Opportunity lost
By Cherry Picker
April 14 2014
All the headlines are about fighting, red and yellow cards and plastic coke bottles but let's not lose sight that the last ditch defeat 18-17 by Bath may have huge repercussions for next season ..
Last week it was revealed that the top six in the Premiership will have automatic entry into the "new Heineken" the top competition of the new three tier European cup competitions.
As things stand we are 14 points behind achieving that goal and it is just fortunate that we have already made our big signings. Would they have come if there was little prospect of them playing in the new prestigious competition?
Meanwhile the inquest intop Saturday looks like rumbling on. Nigel Davies is unhappy with referee Tim Wigglesworth as the West Country derby descended into a battle. He sent off both Sila Puafisi and Tavis Knoyle, gave five yellow cards and awarded a match winning penalty try.
It was a difficult game to manage. Full of the usual passion, plenty of high[ish] tackles and players from both sides unwilling to take a step backwards.
The game was full of drama and reached a crescendo in the last ten minutes when Puafisi , who had had been on for less than ten minutes, was sent off for a high-tackle on Nick Abendanon.
Henry Trinder scored an excellent try after throwing a dummy and it looked like we were going to clinch the win until both Tindall and Edmonds were red carded.
With only 12 men it was a fighting rearguard action which was needed but, unfortunately, we got the wrong kind of fight.
Bath used their superior numbers to force a penalty try but before the conversion could be taken there was a massive brawl and Tavis Knoyle was sent off after the TMO had been called upon.
It was dramatic, and if you were a Glaws supporter it was a bitter pill to swallow. Mr Wigglesworth wasn't the most popular man in the ground, but under no circumstances should anything have been thrown at him, of course.
Fortunately it turns out that the idiot who threw the empty coke bottle was a youngster on a school trip and doubtless his teachers, his parents and, hopefully, his classmates will ensure he won't be doing anything similar in the future. Rugby if, if nothing else, character building.
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I think greater use of the TMO would for once have helped to not only get things right but also to gave the players time to cool down in what was the usual hard fought no quarter given game on the edge battle.
The Bath site is pointing to a video which shows some football type supporters wearing Gloucester shirts which we could well do without though.
Been to the Shed many times and always wore a Bath top. Always got banter and abuse but always with a smile.
Some of our Bath supporters do have their heads up their backsides just as some of yours.
You lot are where all clubs find themselves from time to time. Your best guys are old and your young guys are off form. We avoided relegation a few years ago by a few match points so we know what it's like to have bad seasons. It sux.
For what it's worth, I loved the match Saturday and not just the score line. Reminded me of old battles with Smith's Industries and Hucclecote where you had to punch your way on to the pitch and off. I remember the punches but not the scorelines.
Anyway. Sort your act out, get rid of the tozzers, on the pitch and off, and see you lot next season for a proper game and a proper drink after.