MATCH SUMMARY Gloucester (3) 9 Pens: Mercier (3) London Irish (10) 13 Try: Leguizamon Con: Flutey Pens: Flutey (2)

The Exiles were the stronger side in the opening half, running in the game's only try courtesy of John Leguizamon.

Rikki Flutey added the conversion and a penalty for a 10-3 lead at the break, Ludovic Mercier scoring the only points for the home side early on.

Mercier added two more spot kicks after the break but another Flutey effort was enough to keep Irish ahead.

Gloucester had a posse of England players - centres Mike Tindall and James Simpson-Daniel among them - eager to play their way into the starting line-up to face Wales at Twickenham.

But veteran Mike Catt comfortably outplayed both of his England successors in midfield as Irish improved their chances of a top-four finish.

Irish beefed up their pack as they went in search of only a second league win at Kingsholm in 11 visits, with Danie Coetzee returning at hooker, Nick Kennedy at lock and Olivier Magne moving to open-side flanker.

Both sides struggled for fluency in a first half punctuated by turnovers and unforced errors.

Mercier and Flutey both missed early shots at goal before Gloucester's fly-half opened the scoring after Irish pulled down a scrum.

Flutey replied quickly and five minutes before the interval, Michael Horak's break from full-back set up the field position and the Exiles pack bundled Leguizamon over.

The Argentine was the visitors' most effective ball carrier before staggering off following a blow to the head at the end of the half.

Flutey added another penalty two minutes after the break, forcing Gloucester to chance their arm.

One Simpson-Daniel surge got Mercier in range for a 30-metre penalty and the Frenchman added a third successful penalty 10 minutes from time.

But Irish ran the clock down with few alarms and Tindall was clobbered by eager defenders in the final move of the match.