Gloucester came out the stronger in the opening moments of the game with some superb forward play and a hunger to win the game.

Terry Fanolua's try on 13 minutes, after a moment of magic from Henry Paul, took the lead, but as the second half progressed, the Bath team came back into it.

Bath came back into it with a try from flanker James Scaysbrook after Steve Borthwick won good ball at a line-out.

Chris Malone conversion, followed by a Henry Paul penalty, and three more points from Chris Malone put Bath 10-8 up before the break.

The second half didn't see any tries, but the constant switching in score lines kept the fans on their toes.

Henry Paul and Chris Malone both landed two penalties, which gave Bath a 16-14 lead.

Mefin Davies saw a yellow card for killing the ball as Bath hit the Gloucester line midway through the second period.

It looked like Gloucester's last chance had gone when Henry Paul bravely opted for the post inside his own half. The length of the kick was good, but it edged just wide.

But the day was saved for Academy fly-half Brad Davies, who had come on Henry Paul (ankle). Davies had stepped up to the replacements bench late on Friday in place of James Bailey, and slotted a lovely drop goal in the dying seconds to seal the win.

The major set-back was Phil Vickery's injury. The Gloucester captain went off in the first half with an injured arm, which was later diagnosed as a broken radius in his forearm and is expected to be out for at least six weeks.

Match Summary:

3 mins:
A dynamic and passionate Gloucester side kicked off the game with Wood, Hazell, Vickery and Fanolua all barging forward making yards. A penalty just outside the 22 went to touch, but possession was lost as Borthwick stole ball at the set-piece.

4 mins:
Gloucester spread play out wide with Paul combining with Simpson-Daniel as the young back cut inside to find space for Kiole.

6 mins:
Perry looked to have cleared the lines, but his kick which looked inch perfect, went out on the full, giving Gloucester set-piece possession on the Bath 22. The play switched to the other side of the pitch with a cross-field kick from Henry Paul.

8 mins:
Bath's usually reliable line-out was being disrupted by Alex Brown, who stole possession. Henry Paul kicked ahead and Joe Maddock fumbled it.

10 mins:
Gloucester had a superb chance from a poor pass from scrum-half Walshe that went straight through the backline from a scrum, and bobbled inside the try area, but Perry was first to and cleared.

13 mins:
Gloucester hit the try line in superb style when Henry Paul twirled out of a tackle on half way after Eustace had done well from a set-piece. Paul sliced the visitor's defence open and Simpson-Daniel, then Kiole was in support. Fanolua edged into the 22 on the Tonga's shoulder and barged the Bath tacklers to one side to hit the try line in the corner. Paul's touchline conversion was just wide.

(5-0 to Glos)

21 mins:
Vickery was struggling with an arm injury that he picked up at a ruck and received plenty of treatment, and after plenty of strapping he soldiered on.

23 mins:
Gloucester continued to dominate possession and territory, but the occasional pass went to ground preventing Gloucester from making the final breakthrough.

27 mins:
Hazell got Gloucester out of trouble as Bath stole line-out ball for a one-off attack, and the open-side was awesome on the ground winning back the initiative and earning his side a penalty.

28 mins:
Vickery was finally replaced by Terry Sigley.

30 mins:
Geraint Lewis found space as Bath opted for the short side from a ruck on half way and broke 30 metres. Marcel Garvey saved the day and sprinted back for a try saving tackle to force a knock-on.

31 mins:
Bath started to get back into the game as Perry countered from a Henry Paul kick with Ryan Davis and Tom Cheeseman in support. Yet again, Hazell came good getting in where it hurts. But Bath kept at it and continued to hold on to possession in the Gloucester 22, before winning a penalty. They went to touch inside the Gloucester 22. Borthwick won possession and Scaysbrook took it on from the drive and touched down. Malone converted.

(7-5 to Bath)

Gloucester had a penalty straight from the re-start as Balding took on the Bath pack. Henry Paul converted the three points.

(8-7 to Glos)

40 mins (and injury time)
Bath had another chance to take the lead from a penalty in front of the posts and Malone grabbed it.

(10-8 to Bath)

Gloucester had a superb chance to get the lead back as they won turn-over ball, but Simpson-Daniel's pass to Garvey wasn't good and the momentum was lost.

Half time: Gloucester 8 Bath 10

Second half:

41 mins:
Simpson-Daniel showed some skill early on in space with Goodridge in support, moving play up to the Bath 22.

44 mins:
Gloucester dominated again early on. Simpson-Daniel and Fanolua combined well in midfield. Gomarsall recycled for Forrester and Garvey to make metres on the short side, before Bath were penalised and Paul slotted the three points.

(11-10 to Glos)

48 mins:
A Malone drop goal went wide.

50 mins:
Bath had another penalty attempt 10 metres into the Gloucester half and opted for the posts and added three points.

(13-11 to Bath)

54 mins:
Henry Paul chose the posts when offered a penalty just inside the Bath half, but it went just wide.

60 mins:
Both sides weren't making the most of their possession and the game was stop and go. Referee Pearson then called Scaysbrook over for a chat and awarded a penalty to Gloucester just outside the Bath 22.

Paul went to touch, Brown won line-out ball and the pack drove forward. The ball came out from Gomarsall and Bath were caught offside.

63 mins:
Henry Paul took the three points and put Gloucester back in the lead.

(14-13 to Glos)

65 mins:
Bath hit back from the re-start and Bath took the initiative with Davies and Perry exchanging passes before Malone cut inside and he was held-up. But Mefin Davies saw a yellow card for killing the ball as Bath were on the front foot.

Malone slotted the three points.

(16-14 to Bath)

Bath again stormed into Gloucester but Duncan Bell knocked on at the crucial moment.

71 mins:
Bath again had another opportunity but they lost the ball so close to the line from a driving line-out.

Buxton replaced Eustace.

75 mins:
The game stepped up a level as Henry Paul was struggling with an arm injury, but opted for the posts inside his own half for a penalty, but a huge kick went just wide.

78 mins:
An injured Henry Paul came off for Brad Davies.

80 mins (and injury time)
Andy Gomarsall took a brave and well judged kick from his own half from a penalty and the forwards edged it close from the set-piece.

The ball came out to the backs and referee Pearson gave Gloucester a penalty, but played advantage. With the referee's arm still up, Brad Davies looked up, after sitting back in the pocket, and slotted a perfect drop goal to seal the win.