Garvey applies Glos finish

ANGLO-WELSH encounters were always keenly contested matches before the advent of modern day league competitions. This Heineken Cup clash at Cardiff Arms Park, lived up to the competitive tradition in a feisty hard fought encounter that saw Gloucester come away with the spoils in a spicy game which showed little festive spirit but although never reaching any great heights, was compelling to watch.
Last week the Cherry and Whites were stretched by injuries—this week they were made to suffer by having two players yellow carded but still did enough to win to beat a very limited Cardiff side and keep alive their European aspirations.
For once by way of a change, there was good news at kick-off for the visitors with the boost that Duncan McRae was back in the Gloucester line-up for the first game since receiving that horrific injury against Ulster at the end of October and once he had settled, his solid general play and composure underlined the gulf of difference between experience at Premiership level and ‘A XV’ rugby and really made that telling difference.
The first quarter was a scrappy affair for Gloucester and the home side built an early lead through two penalties from Lee Thomas. James Forrester was sin-binned for killing the ball but Gloucester despite being a man short, hit back with an inspired piece of play from Marcel Garvey at just the right time. Marcel’s pace and strength were too much for his opposite number Craig Morgan who was brushed aside and the over-rated Rhys Williams left for dead, as the winger scored in the corner. Henry Paul put Gloucester in front as he atoned for two earlier missed kicks with a fine conversion from the touchline for a 7-6 advantage at the break, as Cardiff failed to score and make the extra man pay.
As soon as Forrester returned Gloucester extended their lead with a well executed period of play from H.P.whose lomg pass set up by an excellent McRae chip kick ahead for Jon Goodridge to get the try, converted by H.P. to take the score to 14-6.
Alex Brown joined the fray after his six weeks on the sidelines with injury and the influence of Cardiff’s Robert Sidoli was countered but the forward exchanges were fierce and fractious with the home side frustrated by their inability to string together any constructive moves in the face of Gloucester’s cover tackling. Heineken 'Man of the Match' Adam Balding turned in another strong performance at the breakdown as the penalties began to flow.
Irish referee Alan Lewis made some perplexing decisions and although Thomas kicked a penalty for the Welshmen, Henry Paul added three more successful penalties to take the score up to 23-9 to further frustrate the home side.
Gloucester won a line-out close to the Cardiff line and Jon Goodridge slipped in for what appeared to be the killer blow try to make the game safe but the score was disallowed. A bout of fisticuffs ensued from which ex Cardiff prop Gary Powell collected his yellow card and Deinol Jones departed for the bin after another flurry of blows as the game threatened to get out of hand.
Cardiff did get a late suspect converted try through Craig Morgan but it was too little too late, as the home side paid for not being able to profit from their chances in the early stages of the game.
It made a welcome change to see smiles on the faces of the substantial number of travelling Gloucester supporters who filled the North Terrace of the Arms Park, to swell the crowd to five figures for the first time in three years, rather than the furrowed brows worried over the mounting Kingsholm injury toll of late.
Not great but a good win for Gloucester away from home. Not up to the standard of the streetwise strength of Leicester or Wasps but at least we are still in there.
Any away win is crucial, particularly in the Heineken Cup before another difficult trip to Ravenhill in the New Year.