Glaws into top three with latest win

Gloucester clocked up another win over London Irish to move into the Premiership top three and strengthen their claim to be realitic contenders for a play-off place this season, their improved form coming at just the right time.

But as Glaws battled in out for a 23-9 victory, it was never as easy as the scoreline might make it look and nowhere near as simple as the LV= Cup success they enjoyed over Irish a couple of weeks ago. But it WAS a win, and it takes Glaws to third in the table.
Luke Narraway scored the opening try and Nicky Robinson (right) converted two tries and kicked three penalties as it emerged that he is not being offered a new contract to stay at Kingsholm and is being courted by up to four Premiership clubs as well as one or two from France.
You pay our money and you take your choice with the many versions of the truth behind what, on the face of it, appears a bit of a waste of a match-winning talent.
Akapusi Qera’s second half try clinched the win for Glaws, but Irish battled hard throughout the game and there’s no doubt that Glaws, defending desperately at times, were happy to hear the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Dave Attwood is doing what many have known he was going to do for weeks by moving to Bath, and before we go any further let’s get one or two things straight.
He is a working man who happens to make his living by playing rugby. He owes it to himself to do the best he can, and like 99.9 per cent of the working population, when he is offered more money – a lot more money – to do exactly the same job for another employer he would be a fool to turn it down.
What perhaps gets on the nerves of many people is the way sportsmen try to justify their moves rather than just getting down to the facts.
Attwood told the BBC: "I am excited to be joining Bath. There are some amazing things going on at the club.
"It is a great opportunity for me to push myself out of my comfort zone on the pitch and develop the brand of rugby that I can play.
 "I will be sorry to leave Kingsholm behind, but sometimes that is the way life pans out. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time there and appreciated working with everyone."
Not a lot more he could have said, of course, apart from admitting that he stands to be paid a lot more. He could also have done without trying to justify the move by saying that bit about amazing things going on at Bath.
There were some amazing things in this latest win that takes Glaws into the play-off frame with a vengeance, suggesting that the answer to the question whether Glaws are contenders or pretenders is the former.
Next weekend there’s a bigger test awaiting at Northampton, but it’s not the team’s form we need to worry about at present, more the growing list of names who are leaving the club next season.