Gloucester outclass Harlequins in Premiership

Gloucester followed up last week’s victory over Bath with a 28-6 victory over Harlequins at Kingsholm in the Aviva Premiership.

The result will be a big boost in confidence for the Cherry and Whites ahead of their clash against Saracens at Allianz Park next weekend.

Gloucester outscored Harlequins by three tries to none in the contest and the former champion Quins could only muster two penalties in the first half.

James Hook was pivotal to the hosts’ success, his personal tally of 18 helping beat a Quins side depleted by international call-ups.

The victory means Gloucester have won back-to-back games for the first time this campaign.

Hook got the hosts off to a great start, his third minute try to the left of the posts came from a scrum, and added the extras himself. Nick Evans reduced the deficit for Quins with a penalty following sustained pressure from the visitors, but the seven point gap was quickly restored, offside in the maul leading to Evans kicking three points.

Hook extended his personal tally even further almost immediately, kicking a second penalty, given for a yellow card offence by Ross Chisholm.

The opening quarter was dominated by two players, and Evans scored his side’s second penalty of the day, making it 13-6. Gloucester got a second try of the day, this time through Ben Morgan, who went over the whitewash after superb build up play from his team-mates.

Hook kicked the two points, taking his personal tally to 15, before scoring a penalty on the brink of half-time, which meant the Cherry and Whites led 23-6 at the break.

The hosts looked to start the second half where they left the first, with Hook unable to kick a penalty, a rare error from the versatile Welshman.

Billy Burns thought he had extended the lead for Gloucester less than ten minutes into the second period, but a forward pass was made in the build-up, and the effort was chalked off.

Just as it looked like it was to be a scoreless second period, Steve McColl going over in the corner, ending any chance of Quins taking something from the contest. Hook’s missed conversion was the last noticeable action of the game.

Final Score Gloucester 28 (23) Harlequins 6 (6)

Scorers

Gloucester
Tries – Hook, Morgan, McColl
Pen – Hook (3)
Con -Hook (2)
Drop –

Harlequins
Tries –
Pen –
Evans (2)
Con –
Drop –

Match Officials
Referee :Wayne Barnes (163rd Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Paul Burton & Simon McConnell.
TMO: David Grashoff.

Teams

Gloucester

Billy Burns; Charlie Sharples, Billy Meakes, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Steve McColl; James Hook, Willi Heinz; Paddy McAllister, Richard Hibbard, John Afoa; Tom Savage, Mariano Galarza; Sione Kalamafoni, Matt Kvesic, Ben Morgan

Replacements: Tom Lindsay, Dan Murphy, Paul Doran-Jones, Jeremy Thrush, Jacob Rowan, Callum Braley, Mark Atkinson, Rob Cook

Harlequins

15. Ross Chisholm , 14. Marland Yarde , 13. Matt Hopper , 12. Harry Sloan , 11. Tim Visser , 10. Nick Evans (C) , 9. Tito Tebaldi , , 1. Mark Lambert , 2. Joe Gray , 3. Kyle Sinckler , 4. George Merrick , 5. James Horwill , 6. Luke Wallace , 7. Dave Ward , 8. Mat Luamanu

Replacements : 16. James Chisholm , 17. Owen Evans , 18. Will Collier , 19. Charlie Matthews , 20. Ben Botica , 21. Calum Waters , 22. Winston Stanley , 23. Tim Swiel