De Glanville double helps Bath edge Gloucester

MATCH REPORT: Bath claimed a 17-10 victory in the Premiership over Gloucester with a try double from Tom de Glanville at the Recreation Ground on Sunday.

The victory moved Johann van Graan’s men up to third position in the standings, level on points with Harlequins and just three behind table toppers Northampton Saints.

De Glanville struck in each half, while there was also a touchdown for wing Will Muir, with flyhalf Finn Russell adding one conversion.

Bath will require a considerable improvement when they host French heavyweights Racing 92 in the Champions Cup next weekend, but they still got the job done without remotely finding top gear.

Gloucester’s ninth successive Premiership defeat – their worst run of league results in the competition’s history – came after they led 10-5 at half-time following a Ruan Ackermann try, plus a conversion and penalty from flyhalf Adam Hastings.

But a losing bonus-point will provide scant consolation, especially as they finished the game strongly and caused Bath plenty of problems.

Gloucester made a strong start and were ahead after seven minutes following a quickly-taken penalty by their forwards that resulted in Ackermann claiming the touchdown and Hastings converting.

The visitors, 16 points behind Bath in the Premiership before kick-off, did not lack confidence, and wing Jonny May sparked a flowing move that was only halted when Ackermann’s pass drifted forward.

Bath’s first threat of the game followed a knock-on by Gloucester fullback Santiago Carreras, with hooker Tom Dunn being stopped just short of the line.

Wing Joe Cokanasiga then had a chance, but he spilled possession within sight of Gloucester’s line, yet Bath finally broke through nine minutes before the interval.

Centre Ollie Lawrence made initial headway before a brilliant De Glanville pass freed Muir, who then fed the ball inside to his fullback for an outstanding try.

Russell could not convert, and Gloucester ended the half with a five-point lead when Hastings landed a 40-metre penalty, leaving their hosts with plenty to think about.

But Bath needed just 57 seconds of the second period to go ahead as Muir marked his 50th game for the club through an opportunist try.

He had limited space to work in, but when covering Gloucester scrumhalf Caolan Englefield failed to clear, Muir gather a kind bounce and crossed unopposed, with Russell’s conversion putting Bath ahead for the first time.

They looked to have extended their advantage shortly afterwards, but after referee Christophe Ridley initially awarded a try for flank GJ van Velze, it was then ruled out for unclear grounding.

Gloucester’s cause was not helped by Carreras being yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, yet outstanding defence continued to thwart Bath entering the final quarter.

Bath, though, broke through following a flowing move that saw centre Lawrence find De Glanville, and he cut back inside to finish in style, giving the fullback his second try.

Gloucester laid siege inside Bath’s 22 during the closing minutes as they tried to salvage a draw, but a handling error cost them dear and the home side moved back upfield, the victory secured.

Scorers:

For Bath:
Tries: De Glanville 2, Muir
Con: Russell

For Gloucester:
Tries: Ackermann
Con: Hastings
Pen: Hastings

The teams:

Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Miles Reid, 6 GJ van Velze, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Sam Harris, 23 Sam Underhill

Gloucester: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Jonny May, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Caolan Englefield, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Lewis Ludlow (captain), 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Fraser Blamain, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Mayco Vivas
Replacements: 16 Seb Blake, 17 Jamal Ford-Robsinon, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Jack Clement, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Louis Rees-Zammit

Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Dan Jones, Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Rowan Kitt