Gloucester hold Wasps at bay
Gloucester held off a second-half fightback from Wasps to earn a 10-9 victory at Adams Park.
Last Updated: 13/02/11 7:59pm
Gloucester held off a second-half fightback from Wasps to earn a 10-9 victory at Adams Park.
The Cherry and Whites led 10-0 at the break thanks to a try from wing James Simpson-Daniel and a conversion and penalty from fly-half Nicky Robinson.
But Robinson missed three further penalty attempts after the break, while Dave Walder's three successful kicks hauled the hosts back into the contest.
Driving rain had soaked the pitch before kick-off, and Gloucester targeted Ben Jacobs immediately, launching high balls towards the centre as he tried to adapt to his unfamiliar role at full-back.
Wasps should have made more of a 12th-minute break by Joe Simpson, taken on by Joe Worsley, but the flanker's decision to pass wide to John Hart rather than inside was a mistake because Hart kicked ahead, and the threat died.
Although Wasps had the edge in early possession, it was Gloucester who were first on the scoreboard after 17 minutes.
Wasps captain Joe Ward blundered by batting back a high kick from Sharples that was missed by Jacobs, and Simpson-Daniel seized on the loose ball before racing clear to score by the posts, Robinson adding the conversion.
Another Wasps mistake, this time for offside, handed Gloucester a penalty on 25 minutes, and Robinson's kick was on target.
Fightback
Walder drilled home a penalty with his first opportunity at goal of the evening early in the second half and within 60 seconds Gloucester were caught offside and Walder doubled his and Wasps' tally with another accurate kick.
Gloucester hit back and forced a penalty on 52 minutes, but the angle out wide proved too acute for Robinson whose attempt fell short.
Richard Birkett then hauled down a maul in the 55th minute, escaped a yellow card, and watched as Robinson missed his second penalty attempt in three minutes.
Wasps were sharper during the second half, and it was no surprise when Van Gisbergen came on at full-back in the 60th minute, with Jacobs replacing Richard Haughton on the wing.
Gloucester were unlucky to concede a 64th minute penalty, awarded against Akapusi Qera who looked to have been punched in the face by Serge Betsen. Worse for the visitors, Walder rifled it home from 40 metres.
Wasps created a decent scoring opportunity following a 13-phase series of rucks only for Walder's attempted drop-goal to fly low and wide, as Gloucester held on for the win that takes them fourth in the table.
