Riki Flutey's try was not enough to save London Irish from defeat

London Irish (8) 11
Tries: Flutey
Pens: Everitt 2

Gloucester (12) 22
Tries: Bailey, Lawson, Simpson-Daniel
Pens: Walker
Cons: Walker 2

Gloucester stayed top of the Premiership thanks to their victory away to London Irish in Reading.

The visitors took a 12-0 lead after 16 minutes through James Bailey's converted try and Rory Lawson's score.

The Exiles trimmed the gap to 12-8 at half-time through a Barry Everitt penalty and Riki Flutey's try.

A penalty apiece from Everitt and Willie Walker made it 15-11 before James Simpson-Daniel's stunning try clinched victory for Gloucester.

The league leaders went ahead after just four minutes when scrum-half Lawson darted down the blind-side.

He was hauled down just short of the line but flipped the ball up for Bailey to score in the corner, with Walker landing a fine conversion.

Lawson got on the scoresheet himself when he latched onto Oliver Azam's pass and raced over from 25 yards.

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Everitt then landed a penalty and was on target with the conversion after Flutey latched onto the fly-half's chip to score the Exiles' only try to make it 12-8 at the break.

Walker and Everitt exchanged penalties early in the second half to keep the gap at four points before Simpson-Daniel struck after 71 minutes.

When London Irish full-back Delon Armitage was forced to hit a loose Mike Catt pass on the volley, Simpson-Daniel hauled it in and raced over from 70 metres.

Walker landed a simple conversion for Gloucester, who were further boosted by the sight of Mike Tindall making a late appearance as a replacement.