Gloucester banish Exiles
Gloucester chalked up their seventh straight win of 2011 with a commanding 23-9 victory over London Irish at Kingsholm.
By Simon Dilger
Last Updated: 18/02/11 11:38pm
Gloucester chalked up their seventh straight win of 2011 with a commanding 23-9 victory over London Irish at Kingsholm.
Tries from Luke Narraway and Akapusi Qera made the difference between the sides but the match was more notable for a solid performance right across the board by the West Country outfit.
The win means Gloucester move past Northampton into third place in the Aviva Premiership table.
And with the Cherry and Whites growing in strength and confidence with every game, Bryan Redpath's men look likely to prove a real handul for Saints when they visit Franklin's Gardens next weekend.
Long-distance penalty
Nicky Robinson opened the home side's account with a fine long-distance penalty in the 10th minute after Irish were penalised for not rolling away.
But Chris Malone had squared things up within four minutes with a straightforward penalty at the other end.
A searing break soon after by Robinson took Gloucester deep inside the visitors' 22 and the hosts began to drive towards the Exiles' line through several phases.
The points came via the boot though, Robinson nudging his side back in front with another penalty when Irish were caught offside under the sticks.
Gloucester were begining to boss things by now and they continued to pile on the pressure with a great drive from a midfield line-out that pushed them back into Irish territory.
Lawson made good ground up the middle after peeling off the back of the maul and some fine ball carrying work by the forwards took the home team right up to the visitor's line.
The Londoners' tried to mount a frantic defence, but Narraway found the hole and burrowed his way over for the try before Robinson added the extras to make it 13-3 after 24 minutes.
Exiles prop Clarke Dermody was then sent to the sin bin for killing the ball and Robinson stretched the lead to 16-3 from the resulting penalty.
Dermody re-entered the fray with just two minutes to go to the break, seconds after Gloucester were pinged for not rolling away.
And with winger Tom Homer firing home the penalty, London Irish went into half-time with a only a ten-point deficit to overturn.
Ferocious
Malone closed the gap to 16-9 soon after the restart with a well-struck penalty from wide on the left. giving his side real hope they could complete the comeback.
Goulcester's reply was swift, though, a fabulous break by Tom Voyce sending the visitors' defence scampering back before some great handling found Morgan on the touchline.
The full-back raced up the left before delivering the ball back inside to replacement back row Qera, who thundered in for the try.
Robinson added the extras to make it 23-9, but he was unable to improve his side's position any further when he missed a penalty on 58 minutes.
The Exiles enjoyed the lion's share of possession through the final quarter and they continued to pressure their hoists as they pushed for the try.
But try as they might they could not find a way through a ferocious Gloucester defence and the visitors returned to the capital without having managed a try.
