RUGBY:Freddie Burns kicked very well – that was the difference, says Humphreys

In appalling conditions on Friday night, former Gloucester fly half Freddie Burns kicked six penalties as Leicester moved to within two points of fourth spot in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table and firmly kept alive their play-off hopes.

James Hook was equally impressive off the kicking tee for Gloucester, landing five of his six kicks at goal, but it was Burns who proved the difference.

It leaves ninth-placed Gloucester nine points away from a top half position but Humphreys says their recent habit of keeping games tight is a good one to have.

He said: "We always knew it was going to be a close game and it was going to come down to small margins.

"I think in the last few weeks we have proved that we can win those tight games. We showed that against Exeter and Saracens but we knew it was going to be a step up against Leicester in terms of the physicality and perhaps we'll look back and think how we started the second half was costly.”

The Cherry and Whites are a team high on confidence presently after a clean sweep of their European and LV= Cup games over the last month – off the back of two heart-stopping Aviva Premiership victories against Exeter Chiefs and Saracens.

And Humphreys admits his side could well have completed a Premiership double over Leicester for the first time in 11 years if not for Burns’ eagle-eyed kicking.

He added: “We didn't kick or chase as well and that's disappointing. We had a couple of really good chances in the first half to score a try – a forward pass eventually cost us.

“We knew it would come down to those small things but credit to Leicester, they held on, they did well and Freddie Burns kicked very well – that was the difference.”

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