(Photo credit - Martin Bennnett / Gloucester Rugby)
Gloucester Rugby scored eight tries in their first European home fixture of the season.
What Happened?
Benetton Rugby started well with Gloucester Rugby needing to absorb a lot of pressure and defend strongly to keep the visitors out. However, when Gloucester Rugby had ball in hand, they looked threatening in attack with notable breaks from Louis Rees-Zammit and Freddie Clark, the lock broke out of a tackle before showcasing some silky footwork, but unfortunately nothing was able to stick. Benetton were able to capitalise on the Gloucester Rugby errors through the powerful boot of Rhyno Smith from beyond the halfway line.
Although, in the second 20 mins, the plans started to work with the driving maul giving Jack Singleton a try, then a brilliant chip and chase from Louis Rees-Zammit five minutes later saw Ben Meehan dot down.
A late tackle saw the Benetton captain, Michele Lamaro shown a yellow card, and Gloucester Rugby were able to capitalise immediately with Jordy Reid scoring the Cherry and White’s third of the evening.
In the latter part of the half, Benetton showed their high calibre and scored two quick fire tries, one through the pace of Rhyno Smith, and the other by Sebastian Negri powering over the line on the cusp of Half Time.
Gloucester Rugby started much stronger in the second half. Jonny May nearly scored in the corner, but the team utilised the momentum and Matias Alemanno crashed over.
May almost got his try on the second attempt, but the final pass was judged to have gone forward, but the referee went back to a previous Benetton infringement and Hastings kicked for the corner. The devastating Cherry and White maul did the rest, forcing Benetton to collapse it on the line and a Penalty try was awarded. Stephen Varney replaced Ben Meehan in the 57th minute and immediately got into the action by scoring a minute later.
It was third time lucky for Jonny May, finally getting his try in the corner from a well-timed pass from Kyle Moyle. Gloucester Rugby’s seventh of the night!
That was still more to come from the Cherry and Whites, with Jack Clement proving this was a full 23-man effort and scoring from the back of yet another successful maul and capping off yet another successful home outing and a big European win.
Key Moment – Jonny May scores in the corner
It was a long time coming for Jonny May, after he was tackled into touch on his first attempt and receiving a forward pass on his second, but he made sure he got the 5 points on his third attempt.
What’s Next?
It’s a Festive Derby next weekend, as Gloucester Rugby travel to the struggling Bath on Boxing Day in the Gallagher Premiership.
We take the bonus point win.
That's the game.
There was no foul play from Gloucester Rugby and Benetton moved twice as thy went for the line. We have the penalty.
Good work from the away side. They kick to touch and we have the lineout.
Lloyd Evans slots the conversion.
Jack Clement gets over from the maul to score for Gloucester Rugby!
Benetton had hands on the floor. Lloyd Evans goes for touch and puts us 6m out. What a kick!
Lloyd Evans adds the extras.
Chris Harris is off. On comes Giorgi Kveseladze.
At last Jonny May gets the try he's been so desperate to score today! Kyle Moyle gives him plenty of time with an early pass and the winger cuts back nicely to get over the line.
Benetton straight off their feet. We go for touch.
Andrew Davidson is on for Freddie Clarke.
Smith adds the extras.
Luca Morisi gets over for Benetton after collecting a clever chip through.
They have the 5m lineout.
Jamal Ford-Robinson and Fraser Balmain are on, off come Kirill Gotovtsev and Val Rapava-Ruskin.
Clement is on for Reid, Moyle for Hastings and Walker for Singleton.
Hastings adds the extras.
Stephen Varney gets over! What a super sub effort from the Italian international!
Yes! Benetton hold onto the ball at the breakdown so we win the penalty. We have the lineout and posession deep in their half.
Ben Meehan leaves the field for Stephen Varney.
Herbst is yellow carded for the penalty try.
Penalty try so the conversion is added.
PENALTY TRY! The TMO and referee have awarded us a penalty try.
TMO checking this after our last maul looked to have rumbled over.
It looked like Jonny May had scored again but the pass had gone forward. We go back for the penalty.
Great rumbling attack from the Cherry and Whites. The boys are working really well but the final part just fell sort as the ball spilled forward.
Hastings slots the conversion!
Matias Alemanno! What a way to start the half. Jonny May had made a great run and off the back of the momentum. Alemanno was able to crash over.
Adam Hastings kicks us off!
A very tight first half here at Kingsholm.
Sebastian Negri is deemed to have scored the try. Benetton looked threatening and had the power to get over the line.
Have Benetton scored here? It looked like Negri had got over the line from here.
Smith converts his own try.
Rhyno Smith makes a great break and gets over in the corner.
Meehan clears to touch.
Although it looked like Hastings was taken in the air.. But we are deemed to have been offside so Benetton have the penalty and go for goal from 57m out.
We have the scrum on halfway.
Hastings adds the extras.
That maul just keeps on rolling! Jordy Reid gets over and we extend our lead.
A tackle off the ball on Lloyd Evans sees Benetton captain Michele Lamaro yellow carded.
We make great ground and the forwards and carrying and offloading. It really is great rugby. Jordy Reid is carrying really well. We're just checking on some foul play now.
Adam Hastings adds the conversion.
Ben Meehan! WHAT A TRY! From a scrum in our own 22, Ben Meehan launches the attack, passing to Louis Rees-Zammit who chiops forward and the scrum half juggles the ball before getting over to score.
That was class.
What a rampaging charge from the forward! He makes significant ground using his footwork before he is put into touch.
Jack Singleton gets over for the try! What a score. That maul is a real weapon.
Hastings puts the ball 5m out. We go again.
We go back for the penalty. Hastings goes to the corner after Singleton receives some treatment.
We make a great attacking break and Lloyd Evans puts boot to ball. The ball just runs dead before Jonny May can get to it. That was close though!
A great shift at the scrum from the Cherry and Whites. We win the penalty and Hastings goes to touch.
Smith is accurate from the tee.
We make a tackle that is slightly high. They go for goal again.
We build nicely but they are super quick over the ball. They now have possession in our half.
Rhyno Smith gets Benetton on the scoreboard.
A massive 55m away.
We launch a great attack and Rees-Zammit looks threatening on the ball. But Benetton dot down over their line and take the goal line drop out quickly and we spill the ball forward giving them the scrum.
We win the penalty and Benetton are penalised at the maul. We played with the advantage but Charris couldn't quite get his hands on the ball. We have the lineout in their half.
Yes! Great defence. The Cherry and White defence holds strong and Benetton are penalised at the breakdown. Hastings goes for touch and we clear our lines.
Benetton look threatening early on and they are playing with a penalty advantage. Our defence holds strong so we go back for the penalty. They go to the croner. 5m out.
We're underway! Benetton kick us off!
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Good evening and welcome to Kingsholm! We're all set for our Round 2 Challenge Cup game against Benetton. Kick-off is 8pm so stay tuned for live updates.