(c) Martin Bennett / Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester Rugby ground out a 24-7 win over London Irish at Kingsholm Stadium in the Gallagher Premiership.
What happened?
It wasn’t easy. London Irish made it hard and ensured the Cherry and Whites were working hard up until the final whistle.
Ruan Ackermann opened the scoring for the Cherry and Whites and the No.8 put in another MOTM performance. It was our driving maul which set up the score with the big backrower muscling his way over the line.
Lloyd Evans was accurate with the boot and nailed the conversion to add the extra points.
It was a tight first half and the Gloucester Rugby defence had to work hard to stop the relentless Irish attack.
The Cherry and Whites just couldn’t make it click and a Charlie Chapman break, which ended being held up over the line, summed up much of the opening 40 minutes.
Leading 7-0 at the break, we were in a good position and an Ollie Thorley try furthered our lead. Kyle Moyle floated a perfect pass out to the winger who was in space and had pace to burn to go over the line.
Eventually, our defence burst, and it was Olly Cracknell who sniped over to get London Irish on the scoreboard. Paddy Jackson added the conversion to make it a seven-point score.
The tight and scrappy nature of the game continued and replacement fly-half Adam Hastings settled some nerves when he slotted a penalty to extend our lead.
However, it was a late try from man of the moment Ackermann which confirmed the win.
The No.8 refused to be brought down and got over for his second try of the game to secure the victory for the Cherry and Whites.
Key moment – Ruan Ackermann
The No.8 must really like the taste of Stowford Press cider as he keeps winning the MOTM awards!
It was another great performance for the backrower who is consistent week in week out.
What’s next?
Gloucester Rugby are back in action next Saturday with an away trip to Sandy Park to face Exeter Chiefs.
Join us tomorrow at Kingsholm for our back to back games as Gloucester-Hartpury play Exeter Chiefs and our U18 side host Saracens. Get your tickets here.
What a result!
Hastings nails the conversion.
Ruan Ackermann gets over for his second! Another MOTM performance from the No.8.
Another penalty.
Come on boys. Hastings goes to touch and we have the lineout deep in the Irish half.
Hastings slots the penalty.
We call for the tee. This should settle some nerves.
That's been judged perfectly. Irish kick it out but we had a hand on it so they have a lineout 5m from their own line.
Lloyd Evans is off, on comes Hastings.
We build with some good attack and Meehan kicks it down the field. Irish exit so we have the lineout.
Matias Alemanno leaves the field for Andrew Davidson.
Socino knocks it on as he's going for the try line.
YES. Not rolling away after a great turnover from Ruan Ackermann. We have the lineout in their 22.
Ben Meehan is on for Charlie Chapman.
London Irish holding on at the breakdown. We have a chance to exit.
On our 22m line... Come on boys.
Jamal Ford-Robinson is on for Fraser Balmain.
It's not really clicking for us at the moment.
5m lineout.
Socino and Seabrook are on. Singleton and Kveseladze are off.
Jackson adds the extras.
Olly Cracknell snipes over from short range for London Irish.
They go again...
Irish win the penalty and Jackson goes to the corner. They have the lineout in our 22.
Evans adds the extras.
TRY TIME FOR OLLIE THORLEY! That was lovely. The space opened up and Moyle out the winger in the gap to go over and score.
A good effort at the scrum. Lloyd goes to touch and we have the lineout 15m out.
We start the half well but it's London Irish who have the ball. We spill it forward so the visitors have the put in to the scrum.
Harry Elrington is on for Val Rapava-Ruskin.
Lloyd Evans kicks us off.
We have a narrow lead at the break.
Holding on at the breakdown. Irish have the lineout. We win the ball and Carreras kicks it out to end the half.
He makes a darting break and gets over the line but he's held up and can't put the ball down.
A good kick from Kveseladze. We have the ball in the the Irish half!
They run the length of the field but our scramble defence does enough to stop the attack. Irish spill the ball forward.
Good work lads. Evans goes to touch and we will have the lineout in the Irish half.
We are blown at the breakdown. Jackson goes to touch again and Irish have the lineout deep in our half.
We get the maul going in our own half.
Holding on at the breakdown. Jackson goes to touch. Irish have the lineout.
A good effort but the Irish defence is too strong.
We bring the maul down. Irish have the put in.
We were taken in the air. We go again.
We're less than 10m out.
London Irish straight off their feet. We have the penalty on the halfway line. Lloyd goes to touch.
But we then spill the ball forward. Irish have the scrum on halfway.
Solid attack from Gloucester Rugby.
And now we have the penalty! Great shift at the scrum.
The Shed enjoyed that! We have the scrum.
Obstruction from Ollie Thorley.
Evans slots the conversion!
TRY! Ruan Ackermann muscles his way over the line. A great shift from the driving maul.
5m out. The maul gets going and we get the penalty advantage. The attack dies so we go again at the lineout.
Yes! They are marched back a further 10m for back chat. They were holding on at the breakdown.
Followed by an excellent box kick. Irish are pinned back.
Great defence again. We will have the scrum in our 22.
We take the man without the ball. Irish have another opportunity in our 22.
Irish get over the line but we hold it up. Goal line drop out for Gloucester Rugby.
No arms tackle. Jackson goes to touch. Another 15m lineout for Irish.
Evans fires it down field.
Irish coming at us thick and fast but the boys hold out. They pressure Irish into knocking the ball on. We have the scrum on our 5m line.
Great Cherry and White defence. But we come back for a tackle off the ball. Jackson goes to touch. Irish lineout 15m out.
Paddy Jackson gets us underway here at Kingsholm.
Here we go!!
Good evening and welcome to Kingsholm. We host London Irish this evening. 7:45pm kick off. Stay tuned for updates.