Gloucester Lose Again

Does five defeats in a row constitute a crisis? It did in The Shed as Gloucs once again failed to win the Slater Cup as Tigers eased their way to a 20-38 win leaving the Cherry and Whites floundering in ninth place.

The way Gloucs capitulated in the second half did not go down well with home supporters who had been cheered by a solid start to the game,  with Ed Slater watching on as the two sides he captained went head to head.

Unfortunately,   George Barton was unable to take advantage of all the penalties earned  by early home pressure although he did notch two to  Andre Pollard's three.

The first half difference came right on the break with Ollie Hassell-Collins going over in the corner as Santi Carreras desperaely tried to stop him.

So Tigers turned round 14-6 good to the good.

It looked like Gloucs may have got themselves back in it it when George McGuigan finished off a driving maul with Tiger's Oli Chessum desptached to the bin. The chance was there for Gloucs to surge ahead - instead Barton was off to the bin for a head to head tackle on Pollard.

It was Tigers who seized the moment with Julian Montoya on the end of a driving maul and then Gloucs were down to 13 with Jack Clement joining Barton. Gloucs were stretched and Hassell-Collins took advantage scoring his second of the afternoon.

There was brief hope when Jamal Ford-Robinson got his side's second try,  but Tigers always looked comfortable and it was little surporise when their bonus point try came from Soloman Kata to round things off.

George Skivington told the media: ""We've been honest in the changing room  - we are five defeats in a row so we've got to get ourselves out of this quickly."