In-form London Irish made it four wins out of six Premiership outings after
overcoming a gallant second-half comeback by Gloucester.
The Exiles were one of the favourites for the drop this year but continue to
vie for second spot in the table with fellow underdogs Sale Sharks.
Irish fly-half Barry Everitt proved to be one of the most influential player
for the Exiles again, kicking everything that was put in front of him, and after
27 minutes he had put the hosts 12-0 in front.
London Irish extended their lead when James Cockle scored the only try of the
game.
Cockle was quick on his feet to chase down a ball that was not cleared cleanly
from a scrum on Gloucester's goal-line, and Everitt converted.
In contrast to Everitt, Gloucester fly-half Ludovic Mercier was having a first
half to forget.
The Frenchman amazingly missed five penalties which normally he would have put
away with his eyes shut.
But after the break, he and his team emerged rejuvenated and the fly-half
kicked five second-half penalties.
With just eight minutes gone, Mercier finally converted a penalty to hand
Gloucester their first points of the afternoon.
And within a further 15 minutes the former Aurillac player had brought the
visitors to within four points of London Irish.
The pressure continued to mount for the home side as they went a man down with
forward Simon Bates sin-binned with seven minutes to go.
But London Irish held onto their four-point lead and claimed victory.
London Irish:
Horak, Bishop,
Appleford, Hoadley, Sackey,
Everitt, Edwards, Hatley, Kirke, Hardwick, Strudwick, Williams,
Cockle, Danaher, Sheasby.
Replacements: Martens for Edwards (68),
Drotske for Hatley (47), Worsley for Kirke (47),
Halford for Hardwick (47), Bates for Danaher (49).
Not Used: Cunningham, Delaney.
Tries: Cockle.
Cons: Everitt.
Pens: Everitt 4.
Sin Bin: Bates (78).
Gloucester:
Catling, O'Leary, Ewens, Todd, Frape, Mercier,
Yachvili, Woodman, Azam, Collazo, Fidler, Pearce, Eustace,
Hazell, Paramore, Paramore, Pucciarello.
Replacements: Goodridge for Catling (46),
Fanolua for O'Leary (72), Fortey for Azam (40),
Pucciarello for Collazo (40), Pucciarello for Paramore (15),
Boer for Paramore (65), Paramore for Pucciarello (27).
Not Used: Gomarsall, Cornwell.
Pens: Mercier 5.
Sin Bin: Collazo (12).
Att: 5,937
Ref: Ian Rammage (Scotland).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook