Saturday 7th February 2004
3pm kick off
Gloucester remained firmly focused on their challenge of finishing at the top end of the Zurich Premiership table after completing a 36-12 victory over the Falcons this afternoon.
The Cherry and Whites were clearly on a high after booking their place in the Heineken Cup quarter finals last weekend and ran in three tries in the first half.
Dave Walde took too long with a clearance kick in front of the posts in the opening minute and Gloucester centre Robert Todd charged down. The ball rebounded over the tryline and, unfortunately, Newcastle hooker Matt Thompson failed to safely ground the ball and Todd pounced to score the try.
Henry Paul converted to give Gloucester an early 7-0 lead and we were already the back foot.
Paul added a penalty and soon Gloucester were 15-0 up after a superb solo try by young winger Marcel Garvey .
An error by scrum half James Grindal proved costly when he lost possession and Junior Paramore recycled the ball out wide to Garvey and he galloped 50 metres to plunge over with Paul adding the conversion.
Henry Paul was instrumental in setting up the third try, making vital space up field before brilliant interplay work between the Gloucester players sent fly half Duncan McRae over the line. Paul again converted to establish a 24-0 lead.
The Falcons got on the scoresheet with an injury time try. Skipper Hugh Vyvyan led the way towards the try line after an inside pass from winger Tom May. Vyvyan was brought down just short of line but May, up in support, plunged over. Walder converted and we trailed 24-7 at the break.
Gloucester had to wait 22 minutes before their next score but it was worth the wait as it handed the Kingsholm side their second try bonus point of the season with replacement James Forrester surging down the left wing to score.
Winger Terry Fanolua put the icing on Gloucester's win with a terrific fifth try after he seized a quick pass from Todd on the left wing to bound over the line for a converted try.
Flanker Warren Britz had the final word for Newcastle with an injury-time try to make it 36-12.
Scorers:
Gloucester:
Fanolua 1T
Forrester 1T
Garvey 1T
McRae 1T
Todd 1T
Paulo 3C 1P
Falcons:
May 1T
Walder 1C
Britz 1T
Newcastle Falcons
1 Ian Peel
2 Matt Thompson
3 Marius Hurter
4 Garath Archer
5 Stuart Grimes
6 Jon Dunbar
7 Warren Britz
8 Hugh Vyvyan (Capt)
9 James Grindal
10 David Walder
11 Martin Shaw
12 Mark Mayerhofler
13 Jamie Noon
14 Tom May
15 Joe Shaw
Replacements:
16 Micky Ward
17 Nick Makin
18 Craig Hamilton
19 Geoff Parling
20 Hall Charlton
21 Phil Godman
22 Mark Wilkinson
