Glasgow get off the mark
Glasgow got their Heineken Cup campaign up and running with a 33-11 victory over Gloucester at Firhill.
Last Updated: 13/12/09 11:59am
Glasgow got their Heineken Cup campaign up and running with a 33-11 victory over Gloucester handing them a first win in this year's competition.
After losing both opening games in Pool Two, Glasgow proved too strong for their Premiership visitors at Firhill as they sealed a first win in this campaign.
Discipline cost Gloucester dear with Dan Parks in ruthless form with his boot as he converted seven penalties and a conversion in his 23-point haul.
Charlie Sharples ran in a try for Gloucester to go along with two penalties from Nicky Robinson, but their scoring ended in the 22nd minute from when on they were held out by the home defence.
Max Evans ran in Glasgow's first try just after the half-hour mark, and five minutes later full-back Bernie Stortoni added a second, which was converted by Parks as Glasgow took control.
Fiery start
Parks slotted two penalties in a fiery opening five minutes, but the Glasgow fly-half then skewed a kick to give Gloucester their only field position of the opening 10 minutes.
Robinson opened his account with a simple penalty but Glasgow kept the game deep in the opposition half for Parks to land penalty number three, although Robinson reduced the margin two minutes later with his second penalty.
Parks replied again before another misplaced kick allowed Gloucester to attack and set up Charlie Sharples for the first try of the game.
Evans crossed for a home try eight minutes before the interval following a lively move, and Parks was involved again as his long pass found full-back Stortoni to romp in for the score.
Tally
The conversion took Parks' first-half tally to 17 points and he made it 20 just three minutes into the second half with another penalty.
Gloucester tried to hit back but the home side soaked up all the pressure with flanker Tim Buxton and lock Dave Attwood driven back by ferocious Glasgow defence.
Kelly Brown and Richie Vernon led a couple of breakouts but Glasgow were pinned inside their own half, although they were content to keep Gloucester well away from the danger zone.
With 10 minutes left, Glasgow again started to put pace on the ball as Gloucester ran out of steam and ideas and Parks banged over his seventh penalty.
