 | MATCH SUMMARY Gloucester (11) 27
Tries: Simpson-Daniel, Foster 2
Pens: Tindall 2, Lamb 2 Worcester (3) 16
Tryr: Gomarsall
Con: Drahm
Pens:Drahm 3 |
Gloucester kept their Premiership play-off hopes alive with a bruising victory over neighbours Worcester. The home side appeared to be in command when James Simpson-Daniel's try gave them an 11-3 interval lead.
But Worcester hit back in the second half and Shane Drahm converted a try from replacement Andy Gomarsall to put them 16-14 up with 15 minutes left.
But Ryan Lamb's second penalty regained the lead and two late tries from wing Mark Foster sealed victory.
The result gave Gloucester a psychological advantage ahead of the teams' re-match in the European Challenge Cup semi-final next Saturday.
The hosts had gone four league matches without a win but victory kept them in touch with the top four, three points adrift of Leicester.
 Sanderson received a Kingsholm welcome from James Forrester |
The tension was apparent from early on as Worcester captain Pat Sanderson received a lecture, and a punch from James Forrester, after a back-row altercation. Gloucester had a Simpson-Daniel try ruled out for a foward pass after a break from young centre Anthony Allen, and Drahm kicked Worcester ahead with a penalty.
The Australian-born fly-half was then sin-binned for exchanging punches with opposite number Lamb, who was also yellow carded.
Mike Tindall levelled the scores with a penalty in his absence and Gloucester went in front through Simpson-Daniel, who appeared to put a foot in touch as he touched down.
Lamb kicked them further in front on the resumption but two penalties from Drahm brought Worcester to within five points and his conversion put the visitors ahead after Gomarsall scrambled over.
But Lamb edged Gloucester ahead again and with six minutes left a sweeping move saw Tindall put Foster in on the right, before he grabbed a second on the whistle.
Gloucester boss Dean Ryan:
"We are still a side developing and we haven't played well yet. It's a game we enjoyed but we could have been 21-0 up in the first half. "It's a relief for the players to get this out of the way. We lost poor games against Bath and Bristol and the dressing room becomes a frustrating environment when that happens.
"I don't want these 19-year-olds to feel that. There were periods in that game where we were struggling but the kids did the job. We will get more confidence from that."
Worcester boss John Brain:
"They took their chances well at the end and we did well to get back into the game. We just didn't have the nous to win it from there. "When we look at that match, we will be frustrated that we didn't win the game.
"We certainly know we can come here and win (in the European Challenge Cup semi-final). We have to get more things right than we did today consistently."
Gloucester: Morgan; Simpson-Daniel, Tindall, Allen, Foster; Lamb, Richards; Collazo, M Davies, Forster; Eustace, Brown; Buxton, Hazell, Forrester.
Replacements: Mercier for Morgan (55), Sigley for Collazo (67), Pendlebury for Eustace (55), Narraway for Buxton (61).
Not Used: Elloway, Thomas, Bailey.
Sin Bin: Lamb (36).
Worcester: Delport; O'Duza, Rasmussen, Lombard, Trueman; Drahm, Powell; Windo, C Fortey, Tuamoepeau; Murphy, O'Donoghue; Sanderson, Harding, Horstmann.
Replacements: Blaze for Drahm (78), Gomarsall for Powell (56), McDonald for Windo (70), Hickie for C Fortey (61), L Fortey for Tuamoepeau (80), Vaili for Harding (61).
Not Used: Whatling.
Sin Bin: Drahm (36).
Att: 12,500
Referee: David Rose (RFU).
MMIX
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