Gloucester Rugby played host at Kingsholm to the Newcastle Falcons in round six of the Gallagher Premiership, where they made a tremendous statement in their impressive win, which sees them shoot up the Gallagher Premiership table.
Newcastle made some changes to their starting line up due to Ben Redshaw stepping out sue to an ankle injury. Alex Hearn was moved to 15, Ben Stevenson promoted to the starting team taking the number 11 Jersey. Cameron Hutchison takes the number 23 shirt.
The Falcons Ethan Grayson kicked off the match, and the Cherry and Whites took full advantage early on with shape and depth, to make sure they keep possession. This pressure against Newcastle saw Jack Clement scoring the first points of the match in the first three minutes.
Gloucester continued to perform in their improved fashion, much like how we’ve seen so far in this premiership compared to recent years, dominating ins scrums and lineouts all game; a vast improvement to their last home game against Bath Rugby, an element of the sport that George Skivington wanted to make sure was improved.
Though the falcons defence thwarted many attempts from the home side, it wasn’t long until their second try was secured by Tomos Williams after an assist from Christian Wade with a chip and chase; Wade made a spectacular return after his rib injury. A simple pass to the inside gave Williams an unmarked path to the goal line to score beneath the sticks.
Jack Singleton is taken off for a HIA and Seb Blake is put on for a replacement, who makes an instant impact for Gloucester, scoring the third try within four minutes of being on the pitch. An excellent first half for the forwards pack with Jack Singleton following suit and scoring in the 41st minute of the first half, giving Gloucester theirbonus point try. Gareth Anscombe converts three out of four.
The start of the second half was a very different atmosphere. Players and fans getting irritated alike, and referee Ian Tempest getting the but end of it. He had spoken to the Falcons players about their tone when speaking to home, but ultimately it was Gareth Anscombe who saw the games only yellow card as he was sent too the sin bin for back chat towards the official.
Fans made their feelings known when they chanted “You don’t know what you’re doing!” To Tempest after what they believed was a penalty towards the home side played on to a line out for the falcons.
Crowd favourite, Jamal Ford-Robinson enters the field for Val Rapava-Ruskin. His highlight of the game was a line break and gaining tremendous yards after what looked suspiciously like a knock on from the prop; this led to a try from Max Llewellyn. However, the try was disallowed because the knock on, and the falcons took full advantage.
Newcastles Jamie Blamire scored the visitors first and only try of the game in the 68th minute. Bret Connon converted it.
The response from Gloucester was biblical. Get into the flacons 22, Josh Hatahway assisted with a perfect nudge with a perfect bounce to Christian Wade who simply has to pick it up and place it down over the line. A brief look by the TMO to make sure Wade was in play at the time of grounding, but it was allowed none the less and fans in the shed cheered at the referee.
Conversions were lacking in the second half from Anscombe, and his replacement Louis Hillman-Cooper, though it didn’t affect the results for Gloucester, who have shot up from Eighth to Fifth of the Gallagher Premiership table securing 5 points. After a messy last five minutes from both sides losing and gaining possession the ball was kicked out of field on the 81st minute.
The main thing the falcons lacked to make their mark on todays fixture was defence. Gloucester were able to find spaces that was created from lack on drift and polish from within the Falcons line and simple handling skills were able to see the Cherry and Whites take full advantage at home. That being said, the home side have their own areas of improvement also.
Though the score boards show a dominating game, Gloucester made some simple handling errors which saw knock ons and turnovers for the falcons. Round six sees the end of the Gallagher Premiership until the end of November. Gloucester will face reigning Champions Northampton Saints at Cinch Stadium on 30th November.
Match Scorers: Gloucester Rugby 36 – 7 Newcastle Falcons
Gloucester: 36
Tries: 6 (Jack Clement 3′, Tomos Williams 12′, Seb Black 19′, Jack Singleton 41′, Christian Wade 72′, Josh Hathaway 75′)
Conversions: 3 (Gareth Anscombe 13′ 21′ 42)
Yellow Cards: 1 (Gareth Anscombe 50′)
15, Josh Hathaway 14, Christian Wade 13, Max Llewellyn 12, Charlie Atkinson 11, Ollie Thorley 10, Gareth Anscombe 9, Tomos Williams 1, Val Rapava-Ruskin 2, Jack Singleton 3, Afo Fasogbon 4, Arthur Clark 5, Freddie Thomas 6, Jack Clement 7, Lewis Ludlow (C) 8, Zach Mercer.
Replacements: 16, Seb Blake 17, Jamal Ford-Robinson 18, Ciaran Knight 19, Mathias Alemanno 20, Harry Taylor 21, Caolan Englefield 22, Louis Hillamn-Cooper 23, Ioan Jones
Newcastle Falcons: 7
Tries: 1 (Jamie Blamire 68′)
Conversions: 1 (Ethan Grayson 68′)
15, Alex Hearle 14, Adam Radwan 13, Connor Doherty 12, Sammy Arnold 11, Ben Stevenson 10, Ethan Grayson 9, Sam Stuart 1, Adam Brocklebank 2, Jamie Blamire 3, Richard Palframan 4, Pedro Rubiolo 5, John Hawkins 6, Philip Van Der Walt 7, Tom Gordon 8, Callum Chick (C)
Replacements: 16, Ollie Fletcher 17, Lucan De Bruin 18, Murray McCallum 19, Sebastian De Chaves 20, Freddie Lockwood 21, Joe Davis 22, Brett Connon 23, Cameron Hutchinson
Talking Points Gloucester 36 – 7 Newcastle Falcons:
WALES CALL FOR GLOUCESTER PLAYERS
Gloucester saw five players named in Warren Gatlands Wales squad ahead of the Autumn Internationals. With the disappointment of no Gloucester players being called up for England, it’s an exciting time for Gloucester to still be producing international players.
George Skivington had this to say. “I think its great they’re going off to camp. You know they’ll feel [Warren Gatland’s] intensity for a couple of games and they’ll come back and bring a few bits with them. It’s great we’ve got those lads going there. We’d like some more going to England as well but that will come”.
“My objective has always been to get our young crew through representing Gloucester and then England, I still believe we’ll do that.”
GLOUCESTER MOVE UP THE PREMIERSHIP TABLE
Todays win against Newcastle Falcons saw the Cherry and Whites shoot up from eighth to Fifth of the Gallagher Premiership table. Their extra five points leaves them just three shy of the Leicester tigers. This is the first home win Gloucester have had this season so far.
George Skivington said “I’m glad about the nitty gritty stuff, the set piece, the goal line defence, the line out, the scrum all those bits we’ve struggled to deliver when we’re delivering a lot in attack. I thought our attack was good, 6 tries, but like anything still a work in progress. I’m happy, it’s a good way to finish of the 6 week prem block. It gives us a lot to review.”
Steve Diamonds Falcons saw their least scoring performance since the Gallagher Premiership began.
“We didn’t how up in the first half. Our basics let us down. Defensively we were all over the show.”
“Gloucester are a good side, and they shown they’re the most dominant team with the ball in the opposition 22, we weren’t able to put any pressure on them at all.”
“The basics weren’t good enough, and it wasn’t good enough. We may not have a squad that doesn’t cost as much but that doesn’t excuse us for not doing our basic jobs.”
