(Photo credit - Martin Bennett)
Gloucester Rugby’s home run was ended by the reigning champions in a close encounter in front of a sell-out crowd at Kingsholm.
What Happened?
The first half was tense and incredibly engaging with Gloucester Rugby coming out firing with a hugely dominant scrum and of course, that maul. There were many passages of strong attacking play from Gloucester Rugby, but nothing quite working out. Harlequins were able to reduce the threat of the maul and there were some inaccuracies from the Cherry and Whites. However, Harlequins were leaking penalties which helped Adam Hastings break the deadlock with a penalty kick after 21 mins.
This started a strong period of attack from Gloucester Rugby, a sublime piece of team interplay saw the Cherry and Whites run the length of the pitch, starting with a break from Lloyd Evans before Louis Rees Zammit made good ground and offloaded to Chris Harris, unfortunately Val Rapava-Ruskin dropped the ball on the line, but the play resulted in a yellow card for Quins and we went back for a previous penalty.
A very intelligent move at the line out allowed Ruan Ackermann to score on his 100th match for Gloucester Rugby and Adam Hastings added the extras to make the score 10-0.
However, the reigning champions proved their credentials with a converted try from Luke Northmore and a penalty kick making the scores level, although Northmore was shown yellow for a deliberate knock on in the final minute of the half, giving Gloucester Rugby the advantage after the break.
Harlequins started very strongly in the second half, building pressure against the Cherry and Whites and had a try disallowed after a forward pass. Ill-discipline crept into the Gloucester Rugby game, overtaking the Harlequins penalty count.
The defence held strong against a series of Harlequins attacks, but ultimately couldn’t stop a Danny Care snipe on the try line. Marcus smith added the extras and also extended the lead minutes later after yet more Gloucester Rugby ill-discipline.
Gloucester Rugby closed the gap after replacement Santiago Socino scored of the back of the dominant driving maul and Lloyd Evans converted, but there was too much for the Cherry and Whites to do and Harlequins took the victory 17-20.
Key Moment – Ruan Ackermann
Ruan Ackermann played like a man possessed in his 100th appearance for the club, scoring a try in the first half, making the most metres and the most tackles out of anyone else in Cherry and White.
What’s Next?
It’s a trip to Saracens next for Gloucester Rugby in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.
Full time here at Kingsholm. A close finish against last year's champions.
Quins tap and kick to touch ending the game.
Evans adds the extras.
TRY! That maul gets moving!! The backs join in and Santiago Socino gets over the line.
No clear release. Evans goes to the corner... Come on Glaws!
Smith passes the ball to touch. We have the lineout inside out own half as Danny Care is replaced by Gjaltema.
A move between Chapman and Ludlow doesn't pay off. Quins get the ball and clear to touch.
We come back for the scrum. Some massive carries from Ruan Ackermann.
Moyle was taken in the air. We have another penalty. A great kick from Evans makes us great ground. We have the lineout.
Huw Jones is on for Northmore.
We win the penalty and clear to the middle of our half. Let's go boys.
Balmain, Alemanno and Twelvetrees are off. On come Gotovtsev, Davidson and Seabrook.
Smith's kick is good.
Smith lines up the shot at goal.
Jack Clement is on for Jordy Reid.
Smith adds the extras.
Danny Care gets the ball out of the maul and breaks on the outside to score.
But Ruan Ackermann hasn't used his arms in the tackle... Quins have the penalty.
Have Quins scored?
Just inside our half.
His penalty kick hits the woodwork.
Adam Hastings is off, Kyle Moyle is on. Lloyd Evans will shift to fly-half.
Great play from the Cherry and Whites. But Quins win the penalty and will have another opportunity.
They win the pen at the scrum. To the corner they go...
We knock the ball on.
They have the lineout just outside our 22.
Santiago Socino and Charlie Chapman are on. Jack Singleton and Ben Meehan are off.
A lineout for us 5m out from our line.
The away side are attacking well but the Cherry and White defence is holding strong at the moment. They spill the ball forward so we have the scrum.
We were in at the side at the maul. Quins go to the corner...
But the pass through to Lloyd Evans ends with the ball going to touch. Quins have the lineout.
There was a forward pass so we have the scrum deep in our 22.
Has Esterhuizen scored?
They have the lineout 10m out.
Jamal Ford-Robinson is on for Val Rapava-Ruskin.
Adam Hastings kicks us off and we are underway for the second half.
Danny Care tries a chip through but Lloyd Evans collects and kicks to touch to end the half.
Lineout on our 22m line.
Northmore is yellow carded for the deliberate knock on.
Deliberate knock on from Harlequins. The TMO is checking it.
Smith slots the conversion to level the score.
Luke Northmore makes a break and gets over for the visiting side. Ben Meehan had too much work to do by himself to stop him.
The referee says Hastings was held. Smith goes to touch. Quins lineout in our half as Tom Lawday returns from his yellow card.
Smith gets Quins on the board.
Leg on the ball. Smith goes to the posts.
They have the lineout on our 22.
He was well offside from the kick! Smith didn't put anyone onside! We win the penalty and have a lineout on the Quins 22.
Hastings adds the extras.
RUAN ACKERMANN gets over on his 100th game!!! A clever move at the lineout from the Cherry and Whites.
Yellow card to Quins Tom Lawday.
That was a length of the field break. It started with Lloyd Evans who was under pressure on our 5m line. Rees-Zammit was passed the ball and made good ground, offloading to Chris Harris. There was a knock on at the final part as Val knocked it on.
Hastings gets us on the scoreboard.
Quins not rolling away.
But the pass back to Ben Meehan isn't clean. Quins get the ball and clear to touch.
An error from the scrumhalf at the lineout. We have the scrum on our 10m line.
A sloppy error at the lineout sees Quins take the ball.
Matt Symons enters the maul early and is penalised. Hastings goes to the corner...
Another great shift at the scrum sees us win a penalty. Hastings goes to touch so we have the lineout on the Quins 22.
Smith flings a pass out wide but it's gone forward. We have the scrum just inside our own half.
Great work there from Evans to make the tackle. Marcus Smith looks threatening with his grubbers through.
A great step from Lloyd Evans. But Quins have the put in at the scrum. Think there must have been a forward pass.
We try the maul but it gets put to touch. Quins have a turn to throw in now.
Good progression up the field but Harlequins hold it up so they have the put in at the scrum.
Quins exit so we have the lineout close to halfway.
That was a perfectly timed tackle on Tyrone Green. Quins spill the ball to touch so we have the lineout.
However, Quins have turned it over.
A big push at the scrum! We win the penalty and the Compeed Shed comes alive! Hastings goes to touch so we have the lineout on halfway.
Marcus Smith kicks us off here at Kingsholm.
His 100th appearance.
Happy New Year and welcome to Kingsholm Stadium as we host Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership. Kick off is at 3pm so stay tuned for live updates!