By Cherrybomb
April 21 2002

Gloucester came back from two big away defeats to beat Bristol by a point in one of the greatest matches this season at a packed Memorial Stadium. Junior Paramore scored two tries as Gloucester won 41-40, putting a gap of four points between us and third placed London Irish. The result of the match means that Gloucester overtake London Irish and Sale to leapfrog back into second place. In the preview I said that it would be great to match the result at the same place in the cup and how we did. OK, we did let in four tries, but the Gloucester team for once looked like a team who were willing to put in the effort to get a victory. The supporting play was fantastic, every time a Gloucester player would crash to the floor the forwards would always be there to clear out and set up the next move. The backs weren't as good though, and I expect certain positions will be up come the summer. Discipline, the main problem with our away form, seemed to be vastly improved, giving away only a few penalties which couldn't be helped. I feel that the score flatters Bristol a little, with their forwards not really comparing and their first two tries were scored from breakaways after Gloucester mistakes.

Bristol were the first to apply pressure, and took the lead with a Filipe Contepomi penalty. There was then extreme pressure on both side's lines, but Gloucester were the first to score a try, promising Koli Sewabu going over from a Gloucester five metre lineout. Mercier extended Gloucester's lead with a penalty, but then Bristol came back in shocking fashion. There first try came from a loose ball which Lee Best picked up and went over. Their next try came when a poor pass from Andy Gomarsall was intercepted by Contepomi who scored to rock the score back to 17-15 in Bristol's favour, but Andy Gomarsall, keen to make up for his earlier mistake, went over to keep the Cherry-And-Whites in touching distance. Further penalties from Mercier and Contepomi left the half time score at a nervy 20-18.

 

After the restart Gloucester looked as though another away game would slip away from them when Bristol centre Jamie Williams went over, and it was converted by Contepomi. However, in his return to match fitness, captain Phil Vickery was raring to make a difference to Gloucester's away woes, and on 49 minutes, he went over from a maul. However, Mercier missed the conversion so Bristol kept the four point lead. It was short lived though, as Paramore scored the first of his tries diving over from a five metre scrum to lead by a single point. Another Contepomi penalty restored the lead for the home side again, but another try from Paramore took Gloucester to a lead of five points. Gloucester then increased that through two Mercier drop goal specials. After the first Contepomi scored a penalty, but the second, from the halfway line, looked like it had sealed the win for Gloucester at 41-33. Bristol didn't give up though, and a last gasp try from Philip Christophers set up a tense couple of minutes, but Gloucester held out for the win.

Final Score: Bristol 40 - 41 Gloucester

After the match Nigel Melville said;
"We worked on discipline and defence following the Northampton game and our penalty count was down today. We are looking ahead much more positively now and it was good to see Phil Vickery come through the full 80 minutes today following his recent injury."

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