Gloucester Rugby scored six tries to win the West Country Derby against Bath 40-20 at the Rec.
What happened?
Gloucester Rugby secured the try scoring bonus point before half time and it was the driving maul that proved to be successful for the Cherry and Whites once again.
Bath opened the scoring through an Orlando Bailey penalty but Gloucester Rugby were first to get a try when they were awarded a penalty try as the hosts brought the driving maul down illegally.
Another Bailey penalty kept the Blue, Black and Whites in the game but it wasn’t long until Chris Harris got over for his first of two tries after Ben Meehan drew the last defender to put the centre in space.
Jack Singleton then cashed in after the maul drove over again and before half time Harris collected a chip through from Rees-Zammit to score his second and our fourth, bonus point try, just before the break.
Leading 26-6 at half time, Bath were still in the game and put up plenty of resistance in the second half.
Building well, Bath had the scrum just 5m from the Gloucester Rugby line. Winning the penalty, Ben Spencer took the quick tap option and snuck over the line to score Bath’s first try.
But there was no stopping that Cherry and White driving maul. Fraser Balmain was the next player to get over, and scoring our 5th try of the afternoon, all but confirmed our victory.
Kyle Moyle put the final nail in the coffin with a late score after Ollie Thorley collected Adam Hasting’s cross field kick and then passed to the fullback who dived over to score.
Bath went out on their shield and it was a late try from Ollie Fox, with the clock in the red, that softened the score line for the hosts.
"It's unreal! There's a great buzz around @gloucesterrugby at the moment."
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 26, 2021
Confidence is most certainly growing for Jordy Reid and the Cherry and Whites after a record win at The Rec 🍒#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/VZhlmcSNCD
Key Moment – Chris Harris
Chris Harris scored two great tries for the Cherry and Whites but it was his second score that really stood out. Mark Atkinson chipped the ball through and Louis Rees-Zammit volleyed it on for Chris Harris to chase down and score.
What’s next?
Gloucester Rugby are back in action on Sunday 2 January when we host Harlequins at Kingsholm. Get your tickets here!
A West Country Derby win for Gloucester Rugby!
Bailey adds the extras.
Ollie Fox gets over for Bath at the death.
Hastings adds the extras.
Moylerrr!! A great try as Adam Hastings put in the cross-field kick and Thorley collected, and passed inside to Moyle who scores!
Mark Atkinson and Freddie Clarke are off. On come Billy Twelvetrees and Andrew Davidson.
We have the lineout on their 22.
Moyle and Clement on. Evans and Ackermann are off.
Hastings adds the extras.
Fraser Balmain gets the spoils from the maul! He's over for our 5th try!
Bath side entry so we win the penalty. We go to the corner. Let's get this maul going again!
Great effort from the scrum half. He's put the pressure on Bath with a great chip through.
Cordwell and Rae are on.
Jamal Ford-Robinson is on for Val Rapava-Ruskin.
Bath were building nicely but they spill the ball as they build pressure.
High tackle. Bath have the penalty on halfway and Bailey goes to touch.
Charlie Chapman and Santiago Socino are on for Ben Meehan and Jack Singleton.
Gloucester Rugby penalty! That's relieved a lot of pressure! We have the lineout on halfway.
5m from our line.
Fraser Balmain is on for Kirill Gotovtsev.
Bailey adds the extras.
Bath win the penalty at the scrum and Ben Spencer goes quickly, darting over the line for Bath's first try.
Great defence from the Cherry and Whites. Bath have the scrum though 7m out.
5m out.
We collapsed at the scrum. Bath have the penalty and go to touch for the lineout.
On halfway. Come on Glaws!
Holding on from Bath so we win the penalty.
There was nobody back there. We put them back in their 22.
Adam Hastings gets us underway for the second half.
Bath chip the ball though but it goes to touch. That ends the first half.
Hastings adds the extras.
He's scored it! A great score! Rees-Zammit nudged the ball through and Harris collected it to score our bonus point try!
Rees-Zammit kicked the ball through. Harris collected by the TMO is just checking it.
Game of kick tennis. We gain territory.
Hastings adds the conversion.
Jack Singleton crashes over off the back of the driving maul. What maul is a weapon.
Their two yellow cards are over.
Bath holding on at the breakdown. We clear the ball to touch and have the lineout inside the Bath half.
YES! Chris Harris gets over the line!
Ollie Thorley collects the high ball, offloads to Ruan Ackermann who passes to Ben Meehan who then draws the man and puts Harris through. What a try!
Bailey slots the kick.
But Bath win the penalty.
Lewis Boyce is yellow carded for the penalty try.
Penalty try so conversion is already added.
Penalty try! Our maul goes over and we get the full 7!
On their 22.
Tom Ellis is yellow carded. Multiple infringements and synical play.
We get over the line but our maul is held up. Goal line drop out to Bath.
That maul is lethal. Bath are forced to bring it down illegally. We go again!
A great chop tackle by Lewis Ludlow gives Kirill enough time to clamp onto the ball. We go for touch and have the lineout inside their 22.
They can't get the ball out clean. They spill the ball and we have the scrum.
They make touch and the maul gets going. They progress into our 22.
We were camped on their 5m line but our pass out wide was intercepted. Bath steal the ball and hoof it down the field.
Off their feet. Hastings goes to the corner and we have the lineout just outside their 22. Come on boys.
Nahum Merigan is on in his place.
A break in play here as a Bath player is down injured. We will restart play with a Cherry and White scrum.
A great inside line by Lloyd Evans and Hastings puts the ball on his inside and the fullback flies through. He's then brought down by Rokoduguni.
We win the penalty and Bath are then marched 10m down the field again for backchat. Hastings calls for the tee.
Bailey slots the penalty.
A good start for the Blue, Black and White. We hold strong in defence but the hosts win a penalty as we are deemed not to have rolled away.
Here we go! Orlando Bailey gets us underway here at the Rec.
Just a few minutes until we get underway! The West Country Derby is special.
Jonny May (calf) and Santiago Carreras (illness) are ruled out, so Ollie Thorley starts on the wing with Kyle Moyle coming onto the bench.
For Bath, Josh McNally and Juan Schoeman are out due to illness. Mike Williams switches to second row with Ewan Richards coming in at openside flanker.
Arthur Cordwell takes the 17 shirt on the bench.
Good afternoon and welcome to the Rec! We're all set for the West Country Derby so stay tuned for live updates.