Kingsholm Conquered Again

Statistics don't lie and they clearly show that we have won only four times this season at what used to be known as Fortress Kingsholm ...

One upon a time opposition players used to say that they viewed the prospect of playing in front of  The Shed as one of the most daunting of any season, but way before Paul O'Connell and his  mates breezed into town that had become an illusion.

Exeter, Tigers, Sarries, Sale, Edinburgh and now Munster have all won at Kinsgholm this season.

The Gloucester performance against Munster was one of the better ones in most respects but the power and the ability to score vital points was all with the visitors.

It leaves the rest of this season looking pretty empty. Will we have another full house at Kingsholm? Doubt it.

We had early chances with Billy Twelvetrees missing two penalties eitehr side of a Munster effort. The visitors showed how to make the most of an opoportunbity when Keatley put through the grubber kick which Keith Earls touched down to open up a 10-0 lead.

On the stroke of half time we had hope when Charlie Sharples raced down the right to score with Freddie Burns adding the conversion.

Sadly that was the high point for Glaws supporters. On the hour Munster’s forwards powered their way towards the home line with skipper  Peter O’Mahony going over from close range.

Gloucs: M Thomas (R Cook 60); C Sharples, J May, B Twelvetrees (C), S Monahan; F Burns, D Robson (T Knoyle 60); Y Thomas (D Murphy 60), D Dawidiuk (H Edmonds 45), S Puafisi (S Knight 60), E Stooke, J Hudson (T Hicks 75), M Cox (S Kalamafoni 50), M Kvesic, G Evans (B Morgan 50).

Try –  Sharples

Con - Burns

Munster: F Jones; K Earls, C Laulala, J Downey, J Murphy (S Zebo 70); I Keatley, C Murray (D Williams 75); D Kilcoyne (J Cronin 65), D Varley, BJ Botha (S Archer 70); D Foley (D O’Callaghan 70), P O’Connell, P O’Mahony (C), T O’Donnell, J Coughlan.

Tries – Earles, O’Mahony

Cons – Keatley (2)

Pens – Keatley (2)