Gloucester secure impressive win over Clermont
REPORT: Hooker Santiago Socino scored two tries in five minutes as Gloucester defeated ASM Clermont Auvergne 28-17 for their second EPCR Challenge Cup win of the season.
ASM Clermont Auvergne took a 13th-minute lead in the Pool Three clash when an infringement allowed flyhalf Jules Plisson a simple penalty-kicking opportunity.
Just three minutes later Gloucester scored the opening try after the ball was played to right wing Jonny May who powered through and grounded the ball while being tackled. A difficult conversion for flyhalf Santiago Carreras was sent inches wide as it clipped the post.
The visitors responded immediately as a powerful run by fullback Alex Newsome gained ground before his pass was intercepted by left wing Ollie Thorley. However, the Gloucester wing released the ball into the path of scrumhalf Baptiste Jauneau, converted by flyhalf Jules Plisson.
A powerful 31st minute Freddie Clarke drive from a line-out pulled the hosts close to the try-line and Socino grounded the ball, converted by flyhalf Santiago Carreras.
Six minutes later Gloucester kicked to the corner again and used a driving maul to their advantage with Socino diving through a gap to score his second converted try of the evening.
With an hour gone ASM Clermont Auvergne pulled themselves back into the match when a line-out resulted in a strong driving maul and blind-side flank Pita-Gus Sowakula dotted the ball down, converted by replacement flyhalf Anthony Belleau.
However, Gloucester kept the scoreboard ticking over as Carreras scored his third penalty of the game on 68 minutes to finish the game 28-17.
The scorers:
For Gloucester:
Tries: May, Socino 2
Cons: Carreras 2
Pens: Carreras 3
For Clermont Auvergne:
Tries: Jauneau, Sowakula
Cons: Plisson, Belleau
Pen: Plisson
Teams:
Gloucester: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Jonny May, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Steve Varney, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Jack Clement, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Santiago Socino, 1 Harry Elrington
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Cameron Jordan, 20 Ben Donnell, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Seb Atkinson, 23 Lloyd Evans\
Clermont: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Pierre Fouyssac, 12 Léon Darricarrere, 11 Thomas Roziere, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Thibault Lanen, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Yohan Beheregaray, 1 Daniel Bibi Biziwu
Replacements: 16 Etienne Fourcade, 17 Etienne Falgoux, 18 Henzo Kiteau, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Killian Tixeront, 21 Sebastien Bezy, 22 Anthony Belleau, 23 George Moala
Referee: Hollie Davidson
Assistant Referees: Ian Kenny, Ru Campbell
TMO: David Sutherland
Source @EPCR
