Gloucester Rugby moved into the Gallagher Premiership play-off places after claiming a thrilling 38-31 bonus-point victory over Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm on Saturday.

The Tigers, humiliated by Champions Cup opponents Toulouse through an 80-12 defeat in France six days ago, played their part during a game of nine tries and countless attacking opportunities. But they were undone by a rampant third-quarter performance that saw the Cherry and Whites score 21 unanswered points.

Santi Carreras collected 18 points, including a try, while there were also touchdowns for scrum-half Tomos Williams, centre Chris Harris, hooker Seb Blake and flanker Jack Clement as Gloucester triumphed in the Slater Cup.

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Leicester were in charge until the hosts' spectacular recovery, forging a healthy lead through tries from debutant wing Adam Radwan, full-back Mike Brown, centre Izaia Perese and lock Harry Wells, with fly-half Handre Pollard kicking four conversions and a penalty. But they struggled to cope when Gloucester found another gear, showcasing a box-office attacking game that has become their trademark this season and has increasingly seen them become one of the most dangerous sides in the Premiership.

Gloucester started brightly, with both wings Christian Wade and Max Llewellyn given opportunities to test Leicester’s defence as the home side put their trademark pace and width on possession. But Leicester opened the scoring through a ninth-minute try that had its origins in a powerful lineout drive, before Perese ran onto a flat, zipped pass from former England scrum-half Ben Youngs that tempted Chris Harris out of the defensive line and allowed the Australia to cut through and touch down, with Pollard converting.

The Cherry and Whites were not flustered, though, and they hit back just four minutes later when Llewellyn made a decisive midfield run following a defensive splitting offload from Seb Atkinson, and he found his fellow Wales international Williams in support for an unopposed dash to the line. Carreras’ conversion levelled things up, yet Leicester regained the lead midway through an entertaining first half as a rock-solid scrum provided firm attacking foundations and Pollard’s pass sent Brown over for Tigers’ second try.

Pollard converted, then Gloucester had a try disallowed by New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe – he takes charge of England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland next weekend – when Carreras was ruled offside after Wade went over in the corner. But the full-back got it right 11 minutes before the interval, diving over for his team’s second score after sustained pressure orchestrated by Williams, and Carreras’ successful touchline conversion made it 14-14.

Gloucester were unable to capitalise on territorial dominance that saw force them a number of penalties, and Leicester punished them when Brown intercepted a pass from Gareth Anscombe inside his own 22, before finding a supporting Radwan, who marked his Leicester introduction by scoring from his first touch having made a surprise midseason switch from Newcastle Falcons earlier this week. Pollard converted, and there was still time for Carreras to land a 35-metre penalty as Tigers took a 21-17 lead into the break.

Leicester secured a bonus point just three minutes into the second period when Wells touched down from close range. Pollard kicked his fourth conversion, and Gloucester faced a double-figures points deficit for the first time. The thrills and spills continued at pace, and Gloucester were back within striking distance midway through the third quarter after Williams sent Clement over for a try that Carreras converted.

And Gloucester were not finished, capitalising on Leicester’s disorganised state to conjure a brilliant team try for Harris to dot down on his 100th game for the club. The no look scoring pass from lock Cam Jordan will be talked about for years to come from those who witnessed it. Again converted by Carreras – and Tigers trailed by three.

Gloucester were on a roll, and after Perese was sin-binned – his fourth yellow card of the season – for a high challenge on Wade, Blake claimed his team’s fifth try. The home side had gone into overdrive, and there was little Leicester could do to stop them, although Pollard’s late penalty ensured Tigers left the West Country with two bonus points.

Gloucester Rugby: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Max Llewellyn, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams; 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Kirill Gotovtsev, 4 Freddie Thomas, 5 Cam Jordan, 6 Jack Clement, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 8 Ruan Ackermann

Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Caolan Englefield, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Josh Hathaway

Leicester Tigers: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 3 Dan Cole, 4 Cameron Henderson, 5 Harry Wells, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Olly Cracknell

Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Cronin, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Come Joussain, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Joseph Woodward, 23 Ben Volavola

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe

Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe and John Meredith

TMO: Andrew Jackson