Gloucester reclaimed second place in the Zurich Premiership after winning a
helter-skelter west country derby which produced nine tries at the Memorial
Stadium.
A second-half double from Gloucester's Samoan number eight Junior Paramore
helped the visitors overhaul a 27-18 deficit, with victory sealed by fly-half
Ludovic Mercier's two late drop goals.
Bristol, who claimed two bonus points after scoring four tries and finished
within seven points of their conquerors, still had the final say when Phil
Christophers dived over in injury time.
Argentine international Felipe Contepomi's conversion - he finished with 25
points - caused a few flutters in the Gloucester camp, but they held on to claim
maximum points.
It ended a dismal sequence on the road for Gloucester, having lost heavily at
Wasps and Northampton this month, but their defensive frailties were once again
exposed - they have now leaked 142 points in three games.
Bristol would have moved from eighth to fifth place had they won and collected
a bonus point, but it was not to be, even though they matched Gloucester stride
for stride in a match when the lead changed hands five times.
Gloucester can look ahead with confidence to their European Shield semi-final
appointment with Sale next weekend.
But while Bristol look like securing a place in the end of season Premiership
play-offs, Heineken Cup qualification now looks beyond them.
The home side were without their Australian centre Jason Little and England
lock Gareth Archer though injuries, but there was a try-scoring return for
Gloucester captain Phil Vickery in his first outing since March 9 after
suffering a stress fracture of his right foot.
After Contepomi had booted Bristol into an early lead, Gloucester grasped the
initiative on 18 minutes when their Figian flanker Koli Sewabu was driven over
from a line-out for a try that Mercier converted.
Bristol then lost fly-half Shane Drahm through injury, which caused a back
division reshuffle as Contepomi moved from centre, wing Christophers went into
midfield and Brendon Daniel appeared off the bench.
A Mercier penalty extended Gloucester's advantage, but then they were rocked
by two Bristol tries in four minutes.
Full-back Lee Best scored the first when he gathered a kind bounce to leave
Gloucester's defence flat-footed, and then Contepomi sprinted 30 metres and
opposed after he intercepted scrum half Andy Gomarsall's speculative and risky
pass.
Contepomi slotted both conversions, but Gomarsall immediately atoned for his
error when he grabbed Gloucester's second touchdown.
Further penalties from Contepomi and Mercier made it 20-18 in Bristol's favour
at half time.
When Bristol centre Jamie Williams added another try shortly after the
restart, converted by the deadly-accurate Contepomi, it looked as though
Gloucester's woes away from home would continue.
Vickery, though, struck with a well-worked try on 49 minutes and before
Bristol could recover from that score, Gloucester moved 28-27 in front courtesy
of Paramore picking up and diving over from a close-range scrum.
Bristol would not lie down and another Contepomi penalty regained pole
position, yet it was Gloucester who dug deepest through another Paramore and two
Mercier drop goals, the latter kicked from half way in the final minute of
normal time.
Christophers' touchdown at least ensured that Bristol gained maximum bonus
points from their afternoon's work.
But it was too little too late to stop Gloucester making it two wins out of
two at the Memorial Stadium this season following a Powergen Cup success before
Christmas.
Teams:
Bristol: Best, Rees, Williams, Contepomi, Christophers, Drahm, Pichot, Johnstone, McCarthy, White, Sheridan, A. Brown, Short, Lipman, Sturnham.
Replacements: Nabaro for Williams (47), Daniel for Drahm (25), Payne for Johnstone (38), Nelson for McCarthy (26),
C. Morgan for Sheridan (69), Brownrigg for Short (55).
Not Used: Blake.
Tries: Best, Contepomi, Williams, Christophers.
Cons: Contepomi 4.
Pens: Contepomi 4.
Gloucester: Catling, O'Leary, Simpson-Daniel, Fanolua, Beim, Mercier, Gomarsall, Woodman, Azam, Vickery, Pearce, Cornwell, Forrester, Sewabu, Paramore.
Replacements: Frape for Woodman (74), Fortey for Azam (65), Fidler for Cornwell (62).
Not Used: Paul, Collazo, Pucciarello, Caillet.
Tries: Sewabu, Gomarsall, Vickery, Paramore 2.
Cons: Mercier 2.
Pens: Mercier 2.
Drop Goals: Mercier 2.
Att: 7,066
Ref: Tony Speadbury (RFU).
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