Bristol's highest ever attendance of 10,693 saw Gloucester stretch their lead at the top of the Zurich Premiership with England A number eight James Forrester scoring a hat-trick of tries in a convincing win.

The Shoguns made one change from the side that beat Harlequins two weeks ago with Lee Best starting at full-back in place of Jamie Williams.

But the game also saw the return to Memorial Stadium of Gloucester coach Dean Ryan, who spent four years at Bristol.

The game marked the 100th league appearance for Gloucester lock Mark Cornwell, who made his league debut against Bristol in 1995.

England prop Trevor Woodman was also making his first start since injuring his neck during the autumn internationals.

The visitors opened the scoring after just four minutes which started from their line-out on the Bristol 10 metre line.

Forrester took the ball cleanly at the middle to burst through a gap opening up in front of him to score in the corner.

Fly-half Ludovic Mercier added the conversion and the pair were on target four minutes later - but this time the move starting when the ball was recycled in midfield.

It was worked out to Boer to raced in from 30 metres with Mercier again converting from our wide.

Midway through the half Bristol got on the scoreboard with fly-half Felipe Contepomi landing two penalties in three minutes having missed a long range attempt a few minutes earlier.

But Gloucester stretched their lead further just before the half hour when centre James Simpson-Daniel gave the final pass to flanker Andy Hazell, who sprinted 30 metres down the right touchline to score despite wing Phil Christophers' tackle.

Bristol reduced the arrears before the break as Best took the ball on the half way line. He fed wing David Rees and on to Christophers who weaved his way to the line through a slack defence to score.

Contepomi added the extra two points but it was the visitors who led 19-13 at the interval.

Gloucester started the second half in the same way they did the first with Forrester completing his hat-trick with a try in the corner for a try-scoring bonus point.

Mercier converted then 10 minutes later Bristol captain Garath Archer and Gloucester counterpart Jake Boer were sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes cooling off by international referee Steve Lander for fighting.

With Contepomi having missed another penalty attempt, replacement centre Shane Drahm took over the kicking duties. He missed his first attempt before finding his mark on the hour.

Mercier added Gloucester's fifth try as he intercepted a pass from Shoguns' scrum half Agustin Pichot and then sprinted 30 metres to the line before adding the conversion.

Wing Marcel Garvey then fended off a couple of tackles to reach for the line - but Mercier missed the conversion.

Bristol were back down to 14 men when flanker Matt Salter became the third player to spend time in the sin bin - this time for stamping.

Drahm scored a late try for the home side but they were still too far adrift for even a losing bonus point.

Teams:

Bristol: Best, Rees, Higgins, Gibson, Christophers, Contepomi, Pichot, Sheridan, Nelson, Crompton, Archer, A. Brown, Salter, Lipman, Beattie.

Not Used: Johnstone, Rowland, Oakley, S. Morgan, Richards, Williams, Drahm.

Tries: Christophers, Drahm.

Cons: Contepomi.

Pens: Contepomi 2, Drahm.

Gloucester: Delport, Garvey, Simpson-Daniel, Paul, Beim, Mercier, Gomarsall, Woodman, Azam, Deacon, Eustace, Cornwell, Boer, Hazell, Forrester.

Not Used: Stuart-Smith, Amor, Catling, Fortey, Molloy, Paramore, Pearce.

Tries: Forrester 3, Hazell, Mercier, Garvey.

Cons: Mercier 4.

Att: 10,693

Ref: Steve Lander (RFU).