London Irish (23) 40
Tries: D Armitage, Tagicakibau 2, penalty Cons: Lamb 4 Pens: Lamb 4
Gloucester (3) 10
Try: Sharples Con: Robinson Pen: Robinson

Delon Armitage (second right) set Irish on their way on Sunday

Last season's beaten finalists London Irish secured their first win of the season with a comprehensive Premiership victory at home to Gloucester.

Tries by Delon Armitage and Sailosi Tagicakibau, both converted by Ryan Lamb, who also landed four penalties, saw Irish lead 26-3 after 43 minutes.

Charlie Sharples scored a converted try for Gloucester just before the hour.

But the Exiles added a penalty try and second score from Tagicakibau, with ex-Gloucester star Lamb converting both.

There were six yellow cards in all in the game - four to the visitors, including captain Gareth Delve late on - while an injury to Delon Armitage took some of the gloss off the scoreline for the hosts.

The full-back, England's most dynamic performer last season, left the pitch in the 61st minute with a dislocated shoulder.

With Toby Flood, Riki Flutey and Mike Tindall already in the treatment room, England manager Martin Johnson can ill afford any further injuries to his back line.

It was a sweet afternoon for man-of-the-match Lamb, who left his home-town club as part of Gloucester's summer clear out.

The 23-year-old finished with a 20-point haul, although he was given a comfortable ride by a dominant Irish pack.

Exiles boss Toby Booth:
"Delon has a suspected dislocated shoulder and he's gone to hospital. We'll know more on Monday.

"Delon is a tough cookie so he will front it out. I have no idea how long he'll be out.

"Losing Delon for any amount of time would be massive, he's an international full-back and we want him on the pitch. Touch wood it's not too serious and we'll get him back soon."

Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath:

"We were down to 14 men for the majority of the second half and you're not going to compete like that."

"One of our guys was hit off the ball and Gareth had a bit of anger and frustration in him, so he squared up - it's one of those things that happens in a contact sport.

"It doesn't concern me if my captain is doing that - he's a good, honest man and I have no issues with him."

London Irish: D Armitage; Thompstone, Seveali'i, Mapusua, Tagicakibau; Lamb, Hodgson; Dermody, Coetzee, Ion, Kennedy, Casey, Danaher, S Armitage, Hala'ufia.
Replacements: Hewat for D Armitage (61), Richards for Seveali'i (53), Murphy for Dermody (61), Buckland for Coetzee (61), Rautenbach for Ion (61), Perry for Casey (65), Stowers for Hala'ufia (61).
Not Used: Lalanne.

Sin Bin: Hala'ufia (50), Stowers (78).

Gloucester: Morgan; Voyce, Molenaar, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Sharples; Robinson, R Lawson; Dickinson, S Lawson, Somerville, Attwood, Brown, Strokosch, Hazell, Delve.
Replacements: Simpson-Daniel for Voyce (40), Lewis for R. Lawson (64), Wood for Dickinson (41), Capdevielle for Somerville (41), Bortolami for Brown (57), Qera for Hazell (45).
Not Used:Dawidiuk, Burns.

Sin Bin: Sharples (34), Qera (68), Delve (78).

Att: 13,209

Ref: Dean Richards (RFU).

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