Gloucester (23) 33
Tries: Lewis, Sharples, Deacon Cons: Robinson 3 Pens: Robinson 4
Harlequins (13) 26
Tries: Care, Evans Cons: Evans 2 Pens: Evans 4

Gloucester's Charlie Sharples evades a tackle from Harlequins' Nick Evans during the sides' clash at Kingsholm

A late try from Brett Deacon secured victory for Gloucester after a determined second-half comeback by Harlequins inspired by Nick Evans.

After Danny Care's opening try for the visitors, Gloucester hit back through Dave Lewis and Charlie Sharples.

Quins came out battling after the interval and an Evans try and accurate kicking from the fly-half brought the scores level.

But Deacon's converted try with three minutes left gave Gloucester victory.

Such a close finish had seemed unlikely after a first half which the home team dominated.

Care's early opportunist try after a run from inside his own half only served to inspire the hosts who were bent on maintaining their long unbeaten league run at Kingsholm.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to the match at Kingsholm

Relentless pressure from the Gloucester pack gave Lewis the chance to go over, quickly followed by Sharples making the most of an overlap to extend their lead.

Evans' boot kept Quins in touch but their forwards were struggling and their lack of pace out wide meant Sharples and James Simpson-Daniel were always a threat.

Quins were thrown a lifeline in the second half as Gloucester played half the period with 14 men after props Paul Doran-Jones and Nick Wood were sin-binned.

Evans took advantage and raced over from 25 metres, converting the try himself to level the scores at 26-26.

But in a thrilling finale Deacon went off the back of a five-metre scrum to put Gloucester back in front.

Even then there was still time for Quins to claim a touchdown with the final play of the game, only to be denied by the referee.

Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"They must have got a lot of energy from us going a man down and we have to learn to put individual ego into our pockets when things that we don't like are happening and think of the team.

"Today our front five put in a big performance and so did forwards from the bench.

"You can't allow yourself to get wound up by anyone like Doran-Jones did because suddenly you'll get a yellow card which punishes the team and not just yourself."

Quins rugby director Conor O'Shea claimed his team scored with the final play of game:
"Chris Robshaw scored - he was pushed over the line by George Robson. Such is life.

"You could see the incredulity on the players' faces. This season is going to be the tightest Premiership for a long time and every point is going to count.

"We talk about the controllables. We can't control the referee, the crowd or the fact there was no television match official."

Gloucester: Morgan, Sharples, Tindall, Trinder, Simpson-Daniel, Robinson, Lewis, Wood, S. Lawson, Doran-Jones, Attwood, Brown, Strokosch, Narraway, Deacon, Buxton.

Replacements: Pasqualin for Lewis (55), Cox for Wood (71), Azam for S. Lawson (68), Buxton for Strokosch (48), Dickinson for Buxton (65).
Not Used: Capdevielle, Burns, Vainikolo.

Sin Bin: Doran-Jones (50), Wood (59).

Harlequins: Brown, Williams, Lowe, Turner-Hall, Camacho, Evans, Care, Marler, Brooker, Andress, Vallejos Cinalli, Robson, Robshaw, Skinner, Easter.

Replacements: O. Smith for Williams (55), Gray for Brooker (54), Lambert for Andress (49), Guest for Vallejos Cinalli (51).
Not Used: Jones, Browne, Dickson, Clegg.

Att: 11,919

Ref: Tim Wrigglesworth (RFU).

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