Gloucester edge past Bristol in Prem Rugby Cup
George Barton kicked eleven of Gloucester's sixteen points, as they defeated local rivals Bristol Bears
- Published
Prem Rugby Cup
Bristol (8) 8
Tries: Lane Pens: Worsley
Gloucester (7) 16
Tries: Austin Cons: Barton Pens: Barton(3)
Gloucester strengthened their position at the top of Pool A, with a well-deserved 16-8 win over local rivals Bristol Bears in the Prem Rugby Cup .
Following a scrappy opening in wet conditions, the visitors struck first, as Mike Austin dived over after Bristol were driven back onto their own line.
Bristol responded quickly through Rich Lane, who only had to dot down after Sam Worsley had unlocked the Gloucester defence.
Worsley then put Bristol ahead for the first and only time with a penalty, before George Barton responded for the visitors.
A further Barton penalty from the Gloucester full-back extended the visitors' lead to five, as Bristol struggled to establish a foothold, missing the influence of captain Steven Luatua who was ruled out shortly before the game began.
Gloucester were playing the conditions better than their opponents and despite falling short as they attempted another penalty, they found themselves firmly on the right side of referee Henry Walbaum's whistle.
Bristol then had a golden opportunity to get back in the game when Max Pepper powered through the middle, but the Bears spilled the ball in the ensuing phases, allowing Gloucester to escape.
Ross Byrne then saw his drop-goal attempt charged down by Bristol, but the result never appeared in doubt with Barton adding a final penalty as time ran out.
The result leaves Bristol bottom of Pool A, five points behind Bath, while Gloucester are top, six points ahead of Exeter in second.
Bristol: Lane; Harris, Elizalde, Bates, Ibitoye; Worsley, Wolstenholme; Lahiff, Thacker (c), Halliwell; Dun, Owen, Taylor, Ivanishvili, Grondona.
Replacements: Gwilliam, Grahamslaw, Scott, Barker, Edwards, Pepper, Weston, Powell.
Gloucester: Barton; Hathaway, Edwards-Giraud, Knight, Thorley; Atkinson, Austin; Bleuler, Blake, Fasogbon; Bokenham, Alemanno, Trenholm, Taylor (c), Clement.
Replacements: Boyle-Tiatia, McArthur, Knight, Basham, Venter, Price, Byrne, Butler.
Referee: Harry Walbaum.
