After the second half fightback against the Glasgow Warriors, it was the second period that let Gloucester down at the Rec after they had led for most of the first half and were level 3-3 at half time.

Little was able to ease Bath clear with three penalties to give them a welcome confidence boost before late tries from Cuthbert and Banahan sealed the deal.

It was a hugely disappointing for Gloucester who were over run by a rampant Bath outfit who gained revenge for their opening day defeat and secured vital league points.

For Gloucester, it's a week of head scratching ahead of the visit of Worcester to Kingsholm next weekend.

After the freezing conditions throughout the South West over the previous week, game day dawned clear and bright in Bath. There had been a gradual thaw and the pitch looked in good condition although a light rain started to fall as kick off approached.

Gloucester made just the one change from the side that started against Glasgow Warriors the previous weekend with Greg Somerville coming into the front row in place of Paul Doran-Jones.

Bath kicked off attacking the clubhouse end and Gloucester mishandling the kick off gave the home side chance to apply some early pressure but, despite several phases of play, Gloucester held firm.

The crowd were then incensed as the opening scrummage took an age to set and eventually resulted in a Gloucester free kick although David Flatman was lucky to escape after landing a couple of punches.

Bath then pinned Gloucester back as a cunning kick through caught Tom Voyce near his own line and the winger was forced to carry over. The 5m scrum was a threat but Bath were penalised to relieve the pressure.

Gloucester moved downfield and forced a penalty at the breakdown near halfway. Robinson was confident enough to go for the posts and slotted an excellent penalty for 0-3. Nicky Little had an immediate chance to respond as Gloucester blocked from the restart but dragged his penalty attempt left of the posts.

Gloucester were then dealt an early blow as Rory Lawson, who had taken an early blow to head making a tackle on Shontayne Hape, was forced to leave the field. Dave Lewis entered the fray.

It was a real arm wrestle up front as the first quarter drew to a close and the Gloucester pack were going well with one catch and drive harshly called back for accidental offside.

Bath were struggling to get going and were being forced into some uncharacteristic mistakes behind the scrum as the Gloucester defence came up quickly to force errors. Neither side could really claim to be in the ascendant.

As the half hour approached, Bath started to string some possession together and the volume in the Rec rose accordingly but Gloucester were organised in defence to frustrate the home team.

Time ticked by and it seemed as though nothing of note was to happen as both teams hammered away at each other without success.

However, Gloucester lost their other Lawson, hooker Scott, for 10 minutes when the Scot put in a tackle on an opponent he thought was about to receive the ball but was yellow carded for an off the ball challenge.

It gave Bath some much needed encouragement and, with no time left on the countdown clock, Little kicked a penalty as Gloucester infringed at a ruck to send the sides in level at half time at 3 apiece.

Truth be told, it had been a half to forget. Neither team had really got going and referee Davey was in danger of wearing out his whistle especially with the scrums seeming to be a lottery.

There was tension aplenty and a touch of niggle which came as no surprise given the nature of Bath versus Gloucester encounters.

Both sides were capable of so much more and the neutral would have been hoping to see that potential realised in the second period with everything to play for.

Bath duly got off to the better start as Strokosch was pinged allowing Little to boot Bath downfield and then a tackler failed to roll away to give the Fijian a kick at goal which he despatched with aplomb to give Bath a 6-3 lead.

Bath then created their first gilt edged opportunity as Julian Salvi burst clear from a rolling maul with Claassens up with him but the support couldn't quite get there and a knock on followed.

Charlie Sharples showed what he's capable of with a superb hand off and break after a counter from Nicky Robinson but the move fizzled out as poor hands let Gloucester down.

Bath then camped near the Gloucester line as a Michael Stephenson kick ahead created panic in the ranks. A catch and drive was repelled as were several attacks from close range but the pressure produced a penalty which Little kicked for a 9-3 lead.

The scrums were still a mess and Bath were now beginning to get the better of the refereeing decisions as the Rec floodlights barely seemed to penetrate the gloom on the pitch.

A high tackle on Michael Claassens gave Bath another penalty opportunity on 62 minutes and Little made no mistake for 12-3.

Gloucester had an immediate chance to respond but Robinson dragged his penalty wide and were then nearly sucker punched as Salvi took a quick drop and romped downfield before a grubber kick forced a 5m attacking scrum.

The scrum took a while to set and Salvi came close but, when the ball was finally moved wide, Jack Cuthbert had the power to carry tacklers over the line with him and just make the line for 17-3.

Gloucester's backs tried in vain to chase the game and threatened briefly until Robinson's floated pass was picked off by Matt Banahan who romped home from halfway, celebrating from around the 10m line. Little converted for 24-3.

Gloucester responded in spirited fashion and carved out a chance for Alasdair Dickinson to sprint home from the 22 for Gloucester's only try but it was a case of too little, too late.