Premiership Rugby Cup action kicked off at Kingsholm as Gloucester hosted Wasps. The hosts dominated from start till end in a powerful forward display, polished up with some excellent breaks by the backs. Henry Purdy looking good after an injury and Ben Vellacott marshalling the backs took them home to a comfortable victory.
Gloucester thrash weak Wasps
Gloucester dominated their first game in the new Premiership Rugby Cup. A strong forwards display set them up to get off with a bonus point win in a group that will also see them face Bristol Bears and Northampton Saints.
Wasps never really looked dangerous even with the ball as Will Porter delivered slow ball behind a struggling pack. A yellow card to Porter started a period where three tries were conceded and Wasps never recovered from there.
A game of missed tackles by the visitors and powerful clean breaks from then Cherry and Whites made it a second consecutive defeat this season for Wasps at the hands of Gloucester.
Half time: Gloucester 24-0 Wasps
In a first half dominated by Gloucester’s forwards it was the backs who shone despite difficult weather conditions.
Gloucester held the early pressure when a powerful Henry Purdy run set up a penalty that was kicked to the corner. Wasps negated the early shove, but Gloucester carried well in the tight and blindside Cameron Terry charged over from close ranged to give the hosts the early lead.
Ben Vellacott looked sharp as Gloucester mounted another attack following some stern Wasps defending as the visitors had some time with the ball. It came to nothing and Gloucester once again laid siege on the Wasps tryline and that saw captain Will Porter sent to the bin for killing the ball. Gloucester got a shove on from the five metre line-out, but were held up over the line.
Wasps couldn’t hold them out for long as a solid scrum gave an overlap on the blindside which Ben Vellacott accepted for their second try.
A third try quickly followed as Gloucester made a huge gain line break from the restart. Purdy looking dangerous on the wing and Gloucester going forwards well. Lloyd Evans then carried hard to go over in the corner, also adding his first conversion.
The bonus point try came a minute later as Dom Coetzer broke free from another poor Wasps restart to finish under the posts. Gloucester well on top following another Evans conversion.
? MATCH ACTION
Try scorer @CoetzerDominic swoops on a loose ball.
[24-0] #GLOvWAS pic.twitter.com/dQBDLohySz
— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) October 27, 2018
Wasps applied some late pressure in the half, but the ball was slow and predictable, Gloucester turning them over several times in their own 22.
Full time: Gloucester 31-7 Wasps
Both sides struggled to start the second half with any momentum. Wasps attacking first, but gathering little sight of a try scoring chance. In a half that saw a plethora of substitutions take place throughout it was always going to be a hard 40 minutes to gather momentum.
Both sides did their best and attacked, but neither generated a good chance in the first 25 minutes or so. Errors creeping in as the bad weather continued and players became tired pushed the game into a stop-start nature.
Wasps had the first real chance following a lineout five metres out, but knocked it on a few phases later. Gloucester replied with a chance of their own, but could only find the solid Wasps defence, who turned it over and cleared the danger.
Taju Atta looked dangerous in attack when coming on for Wasps and nearly got them their first score with a break down the line. He was superbly tackled and the ball was eventually touched back by Gloucester.
Gloucester scored the first points of the half following some sustained pressure on the Wasps line. Several strong scrums and a barnstorming carry later it was replacement prop Joe Mullis who smashed his way over underneath the posts.
Chapman kicked the extras as Gloucester brought up 31 unanswered points.
Wasps claimed the last laugh as they scored their first points of the game. A try through Alfie Barbeary, converted excellently by Sunny Jardine ensured they left with at least a consolation score and denied Gloucester a whitewash.
Gloucester: Tries; Cameron Terry, Ben Vellacott, Lloyd Evans, Dom Coetzer, Joe Mullis. Cons; Lloyd Evans (x2), Charlie Chapman.
Wasps: Tries; Alfie Barbeary. Cons; Sunny Jardine.
Man of the match: Ben Vellacott
Attendance: 12,709
Main image credit: Embed from Getty Images
