Gloucester got it right in the end but made hard work of this Heineken Cup
Pool Two victory.
Gloucester should have claimed three tries early on but missed them all and
took a long time to get the measure of Viadana, leading only 19-6 at half-time.
The Italians' lively open play and tough tackling seemed to upset Gloucester's
rhythm and home skipper Phil Vickery, watching the first-half problems from the
substitutes' bench, came on to pep up his side at half-time.
Vickery's presence had considerable effect. Declining a kickable penalty, he
ordered a kick to the corner, and Junior Paramore forced his way over for a
try.
Even then Viadana showed real spirit and with full-back Casper Steym in superb
form they pulled back 10 points with an interception try, a conversion and a
penalty from the South African.
Thereafter Gloucester turned on the pressure in style to score six more tries
in the final 25 minutes.
Among the more notable of them was one for England winger James Simpson-Daniel
who came on the 55th minute to make his first appearance after two months out
with glandular fever.
His sheer pace took him straight through the Italian defence after a great
break by Ludovic Mercier.
Another Gloucester replacement, centre Robert Todd, claimed two of
Gloucester's tries even though he was on the field for only about 15 minutes.
Paramore also got a second touchdown and another substitute, new recruit Chris
Collins, scored Gloucester's 10th and final try after a bustling break by
Vickery.
Hooker Olivier Azam also got a try during Gloucester's improved second-half
show.
During their indifferent first half, Gloucester were given a helping hand by
Viadana, who had scrum-half Paul Roux yellow-carded for an off-the-ball tackle.
Gloucester had started well enough with a Marcel Garvey try followed by two
more from James Forrester and Tom Beim before they eased off.
The excellent Steym kicked two first half penalties for Viadana.
Teams:
Gloucester: Delport, Garvey, Fanolua, Paul,
Beim, Mercier,
Gomarsall, Roncero, Azam, Deacon, Eustace, Cornwell, Forrester,
Hazell, Paramore.
Replacements: Stuart-Smith, Simpson-Daniel, Todd, Collins, Vickery,
Buxton, Pearce.
Tries: Garvey, Forrester, Beim, Paramore 2, Azam,
Simpson-Daniel, Todd 2, Collins.
Cons: Mercier 7.
Viadana: Steyn, Accorsi, Frasca, Crane,
Rivaro, Pickering,
Roux, Savi, Jimenez, Lidgard, Bezzi, Gumiero, Phillips,
A. Persico, Vigna.
Replacements: De Bellis, Vezzali, Buhrmann, Bettati, Aio,
Ceppolino, Dolcetto.
Tries: Steyn.
Cons: Steyn.
Pens: Steyn 3.
Att: 8,271
Ref: Franck Maciello (France).
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