Conditions were testing at a rainy Kingsholm, but Gloucester Rugby made light of them as they ran in four tries on their way to a comprehensive 29-6 Heineken Champions Cup win over Montpellier on Saturday.
It wasn’t easy, it was a victory that had to be worked for as Montpellier, in the first half in particular, brought real line speed in defence and genuine physicality. It took the Cherry and Whites a while to find a way to break them down, but persistence paid off.
In fact, the visitors took a 20th minute lead courtesy of a Frans Steyn penalty, but a burst of speed from Louis-Rees Zammit and a well-timed offload to Willi Heinz saw the skipper go under the posts and get Gloucester Rugby off and running.
7-3 at half time, but the Cherry and Whites have been a second-half team in recent weeks and it proved to be the case once again.
Ollie Thorley brought the stadium to its feet with a 90 metre break from the restart, Billy Twelvetrees adding a penalty as Montpellier killed the ball.
Gloucester Rugby now had real self-belief, and no little skill, Jason Woodward showing incredible hands to palm the ball on to Louis Rees-Zammit who had the pace to slide in at the corner for the second try after a spell of pressure in the Montpellier 22.
Darmon narrowed the gap to 15-6 with a 56th minute penalty, but Gloucester Rugby didn’t waste any time extending the lead as Ben Morgan forced his way over the line under a pile of bodies, Twelvetrees adding the conversion.
Montpellier’s Paul Willemse was yellow carded for sacking a maul as the visitors’ discipline started to slip and, in his absence, Todd Gleave touched down after a well-executed catch and drive, richly deserved after a fine performance from the hooker.
The win keeps the Cherry and Whites in the hunt for a place in the quarter-finals as they travel to Toulouse next Sunday with their hopes very much alive.
That's the game! What a result for Gloucester Rugby who are still very much in contention for a place in the knock out stages.
Williams kicks to touch and the Cherry and Whites will have a 5m lineout.
They dominate the scrum!
Williams clears the ball and the Cherry and Whites have possession on the halfway line.
Montpellier knock the ball on and the Cherry and Whites have the scrum in their own 22. They'll look to win the ball and exit from their half.
Willemse has just come on after his yellow card but the French side have played tactically without him, looking to kick the ball as much as possible.
What will they be able to do now they are back up to 15 men?
A few injuries to Montpellier and players getting some treatment. We will restart play with a scrum to the French side.
Yes Billy!
Twelvetrees extends Gloucester Rugby's lead.
With Montpellier a man down, Gloucester Rugby drove the maul from the lineout over the line. Todd Gleave threw the ball in and collected to get over for the try.
About time...
Repeated penalties at the maul. What else can you expect?
This is getting silly. It's getting close to yellow card territory.
Williams goes to touch again and once more the Cherry and Whites will look to drive it over from 5m out.
Montpellier put in a late tackle.
Williams finds touch and Gloucester Rugby will have a 5m lineout.
Twelvetrees adds the extras with the help from Ludlow who ensured the ball wouldn't fall off the tee.
TRY! Ben Morgan wrestles his way over the try line from short range.
The Cherry and Whites are breaking down Montpellier and making ground in their 22.
They are playing wirth penalty advantage!
Montpellier slot a penalty...
It's all to play for.
Unlucky! It hit the post. It's very windy here at Kingsholm.
Louis Rees-Zammit has done it again!
Gloucester Rugby won the ball at the lineout and fling it out wide. Woodward taps it to the winger who goes over!
What a talent.
Gloucester Rugby are awarded another penalty. Williams kicks the ball to touch, giving his side the lineout 5m out.
Big opportunity to score.
The Cherry and Whites are awarded a penalty on the halfway line and Williams boots the ball deep into the Montpellier 22.
Come on Glaws!
Montpellier are awarded a penalty and clear the ball to the halfway line. They win the lineout but the Gloucester Rugby defence is strong.
Gleave puts the ball into the lineout on the 22 and Gloucester Rugby have the ball in the French 22.
However, the ball goes forward and Montpellier will ahve the scrum.
Williams puts in a kick which finds space and bounces into Ben Morgan's hands. The Cherry and Whites continue to break down the Montpellier defence and are awarded a penalty after the French side fail to roll away.
Brilliant start for the Cherry and Whites!
Thorley's run has really put Gloucester Rugby on the front foot. Montpellier are penalised and Twelvress calls for the tee.
Montpellier kick-off. Thorley takes the ball and runs all the way to the Montpellier 22!!! What a start!
Gloucester Rugby are ahead at the break and it's set to be a cracker second half.
Gloucester rugby break through the defence.
Lewis Ludlow comes flying in to take the ball at pace but the ball goes forward.
Montpellier knock the ball on so the Cherry and Whites have the put into the scrum.
They win a freekick and get the ball moving wide quickly.
The French side have the lineout bang on halfway.
Twelvetrees slots the conversion.
Louis Rees-Zammit breaks through the Montpellier defence and offloads the ball over his head to Willi Heinz who goes over to score!
Come on Glaws!!!
Both sides take it in turns to kick the ball to each other. It's very wet and windy here this evening.
Gloucester Rugby win the scrum and are looking to escape their own half.
They clear the ball past the halfway line and will have the lineout.
Williams collects the ball and make metres in the midfield. Woodward sprints onto the ball and it comes back the other way.
Gloucester Rugby get the ball out quickly but it's Ruan Ackermann who is out wide and the ball is dropped forward.
Some promising play from the Cherry and Whites.
Gloucester Rugby's Woodward and Rees-Zammit link well and force Montpellier to knock the ball into touch. They have the lineout.
Papava Ruskin will be happy with that one! Big tackle from the prop.
Gloucester Rugby are attacking well but are struggling to break down the Montpellier defence.
It's getting tense.
Handbags at the most but it got Kingsholm vocal!
The Cherry and Whites will have a lineout just inside the Montpellier half.
Gloucester Rugby looking string in attack but give away a penalty. Steyn slots the kick from 45 metres out.
That's a big kick...
Montpellier win their lineout but Gloucester Rugby turn the ball over and Willi Heinz puts in a beautiful kick.
THe ball trickles out deep in Montpellier's half.
Gloucester Rugby are offside in the middle of the pitch giving Murphy no choice but to penalize the home side.
That's a bit silly.
Gloucester Rugby let the ball go loose and Woodward has to sprint back to pick the ball up on his own 5m line.
Montpellier come piling in at the ruck and give away a penalty.
THe pressure has been relieved.
Phew.
Montpellier take their time to clear the ball but don't get it very far.
THe Cherry and Whites win their lineout and are attacking well.
Cipriani is off.
On comes Owen Williams.
Cipriani is down...
Gloucester Rugby aren't going anywhere in attack so clear the ball down the field. An ambitious offload from Rapava Ruskin goes wrong. Montpellier will ahve the scrum.
Montpellier win the penalty and any pressure Gloucester Rugby had built was lost.
The French team win their lineout but the Cherry and Whites have turned it over!
Gloucester Rugby attacking so well. Cipriani threaded the ball through the defender's arms and the ball ended up in Woodward's hands.
The chasers couldn't get the ball but Gloucester Rugby really put the pressure on from 5m out.
Montpellier win the lineout but knock the ball on in attack.
Gloucester Rugby will have the scrum inside the Montpellier half.
Pass it out to Rees-Zammit???
Montpellier turn the ball over...
It's their turn to attack.
Montpellier win the ball at the scrum and retain possession well.
However, they go to box kick the ball away but Ludlow charged it down.
An infringement at the next breakdown led to a Gloucester Rugby penalty which they kick to touch.
They have the ball just inside the Montpellier half.
Louis Rees-Zammit collected the kick and broke through the defensive line but his offload went forward.
Exciting play so far!
Montpellier have the scrum.
Gloucester Rugby's defence leads to Montpellier kicking the ball out in their own half. However, the French side have stolen the ball at the lineout and boot it down the pitch.
Danny Cipriani kicks us off deep into the Montpellier half.
Here come the teams!
Come on Glaws.
Less than an hour to go until kick-off!
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