Exeter

Pricey's Pitchside Piece
There have been times this season when you would have wished for the fog to descend to improve the image of the rugby performed by Gloucester, most recently at Leeds on New Years Day. Last night at Kingsholm the fog was already in place but thankfully it lifted within minutes of the game starting. Whether that was divine intervention including a Gloucester try after 38 seconds we shall never know but a magical spell was cast for the first half, especially as Gloucester played some dazzling rugby to have well and truly killed the game off by half time. The passing and handling was top class and the tackling and covering was also at it’s best. Gloucester played as a team and with precision to score 5 tries before the break.

The second half brought about a response from Agen and although they had increased the work rate and sorted a try they could not keep Gloucester down for long. Another three Gloucester tries before a curtain of fog descended on Kingsholm to see out the match. The final score line of 60 – 7 was a realistic representation of proceedings which saw Tom Voyce make his best performance in a Gloucester shirt. Rory Lawson looked sharp and Henry Trinder had a good game albeit it took the TV Match Official to get him out of gaol after he had spurned the men outside to go it alone. Has the TMO ruled that he was in touch he may have well found his clothes floating in the bath when he returned to the dressing room.

Final words must go to the referee. Indecisive in awarding tries without TMO help he needed no assistance in issuing yellow cards for the slightest offence. It seemed to do the trick however with players worried that even an accidental offside might see them in the bin. No one should ever mix it with a ref from north of the border.

J.G.P -21/01/2011

One could say a little bit late with a result like this, but nothing should be taken away from the performance and passion but into this display of flowing rugby by the Cherry & Whites. In addition praise must be given to Agen for their contribution to a game which was a dead rubber in terms of qualification.
On a bitterly cold and foggy night Glos went about securing a win right from the off, then added the bonus point in due course. The so-called 8,000+ gate more likely 4,500, who braved the elements saw a game of free flowing rugby. 41-0 up at half-time would the fans see 3 figures appear on the score board, Agen had different ideas and for 20 minutes of the second half threw the ball around and threaten to score on several occasions, but then Glos got hold of the game and ran out winners 60 - 7.
A great night's rugby, which if previous encounters had gone in Glos favour would have meant so much more, let's hope the players and coaching staff take the conviction shown tonight forward into the LV Cup games and then the Avia Premiership.

Mike - 23/01/2011

Gloucester
Olly Morgan;
James Simpson-Daniel,Henry Trinder, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Tom Voyce;
Freddie Burns, Rory Lawson;
Nick Wood, Scott Lawson, Paul Doran-Jones;
Will James, Alex Brown;
Peter Buxton, Akapusi Qera, Luke Narraway

Replacements:

Olivier Azam, Yann Thomas, Pierre Capdevielle, Alasdair Strokosch, Andy Hazell
Dave Lewis, Tim Taylor,

Try: Burns (2), Trinder (2), Simpson-Daniel (2), Morgan, Narraway, Voyce
Con: Burns (5), Taylor (2)
Pen: Burns (2)

Referee - Andy McPherson - Scotland

Attendance - 8,504

GLOUCESTER Matches - Glossary