GLOUCESTER END EMBRA'S HEINEKEN HOPES
Gloucester: 38 (22) Edinburgh Rugby: 22 (17)
A five try home win off the back of a second half surge - and a pretty useful first half performance too - saw Gloucester keep their own faint hopes of qualification alive, while surely ending the visitors' interest in this competition for another year. Although only five points up at the interval, The Shed saw their favourites take a stranglehold on the game in the second period.
It was a hugely entertaining game, with both sides looking to play attacking rugby from the off, the final try count being 5-3 to Gloucester. But, to be magnanimous in defeat for a moment, the home side could have been out of sight early on, had it not been for some fine Embra defence, and great work by the callow back row of Rennie, Callam, and Strokosch.
"We've got to hope for more ball next week. We got completely bullied and we gave Gloucester a lot of their points. We need to cut down our mistakes and be more accurate." Chris Paterson's post-game analysis could have been a comment on any one of Edinburgh's performances in many Heineken games in the past.
With Gloucester seeing the return of class forwards such as Azam, the Edinburgh pack were unable to impose themselves. Indeed, fellow French internationals Collazo and then Califano gave Ali Dickinson a few scrummaging pointers as Edinburgh struggled in the set piece, and were little better in the lineout. Good news, then, that Massimo Cuttitta is arriving for a week's work with the pack. It's all very well playing the fancy stuff out wide, but success at this level depends on being able to dominate your opponents up front. This Edinburgh struggle to do.
Although the Embra back division has been hit hard with injuries - veteran stand-off Duncan "Hodgey" Hodge stepping in at short notice today due to an injury to Matt Dey - they can still do damage. But only if they are given a decent platform.
"We showed that if we were able to gain possession we were able to break their defence very easily and there was always an opportunity there" was Head Coach Lynn "Yoda" Howells' view. "The only thing I was really concerned about was the set piece, which they dominated. The attitude and commitment was superb but the set piece is a concern,"
After sending a message at the first scrummage of the game, blowing away the Edinburgh eight, Gloucester built up a big lead from early on. Tindall pounced on a Walker grubber for the opening score, followed by a Simpson-Daniel interception of a Godman pass. Both scores came from loose Embra play.
Then an Embra foward rumble set up a penalty, kicked to touch. Slick work in the backs saw Cairns over for a good try. A Paterson penalty brought the visitors back into contention. Then Azam was driven over for the third Gloucester try.
But Tindall was carded for going over the top at a ruck, Hugo crossing for the try as the referee played advantage - 19-17 Gloucester. Even Walker's late penalty left a margin of only five points at the break, despite the home team's dominance. Edinburgh had the chance of the win, having weathered the opening storm.
Sadly, it was not to be. Although great work by Rennie saw Di Rollo over in the corner shortly after the restart, Gloucester replied with a Walker drop. Then replacement Lamb added another penalty, before Allen crossed for a touchdown and the bonus point. With Taylor carded, Foster crossed for a late try, which compounded an unhappy visit to the West Country for the capital side.
Scorers:
Gloucester - Tries: Tindall, Simpson-Daniel, Azam, Allen, Foster. Cons: Walker (2). Pen: Walker, Lamb. Drop goal: Walker. Edinburgh - Tries: Cairns, Hugo, Di Rollo, Cons: Paterson (2). Pen: Paterson.
Gloucester: Morgan, Simpson-Daniel, Tindall, Allen, Foster, Walker, Richards, Collazo, Azam, Nieto, Bortolami, Brown, Buxton, Boer, Narraway.
Replacements: Elloway, Califano, Eustace, Balding, Lawson, Lamb, Balshaw.
Edinburgh: Hugo, Paterson, Di Rollo, Hodge, Cairns, Godman, Blair, Jacobsen, Hall, Dickinson, Mustchin, Murray, Strokosch, Rennie, Callam.
Replacements: Kelly, Hewett, Pringle, Taylor, Turnbull, Laidlaw, Senio.
Referee: Hayes (Wales)