthy of the lead. Gloucester had hardly touched the ball in the opening 40 minutes and been limited to defensive duties.

All three tries had come from errors - a dropped high ball, not tacking the lineout catcher and a missed tackle in midfield. The Tigers aren't a team to turn down such gifts.

And in Thomas Waldrom they had a man who was absolutely reveling in the conditions. He was doing the damage and the rest were just playing off him.

Jim Hamilton entered the fray at half time and was soon joined by Shaun Knight as Gloucester sought to fight their way back into the game but they were getting little change out of a rugged home defence.

Gloucester's fortunes were typified when Tom Voyce put an intelligent kick over the defence only to see the ball bounce bizarrely on a boggy pitch and run dead to send play all the way back into the Gloucester half.

The Cherry and Whites were battling gamely but were undone again on 58 minutes as Twelvetrees slid a kick in behind the defensive line, Jonny May slipped over and Matt Smith touched down unopposed. Flood added the extras.

Alesana Tuilagi had been quiet to this point but, for the second time this season, got in the way of a Gloucester kick through, turned defence into attack, and ran it back all the way for the fifth try.

A tough afternoon was getting tougher by the minute and Flood rubbed salt into the wound with the conversion.

Gloucester went in search of a consolation score as time started to ebb away but were denied even that small crumb of comfort as half chances were created but fumbled away through a combination of numb fingers and a slippery ball.