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Gloucester can consolidate their place at the top of Pool One with a back-to-back victory over English rivals London Irish. - 13/12/2012 14:35
Gloucester can consolidate their place at the top of Pool One with a back-to-back victory over English rivals London Irish.
The Cherry & Whites leapfrogged the Exiles with a thrilling 29-22 win at the Madejski Stadium in Round 3.
Freddie Burns contributed 24 points to the triumph and any hope of Irish claiming a victory at Kingsholm will hinge on stopping the England fly-half.
But the visitors have been dealt a blow with the loss of their Ireland scrum-half, a two-time Heineken Cup winner with Munster, to a back injury.
Irish can however call on Darren Allinson, who was a replacement in Cardiff Blues’ Amlin Challenge Cup final triumph over Toulon in 2009.
Gloucester have been dealt a blow in the build up to the crucial clash with the news that their captain Jim Hamilton will quit the club for France in the summer.
But they have already bolstered their second-row options with the signing of Tongan giant Lua Lokotui.
Match Facts
• Gloucester have won five consecutive matches in the Amlin Challenge Cup and have lost just three of their last 19 in the competition.
• The Exiles have won eight of their last 10 Amlin Challenge Cup matches.
• The Cherry and Whites have triumphed in all three clashes between these teams in the history of the competition.
• Only Joe Carlisle (Worcester) has kicked more goals than Ian Humphreys (12) this season.
Shane Monahan scored four tries as Gloucester cruised to a 47-3 bonus point victory over London Irish at Kingsholm - and opened up a commanding seven points lead over their Premiership rivals at the top of the group. - 15/12/2012 17:02
Shane Monahan scored four tries as Gloucester cruised to a 47-3 bonus point victory over London Irish at Kingsholm – and opened up a commanding seven points lead over their Premiership rivals at the top of the group.
The Cherry and Whites eased to victory and completed the double over Brian Smith’s men following last weekend’s comeback heroics.
The hosts opened the scoring with an early Freddie Burns penalty, the newly capped England fly-half carrying on from where he finished last weekend with the boot.
Tom Homer levelled things with a penalty of his own for London Irish but Burns responded with a second strike after 23 minutes.
Two quick tries in succession from Monahan on 35 and 40 minutes took Gloucester away before the break.
Full back Rob Cook added a third try just three minutes into the second period and Burns added the conversion as he had done with the previous to scores.
Monahan wrapped up his hat trick and his side’s bonus point as the game entered the final quarter and Burns’ boot took the scores to 37-3.
The winger inflicted more pain on Irish with his fourth 10 minutes from time and he was closely followed over the line by replacement scrum half Dan Robson.
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