Gloucester storm back
By Mark Townsend
Last Updated: 28/07/24 7:53pm
Gloucester came from 10 points behind at the break to claim their second win of the season.
Gloucester came from 10 points behind at the break to claim their second win of the season, running out 31-21 winners against Harlequins at The Twickenham Stoop.
The hosts had gone into the interval looking set for their first win since promotion last season but the Cherry and Whites hit back with three second-half tries from Peter Richards, replacement hooker Olivier Azam and number eight James Forrester (pictured).
Former Otago Highlanders fly-half Willie Walker chipped in with 16 points after converting two of the three tries as well as landing four penalties.
Quins, who lost their opening-day fixture 20-19 to London Irish, conceded an early penalty after encroaching offside but then former New Zealand fly-half Andrew Mehrtens atoned for an earlier miss with two three-pointers in three minutes.
Moments later Dean Richards' side went further ahead when prop Ceri Jones scored his second try in a week after a good break by Steve So'oialo and Andre Vos fed the ball inside to Nicolas Spanghero who sent Jones in to crash over and Mehrtens made it 13-3.
The lead remained 10 as Walker and Mehrtens traded penalties but the second half was an all-together different story.
The visitors came out flying and flanker Andy Hazell was only denied by a brilliant tackle by right wing Simon Keogh and they closed the gap to seven when Walker knocked over his third penalty.
Richards was at the heart of most of Gloucester's good work and was rewarded for his enterprising play with a try on 46 minutes.
The scrum-half held off three defenders and raced home from 45 metres for a brilliant individual score and Walker levelled the scores with the extras.
A fourth penalty gave Dean Ryan's men the lead again and, two minutes later, Azam crashed over in the corner after picking the ball up from the breakdown.
And the game was settled after 66 minutes when Forrester seized on more poor defending to cross down the blindside after Gloucester had turned the scrum and Walker stretched the lead with his fifth successful kick.
Keogh gave the home fans something to cheer about with a try on 74 minutes but it was too little, too late and Quins now travel to Wasps on Sunday looking for their first Premiership success.
