 TRAILING
BY TEN POINTS after a first half best forgotten, Gloucester pulled themselves
together in the second period to play some decent rugby and in doing
so cruelly exposed Harlequins to the realities of the rigours of real
rugby on their return to the Premiership, by adding twenty-five second
half points.
Willie Walker got Gloucester’s first points with a penalty after five
minutes but after that the early stages saw little rugby of real quality.
Despite confining the home side to their own territory for the first
twenty minutes, the Cherry and Whites huffed and puffed but never achieved
anything remotely like another score.
The visitors were let down in slapdash fashion by poor execution of
basic skills, lost possession, gave away far too many unnecessary penalties,
more aimless kicking and were far from convincing. Indeed there was
speculation as to whether Ludo and Jack Adams would appear early in
the second half!
‘Quins fly-half, former All Black, Andrew Mehrtens missed an early penalty
chance but atoned soon after with two successful kicks before the home
side got a well taken try. Scrum half So’oiato broke away with hardly
a Gloucester hand on him, sprinted fifty yards before the move ended
with prop forward Ceri Jones finishing off with the try.
Mehrtens supplied the extras and although Walker slotted another penalty
that was very soon cancelled out by another good effort from Mehrtens
which established a well earned lead of 16-6 for the home side as any
thoughts Gloucester fans had of a comfortable afternoon stroll for their
team were firmly dispelled.
Doubtless Dean Ryan had a few well chosen words for the Gloucester players
as in the second half Gloucester looked a different side and were able
to up the ante and build some momentum. Andy Hazell snapped up a loose
pass from Mehrtens but was stopped in the corner just short of the ‘Quins
line. Walker kept up his rich vein of place kicking with another penalty
to narrow the gap to 9-16.
The telling Gloucester score followed within a couple of minutes when
Peter Richards broke away from a scrum and through a half-hearted attempted
tackle from Mehrtens and away for a superb individual try converted
by Walker to level the scores 16-16. A further kick took the score to19-16.
Ollie Azam and Jack Forster replaced Mefin Davies and Nick Wood as the
game turned in favour of Gloucester. The pack was winning good ball
for Richards to pull the strings and he set up a break from Anthony
Allen before the heavyweights came up with the goods. Azam seized upon
a loose ball from a ruck and no one was going to stop him as he charged
over from twenty yards out.
Gloucester kept up the pressure when Richards broke on the blind-side
from a five yard scrum and James Forrester strolled over unopposed .
Walker’s conversion made the result safe for the Cherry and Whites at
16-31.
Hopes for a Gloucester bonus point were not realised as the visitors
eased up and silly mistakes re-appeared.When a re-start from Walker
went dead ‘Quins were able produce a late rally and a consolation try
from winger Simon Keogh.
No points for the home side but a second Premiership win for the Cherry
and Whites, tempered by the sight of Alex Brown being helped off with
his arm in a sling.
Even though Leicester were Wrecked at Bath, I am sure the Tigers will
be determined to avenge their mauling as soon as possible when Gloucester
visit Welford Road next week.
A match to look forward to.
T.H.
Pricey's Post Script
When Gloucester concentrated
and applied themselves to the task in hand they left 'Quins in disarray
but unfortunately the concentration span probably lasted no more than
20 minutes.
That said the defence was good and all departments performed in a workmanlike
fashion, albeit that with 10 minutes to go quite a few Gloucester players
were mentally sitting on the coach going home. That mental sojourn away
from the Twickenham Stoop resulted in desperate defence rather than
looking for the fourth try to get the extra point.
The future is looking bright with a number of players yet to to start
as they recover from injury and there is no doubt that those in Sick
Bay will add pace and flair to attack.
J.G.P 10/9/2006
Stoop
Snapshots 
| |
Penalties
- Walker 5, 35mins |
H/T
6-16 |
| Pen:
Walker 45, Try Richards 47, Con.Walker, Try Azam 60, Forrester
Try 65, Con. Walker |
31-21 |
| Scores
- 3-0, 3-3, 3-6, 3-11, 3-13, 6-13, 6-16, 9-16, 14-16, 16-16, 19-16,
24-16, 26-16, 31-16, 31-21 |
Gloucester
O.Morgan
J.Bailey, R.Keil, A.Allen, M.Foster
P.Richards rep. R.Lawson, W.Walker
N.Wood rep. J.Forster, M.Davies rep. O.Azam, C.Califano
M.Bortolami (capt), A.Brown rep. W.James
P.Buxton rep. L.Narraway, J.Forrester, A.Hazell
Referee: -Roy Maybank
Attendance - 9,474
|
