Gloucester lost their unbeaten Heineken Cup record to a late surge by
Colomiers.
After dominating most of the match, and creating a decisive try midway through
the second half, the English side succumbed to some inspired French running.
Colomiers' outside-half Laurent Marticorena accumulated 25 points but it was
his crucial try in the 78th minute which snuffed out Gloucester's last hope.
The strong wind forced players to find a way with kicks behind the opposition
defence hoping for mistakes to be made.
Colomiers were under pressure from the Gloucester scrum from the first minute
and made the most errors in the opening period.
Props Andy Deacon from Gloucester and Willy Begarie of Colomiers shaped up toe
to toe after Gloucester won a strike against the head. The two teams could only
manage a six-all draw after 40 minutes and continued to play the same
wind-ruined kicking game until midway through the second half.
Simon Mannix dutifully kicked his four penalties and Marticorena equalised.
Then a knock-on by Colomiers centre Yannick Jauzion let in Gloucester.
Winger Tom Beim ran out of his own half, feinted inside and swerved outside
Fabien Galthie and Chris Catling kept up with him for the try.
Marticorena kicked the penalty but Jauzion made amends for his earlier error
to snatch a try.
Colomiers took a quick penalty and the Colomiers centre broke the game-line to
score under the post.
Driven on by the chorus of the home crowd, Colomiers began to keep the ball in
hand at last and it was Gloucester who ran out of tacklers.
Marticorena was on the end of finger-tip passing as Gloucester were caught
behind their own 22-metre line. Marticorena sealed the victory with another
penalty in injury time.
Teams:
Colomiers: Begarie, Laurent, Meslier de Rocan, Moro, Lorenzi,
De Giusti, Manent, N'Tamack, Galthie, Marticorena, Giolitti,
Jauzion, Roque, Lhande, Sadourny.
Not Used: Algret, Delpuech, Hepher, Magendie, Peysson, Culinat,Carre.
Tries: Marticorena, Jauzion.
Cons: Marticorena.
Pens: Marticorena 6.
Gloucester: Vickery, Azam, Deacon,
Fidler, I. Jones, Ojomoh,
K. Jones, Paramore, Gomarsall, Mannix, Beim, Yates, Little,Fanolua, Catling.
Not Used: Moncrieff, Hayward, Schisano, Sanchez, Cox, Cornwell,Hazell.
Gloucester: Tries: Catling.
Cons: Mannix.
Pens: Mannix 4.
Att: 7,000
Ref: Dave Tyndall (Ireland).
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