Heineken Champions Cup
Cherry and Whites made to suffer
Gloucester second best
Gloucester 17 Exeter 29
Friday, 14 December 2018,1945hrs

After losing to the Cherry and Whites at Sandy Park last week Exeter arrived at Kingsholm needing a bonus-point win to retain any serious European Champions Cup interest - they left with 5 points and denied Gloucester anything. The Chief's machine had clicked back into gear.
This week Exeter turned the tables as their pack completely outplayed their counterparts in the first-half, denying Gloucester possession or territory, whilst setting up a couple of tries with their trade-mark driving play which wins them few admirers but plenty of matches.
Gloucester looked off the pace throughout and lacked intensity or any spark, plus the inspiration of Danny Cipriani, who left the field of play mid-way through the first period with an arm injury and were only in serious contention late in the game. However by then they had been made to pay the price for mistakes and poor discipline with two yellow cards, having conceded about a dozen more penalties than their opponents this week. True many of the referee's decisions left players and spectators bemused but against a strong top side such as Exeter, sadly it is a recipe for trouble.
The visitors had far the better of the early exchanges with almost total possesion, declining possible kicks at goal to go for their favourite weapon, the driving line-out and it soon brought fruit with a typical Exeter forwards' try from lock Sam Skinner being driven over.
Fair play to Gloucester they did hit back with a rare break out enabling Jason Woodward to score but the home defence was under more Chiefs' pack pressure until eventually Don Armand was driven over for their second converted try just before half-time. 5-14.
After the interval it got worse for under-pressure Gloucester as Billy Twelvetrees was sin-binned for killing the ball but the visitors could not finish them off !
Exeter replaced their front row internationals with more of the same and kept up the scrum pressure as Gareth Steenson slotted an easy penalty. 5-17.
Sharp play by Gloucester backs enabled Owen Williams and Ollie Thorley to set Woodward free to go over in the corner and the try was awarded via the TMO. 10-17.
Another scrum penalty for Exeter as Josh Hohneck was yellow-carded despite questioning the referee and the visitors set up yet another driving maul to get their third try from hooker Jack Yeandle. 10 -22.
However spirited Gloucester hit back with a scintillating break from Freddie Clarke enabling Tom Hudson to cross for the try converted by Twelvetrees.17-22.
The Kingsholm crowd sensed a possible revival but it was not to be as a last-ditch hopeful chip kick out of defence fell directly for Exeter and their inevitable forward drive took them over for their vital bonus-point try which meant the Cherry and Whites finished pointless.
T.H. 15/12/2018

More from Mike
Well is the dream over, I don't think so, there is a lot of work to do if we are to qualify for the quarter finals.

A disappointment last night, but on the night we were 2nd best. Exeter were determined to get 5 points right from the off, and there was no way any team were going to defend for 80 minutes. Glos gave it there best, but it was not quite good enough.

Oh and some of the referee's decisions, shall we say left something for the imagination to work on?

Onwards and upwards, we must focus on Newcastle next Sunday and retain 3td place.
Mike

Gloucester
15. Jason Woodward, 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Billy Twelvetrees, 12. Owen Williams, 11. Ollie Thorley; 10. Danny Cipriani, 9. Willi Heinz (capt); 1. Josh Hohneck, 2. Jaco Visagie, 3. Fraser Balmain; 4. Ed Slater, 5. Franco Mostert; 6. Freddie Clarke, 7. Gareth Evans, 8. Ben Morgan

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Att: 11,905
Scores
Tries: Woodward (2), Hudson
Con: Twelvetrees
Half-time: 5-14

BT - Highlights

Heineken Cup Results 2001-2018

Glos - Heineken Cup Record - Kingsholm

Glos - Euro Attendances - Kingsholm