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A WIN IS A WIN but although the Cherry and Whites did manage to record another victory over local rivals Worcester, it was tinged with a sense of frustration and disappointment as the home side made hard work of what turned out to be a scrappy encounter.
Following on from a feast of tries at Headingley and a try bonus-point win at Watford, this was at times a slipshod performance, rather than the scintillating running rugby that was expected in some quarters.
Gloucester did make it three out of three, to stop at the top of the current Guinness Premiership table with another win but did not impress in a hard fought battle and were let down by a catalogue of basic errors. Some were enforced errors but all too many were from the poor execution of basic skills — knock-ons, dropped passes, sloppy ball retention, missed first-up tackles and poor kicking.
Gloucester’s pack stuttered throughout, unable to completely dominate the Worcester eight in the scrums, line-outs or the loose exchanges. Consequently the lively looking Gloucester backs were denied good quality quick ball for long periods.
Worcester may have parted company with John Brain but their brand of rugby under their new coach Welshman Mike Ruddock is only a variation on the same limited theme. They still present the challenge of a strong driving pack and the cynical ability to spoil at the slightest opportunity, plus the off the ball offences and obstruction which are their hallmark, linked to a committed and dogged competitive spirit.
Gloucester’s Ryan Lamb was off-target with two kicks at goal before he got off the mark with the first points of the match after half an hour. He added another successful kick to give the home side a six point lead at the end of a scrappy first half.
Lamb had mixed fortunes with his boot but added an early second-half penalty when he was taken out chasing his own kick ahead but his general play was good enough to cause the visitors some problems.
However the game was enlivened when a Worcester handling movement broke down and quick as a flash the loose ball was seized by James Simpson-Daniel. He was off down the touch-line turning Rasmussen and Delport inside out with a moment of genuine class and brilliance to cross under the posts with Lamb converting.
Worcester mounted pressure on the Gloucester and for a time the home defence held firm against a series of forward drives before replacement heavyweight Gavin Quinnell forced his way over for a try converted by Shane Drahm. 18-7.
Worcester were back in the game but not for long as a great catch and drive move from Gloucester finished up with Ollie Azam under a pile of bodies to claim the try.
The home side had the edge and when Ryan Lamb elected to take a drop goal in the final ten minutes it put the match beyond the reach of the Worcester side.
Few could hear the Kingsholm P.A. system but I am sure that referee David Rose could hear the non-stop chat from Pat Sanderson and was doubtless relieved of earache when he yellow carded Worcester for his too frequent killing of the ball.
The visitors were under pressure in the final minutes and when Lamb chipped behind the opponents defence, (not his best kick), the bounce eluded Gloucester old boy Marcel Garvey but not Mike Tindall who dived on the ball to complete a welcome return to the side after his lengthy injury.
World Cup players will soon be back in contention for their places and new–look Kingsholm may soon have a new –look side.
Lets hope its stronger than the seating in the new C & G stand !
Not the greatest of games but at least it was another win but Gloucester will need to be a lot smarter at Welford Road next week.
T.H. 30/9/2007