Down to 14 players just before half-time when winger Diego Albanese was sent
off, Gloucester produced a devastating second-half display to win in style.
After the interval Quins never had a look in as Gloucester rattled in 19
points without reply.
The intensity of their forward play was simply too much for the visitors.
Gloucester knew they had to keep it tight to deny the dangerous Quins backs
the chance to break out and they did so superbly with the pack giving its best
display of the season.
Persistent pressure paid off and some equally superb kicking from their French
star Ludovic Mercier ensured victory.
Mercier did not have the best of starts by his standards, missing a drop goal
and two penalties in the first half, but making two conversions.
In the second half he landed three penalties, a drop goal and a conversion.
One of his penalties was from the halfway line and his drop goal was from
almost the same distance.
Gloucester had started in style, getting a penalty try when Quins' winger Dan
Luger deliberately knocked on.
Quins hit back quickly when Mark Mapletoft made a midfield break and Will
Greenwood went over. Mapletoft converted, but that was the end of the Harlequins
scoring.
Argentinian winger Albanese produced a superb solo dash to reclaim
Gloucester's lead, but just before half-time an innocuous incident ended with
him being sent off for head-butting Mapletoft.
Gloucester seemed aggrieved about the severity of referee John Barnard's
decision and played the second half as though they had a point to prove as they
kept Quins out of the game.
Teams
Gloucester: Catling, O'Leary, Ewens, Todd, Albanese, Mercier,
Yachvili, Vickery, Azam, Collazo, Fidler, Pearce, Eustace,
Hazell, Boer.
Replacements: Goodridge for Catling (69), Fortey for Azam (64),
Pucciarello for Collazo (71), Forrester for Eustace (74),
Paramore for Boer (68).
Not Used: Gomarsall, Stoica.
Sent Off: Albanese (37).
Tries: Albanese, Paramore.
Cons: Mercier 3.
Pens: Mercier 3.
Drop Goals: Mercier.
Harlequins: O'Neill, Moore, Greenwood,
Greenstock, Luger,
Mapletoft, Bemand, Leonard, Fuga, Olver, Morgan, White-Cooper,
Sanderson, Tamarua, Diprose.
Replacements: Dawson for Greenwood (66),
Burrows for Mapletoft (73), Roddam for Fuga (73),
Burke for Olver (65), Codling for White-Cooper (66),
Winters for Sanderson (66).
Not Used: M. Powell.
Tries: Greenwood.
Cons: Mapletoft.
Att: 8,500
Ref: John Barnard (RFU).
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