Gloucester put up their worst display this season as they crumbled to a double
defeat by Wasps.
The home side started well enough in this Zurich Premiership clash, but their
game gradually disintegrated with the crucial phase coming early in the second
half when they conceded 17 points in an eight minute spell of Wasps dominance.
Gloucester had started with a series of driving runs with brought them a
second minute penalty chance. But fly-half Byron Hayward pulled the kick wide.
Early exchanges were hotly contested, with referee Robin Goodliffe handing out
a series of penalties and lectures. One of these was to Wasps captain Lawrence
Dallaglio.
He was in evidence moments later with a 40-yard solo dash which set up a
penalty which Kenny Logan put over.
Gloucester's forwards were strong in tight and loose but another Logan penalty
was followed by a superb dash from Dallaglio.
He broke from just inside his own half only to be brought down by a superb
tackle by Chris Catling five yards out.
Flanker Paul Volley was first to the loose ball and drove over for a try which
Logan failed to convert.
Gloucester were finally rewarded when another forward drive ended with a
successful penalty by Hayward just before half-time.
A trio of sinbin decisions at the start of the second half saw Dallaglio and
his back row partner Volley, as well as Hayward, going off.
Gloucester still could not make any impression and then their defence went to
pieces as Joe Worsley and then Rob Henderson went over for tries, with Logan
converting both.
Logan then added a penalty to complete the scoring.
Gloucester tightened it up towards the end, but their midfield play, handling
and ball retention were often lacking.
Wasps were tenacious in their tackling, especially in the back row where
Volley was in great form, and Dallaglio was impressive in all phases.
Zurich man of the match: Paul Volley.
Teams:
Gloucester:
Pens: Hayward.
Gloucester: Catling, Greenslade-Jones, Ewens, Little, Beim,
Hayward, Moncrieff, Woodman, Azam, Vickery, Fidler, I. Jones,
Boer, Hazell, Paramore.
Replacements: Yates for Greenslade-Jones (53),
Gomarsall for Moncrieff (51), Djoudi for Azam (66),
Deacon for Vickery (66), Pearce for Fidler (59).
Not Used: Mannix, M. Cornwell.
Sin Bin: Hayward (48).
Wasps:
Tries: Volley, Worsley, Henderson.
Cons: Logan 2.
Pens: Logan 3.
Wasps: Sampson, Roiser, Denney, Henderson, Logan, King, Wood,
Molloy, Macer, Green, Beardshaw, Shaw, Worsley, Volley,
Dallaglio.
Not Used: Bijon, Lewsey, Waters, Barratt, Birkett, Scrivener,
Le Chevalier.
Sin Bin: Dallaglio (44), Volley (48).
Att: 6,940
Ref: R Goodliffe (Sheffield (RFU)).
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