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SO DESPITE the best efforts of the hostile elements and a competitive Treviso team to thwart Gloucester’s ambition the final score 42—11, was enough to take the home side into the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup.
The Cherry and Whites reached the last eight for the first time since 2001, when they accounted for Cardiff at Kingsholm 21-15.
This European Cup match at Kingsholm was played in very testing conditions. A strong wind of gale like proportions, backed up by rain on an already saturated heavy surface, are hardly the desired conditions for a team looking for a four try bonus point win.
CREDIBLE WET WEATHER PERFORMANCE
Gloucester defied the elements and the Italian opposition, to qualify for the next stage of the competition as one of the two best-placed runners–up, scoring six tries in a credible wet weather performance.
However they must still rue the fact that neither of the Munster matches yielded a bonus point for Gloucester, which has ultimately cost a home tie in the next round.
Treviso were no push-over but were always up against it and it became apparent that it was not if Gloucester were to win, but by what score and if they could secure a bonus point in doing so.
Indeed the visitors took an early lead when Simon Mason kicked an early penalty but Gloucester soon began to get their act together when after ten minutes Duncan MacRae set up form winger James Simpson-Daniel in mid-field and his angled run at pace did the rest. Henry Paul converted and Gloucester were on their way.
Making light of the atrocious conditions underfoot and the strong win in their faces the home side opened up with some enterprising passing and although Mason added a second penalty, the ever improving young full back Jon Goodridge added a second try for Gloucester, courtesy of James Forrester. H.P. converted and was again on target when centre Robert Todd burst through the centre to score under the posts.
BONUS TRY BY HALF TIME
Gloucester got the important fourth try before half-time when the depleted Treviso pack were penalised for collapsing a scrum and the French referee awarded a penalty try. Needless to say H.P. did the rest with the conversion and at half –time were comfortably placed at 28-6.
Strange how Munster also secured their bonus try with a penalty try.
With the wind behind Gloucester in the second half it was all over bar the shouting. It was good to see James Forrester continually going forward at pace in his first start after injury to help flanker Peter Buxton get a deserved try.
Replacement prop Rodrigo Roncero fell foul of a strange decision by referee Mr Eric Darriere but that was not enough to stop further scoring as Gloucester’s other speedy winger Marcel Garvey showed his turn of pace to step inside a handful of defenders to cross under the posts. H.P. completed a successful afternoon with his sixth conversion from six attempts
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Thereafter the game died a death and time ran out with no further scores. To their credit Treviso never gave up trying and got a score through Darren Eigner. However it was very much a damage limitation effort and they could not deny Gloucester a comprehensive victory.
DIFFICULT AWAY TIE
At last the mathematicians were let loose to ponder the ‘ifs and buts’ but the bottom line is that Gloucester will have to travel for a difficult away tie come next April. Away wins are notoriously difficult in any modern day competition and the Heineken Cup is no exception.
For now it is back to business as usual, with the Zurich Premiership next week and the task of securing European qualification for next season with the visit of Newcastle.
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Gloucester get the bonus point but still have to travel
