In atrocious conditions at Kingsholm, Gloucester brought London Irish's seven
match unbeaten run to an end in emphatic style.
Kiwi fly-half Simon Mannix, returning from a four week injury lay-off,
contributed 16 of Gloucester's points in this Zurich Premiership encounter.
Mannix landed six of his eight shots at goal to claim four penalties and two
conversions.
It was a miserable afternoon for Irish whose only scores were a penalty in
each half from Jarrod Cunningham.
And the match ended with a major blow for Irish as skipper Conor O'Shea was
badly injured in the final tackle of the game.
Referee Geraint Aston-Jones brought the game to a premature close as O'Shea
was stretchered off, being given oxygen, with an injury which turned out to be a
dislocated right ankle.
Irish had kicked off and started strongly but Gloucester were in the lead from
the fifth minute when Mannix landed a simple penalty.
Home skipper Kingsley Jones pounced for an 11th minute try when Irish had a
line-out close to their own line.
Hooker Dinos Alexopoulous threw too long and Jones was waiting to snaffle the
ball and go over during a torrential downpour. Mannix added the conversion.
Irish got on the scoreboard in the 24th minute with Cunningham's penalty after
an offside offence by flanker Jake Boer.
Almost immediately Mannix hit back with two more penalties and, in the 35th
minute, winger Tom Beim ran in unopposed for a try from more than 30 metres.
Mannix converted to give Gloucester a 23-3 interval lead.
The second half was stalemate with the only further scores being a penalty
apiece for Mannix and Cunningham, although late in the game it looked as if Beim
was through for another try.
He kicked ahead twice and won the race to the touchdown but the score was
disallowed and the referee brought play back to the centre for a scrum.
Gloucester:
Tries: K. Jones, Beim.
Cons: Mannix 2.
Pens: Mannix 4.
Team: Catling, Ewens, Little, Yates, Beim, Mannix,
Moncrieff, Woodman, Azam, Deacon, Fidler, I. Jones, Boer,
K. Jones, Paramore.
Replacements: Schisano for Yates (72), Hayward for Mannix (72),
Gomarsall for Moncrieff (50), Sanchez for Woodman (59),
Djoudi for Deacon (68), Pearce for Fidler (63),
Gregoire-Mazzocco for K. Jones (52).
London Irish:
Pens: Cunningham 2.
Team: London Irish: O'Shea, Ezulike, Matson, Wright, Bishop,
Cunningham, Tonu'u, Hatley, Alexopoulous, Hardwick, Delaney,
Williams, Halvey, Allen, Bates.
Replacements: Ashforth for Cunningham (62),
Halford for Hardwick (57), Danaher for Delaney (13).
Not Used: Campbell, Fahrensohn, Worsley, Sheasby.
Sin Bin: Hatley (48).
Att: 5,618
Ref: G Ashton-Jones (RFU).
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