Gloucester moved to within one place of a guaranteed Heineken Cup spot with a
narrow victory over London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.
Barry Everitt was the man who kept the home side ticking over with 12
first-half points but there was not even a hint of a try from the team who have
scored fewer Zurich Premiership touchdowns this season (23) than anyone else.
Gloucester's Marcel Garvey did go over in the 20th minute as Gloucester,
having lost possession in an earlier attacking 22-metre lineout, were given a
second chance when London Irish were equally careless in the midfield.
Garvey pounced on an easy take and blasted his way through the midfield and
despite full-back Delon Armitage's best efforts to drag him down, the Gloucester
wing crossed.
Referee Ashley Rowden consulted the television official for confirmation
before awarding the score and Brad Davies added the conversion to give the
Cherry and Whites a 10-9 lead.
Everitt put the Exiles ahead at the break with his fourth penalty but the lead
changed hands again after the restart when Davies' kick made it 13-12.
Gloucester then lost influential flanker Andy Hazell when the forward appeared
to be knocked out following a heavy clash with Scott Staniforth.
Hazell was stretchered off the field, leaving London Irish with the
opportunity to go five points clear with two penalties.
However, Everitt had run out of luck with the boot and missed both to give
Gloucester victory and leave Irish in 10th, just above relegation candidates
Worcester and Leeds.
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