GLOUCESTER may have started the new Zurich Premiership season with two welcome wins but there was little in their performance, that was either convincing or encouraging, over a typical disruptive, spoiling London Irish side.

The first ten minutes would appear to be the Achilles heel for the Cherry and Whites. Last week at Leeds, Gloucester conceded five penalties in the opening ten minutes-this week at Kingsholm, they conceded ten points in the first ten minutes. Next week at Northampton, who knows?

Off the field the new stand was impressive but on the field it was a different matter. In an error strewn encounter Gloucester’s inconsistent play showed only occasional glimpses of what the side is capable of and was frustrating for the fans and probably the players and coaching staff as well.

After encouraging signs at Leeds, Adam Balding twice spilled the ball in the line out, the fumbles lost possession and thereafter he struggled.

An early Everitt penalty gave the Irish a lead which they added to with a well worked try as a well weighted cross-field kick from the fly-half found Australian winger Scott Staniforth on hand to seize the ball in mid-air from Marcel Garvey’s clutches and he set up sevens specialist Geoff Appleford to score virtually unopposed for the opening  try. Everitt duly converted and Irish had an almost instant lead of ten points as a momentarily stunned biggest ever Premiership league crowd at Kingsholm looked on.

HEAVY DOWNPOUR

Next came a period of ferocity. Not from the Cherry and Whites but from a heavy downpour as the heavens opened. Not surprisingly it was slip and slide from the players thereafter and more handling mistakes than ever but the home side worked their way back into Irish territory and the game. A typical classic catch and drive ended up with French hooker Ollie Azam being driven over in the corner.

However another Everitt penalty increased the visitor’s lead back to 13-5.

Gloucester’s line-out play did not provide security or confidence against the opposition’s interference and there seemed an element of good fortune when James Forrester gathered the ball at the tail to find Jake Boer on hand to claim the score. Henry Paul converted from wide out to take the score to take the score to 12-13 .

Gloucester’s Tony Sigley and Rob Hardwick of Irish were binned just before the break for a bout of handbags. Forrester had injured his ankle and he also left the field.

The skies cleared as Gloucester came more into the game and Irish were bogged down in their own half for much of the second half. Although Paul did kick two penalties but the hosts could not make ground and possession count as replacement Mark Mapletoft narrowed the gap by kicking a penalty for Irish, to take the score to 18-16.

Two replacements late in the game proved to the most telling for Gloucester, as an inspired Chris Fortey broke away from the front of a line-out to take the ball up to the 22. The ball was worked right before James Simpson-Daniel joined the line to send out a long scoring pass to another replacement Andy Hazell who crashed over in the corner as the home side finished with something of a belated flourish.

Henry Paul had time to miss a penalty but at least Gloucester were home- but far from dry.

A better start to the season than last year but far from convincing Even allowing for the poor conditions, too much possession was lost and too much ball poorly kicked away. Against an Irish side which confused the line-out and exploited the off-side to their maximum advantage, it was not a game that the pack or half-backs will regard as being amongst their better showings.

Top of the table Premiership pace setters Northampton are next on the fixture list and Gloucester need a real big effort to avoid being turned over in Franklin’s Gardens.

Referee - D.Pearson
Attendance 11,265

LAST SEASONS' REPORT
Gloucester 28 London Irish 13 - Saturday 17 April 2004