(Photo credit - Martin Bennett / Gloucester Rugby)
Gloucester Rugby continued their amazing form to earn another bonus point win under the lights at Kingsholm.
What Happened?
After a rapturous welcome for Freddie Clarke on his 100th appearance, Gloucester Rugby started with intent. All players got involved early with Ben Meehan making a meaningful break after just 3 minutes, chipping the ball through, and forcing Charles Piutau to touch down over his own line.
Both teams were able to piece together some great passages of attack although handling errors let them both down which kept momentum swinging and the game deadlocked at 3-3.
However, in the final minutes of the first half, some ill-discipline crept into the Bristol team and Gloucester Rugby were awarded a penalty after Chris Harris was tackled without the ball. The was duly kicked into touch by Adam Hastings and the ever-dominant Cherry and White maul did the rest, Jack Singleton the beneficiary this time. Gloucester Rugby led 8-3 at the end of the half.
In the second half it was Bristol Rugby that came out of the blocks firing, after a change at half time which saw Semi Radradra come into the centres and former Cherry and White Henry Purdey shift to the wing and immediately score.
Although Gloucester Rugby rebuilt the pressure and scored a brilliant try when Mark Atkinson fired the ball through, and Chris Harris sprinted after it and slid over to make the score 15-10 after Hastings converted.
Gloucester Rugby applied yet more pressure to Bristol which caused more ill-discipline from the visitors allowing the Cherry and Whites to work their way to a 5m scrum. The forwards showed their dominance yet again and earned a penalty and a 5m line out. The resulting maul was as destructive as we’ve come to expect, and this time ended in a penalty try bringing the score to 22-10.
There was still enough time in the game for Bristol to become camped in Gloucester Rugby’s 22, however, after a good attack, they spilt the ball forward allowing the Cherry and Whites the chance to hold onto the ball and see out the game.
But the scoring wasn’t over! Charlie Chapman made a break from the scrum and sprinted down the wing to score and earn the bonus point with seconds to spare!
Key Moment – Chris Harris & Mark Atkinson
Chris Harris and Mark Atkinson made an immediate impact after their return from international duty to link up and score a great try to shift the momentum in Gloucester Rugby’s favour.
What’s Next?
The Cherry and Whites are off to France next week in the first round of the European Challenge Cup against Lyon.
A bonus point win over West Country rivals! Happy weekend everyone!
We've won!!!
BONUS POINT TRY! Charlie Chapman makes a break from the scrum and runs to get over for our bonus point score!
Bristol attack well but spill the ball forward. We have the put in to the scrum.
A high tackle on Jordy Reid.
Jamal Ford-Robinson is on for Kirill Gotovtsev who leaves to a full Kingsholm applause.
Bristol holding on at the breakdown! A great penalty for Lewis Ludlow. Bristol had been camping in our 22 but we now have the opportunity to exit.
5m lineout for Bristol!
Dan Thomas yellow carded for the penalty try.
Charlie Chapman is on! Ben Meehan is off.
Penalty try.
Penalty try! Bristol bring the maul down illegally. We get the 7 points!
Great shift at the scrum. We go for the 5m lineout.
Great work rate from Ollie Thorley to kick the ball through and force Bristol into touching down over their own line. We ahve the 5m scrum.
Bristol off their feet at the breakdown. Hastings goes for touch. We have the lineout deep in their half. What a kick!
Harry Elrington is on for Val Rapava-Ruskin.
The ball was out but Matias Alemanno had to then roll away. Sheedy goes for goal.
Hastings adds the extras. We take the lead again.
CHRIS HARRIS!!! The ball was fired through by Mark Atkinson and Harris had the pace to collect and slide over to score.
Semi knocks the ball on so we have the scrum. A big shift for the lads here.
Santiago Socino is on for Jack Singleton.
We make a good break but Bristol are quick over the ball and clamp on to secure the penalty.
Ben Morgan is forced off the field due to injury. On comes Jordy Reid in his place.
Bristol knock the ball on and we have the scrum. But Ben Morgan is down receiving some treatment.
Jake Kerr is on for Harry Thacker.
Sheedy adds the extras. Bristol take the lead.
Sheedy put the cross-field kick through and Henry Purdy collected it to go over to score.
We had the penalty. We now have the lineout.
Adam Hastings kicks us off for the second half!
Bristol fight back to within 5m but we turn the ball over and put it into touch to end the half.
Jack Singleton gets over from the maul to score!
The maul is brought down illegally. Bristol are given a warning but we go again.
We're in the red zone here. 5m lineout. Come on!!
Chris Harris was tackled befoire he had the ball. Hastings goes to touch.
A kicking battle commences and we come away with good territory thanks to LRZ.
Gloucester Rugby build some good phases in attack but once again Bristol secure the penalty as we are holding on at the breakdown. An easy exit for Bristol.
Bristol fail to pull of a spectacular move and knock the ball on. We have the scrum in their half.
We put together some good attack. Chris Harris makes a great break and we build some good pressure in their 22. However, Bristol win the penalty and swing the momentumn.
On the halfway line. But Bristol knock the ball on. Now we have the put in.
It bounces off the woodwork.
Bristol tackled without the ball. They get the penalty so Sheedy goes for goal.
They have the lineout in our half. But they've dummy throwed at the lineout. We have the free kick.
Sheedy slots the kick.
Our defence is strong but Bristol are awarded a penalty for poor discipline. Sheedy calls for the tee.
Sheedy puts through a good kick. We have the lineout on our 5m line.
We try and go for the intercept but Rees-Zammit just knocks the ball on as he goes for it.
Hastings gets us on the board.
Good attack forces Bristol to stop us illegally. We call for the tee and go for the points.
Great pressure from the Gloucester Rugby defence. Ben Meehan makes a break and chips it through. Piutau is forced to touch down over his line. We have the 5m scrum.
Callum Sheedy kicks us off here at Kingsholm!
Good evening and welcome to Kingsholm! We're all set for our West Country clash agaisnt Bristol!