Crazy first half spell sinks Gloucester

GLOUCESTER created four tries against Leinster but they conceded as many and eventually fell to an narrow defeat yesterday.

David Halaifonua opened the scoring for the Cherry andWhites but a try from Adam Byrne and a brace from Nick McCarthy put Leinster 19-5 in front just after the half-hour.

Halaifonua’s second steadied the ship just before half-time but Rory O’Loughlin went over for Leinster’s fourth and Gloucester couldn’t come back despite Ben Morgan and Henry Purdy crossing.

The hosts started well with a lot of possession in the Cherry andWhites’half but they conceded the first try as new recruit Matt Scott launched an attack that was finished brilliantly by Halaifonua.

But Leinster made Gloucester regret their lack of precision as Byrne gathered a loose ball to touch down and level the scores.

The Irish quickly went in front as McCarthy was able to dart over from close range. He added a third soon after and in a nine minute spell Leinster were leading 19-5.

A fine line taken by Halaifonua saw him score to settle the Gloucester nerves as they trailed 19-12 at the break. However, a fourth try from O’Loughlin after the break put Leinster out of reach but Gloucester dug deep to close the gap.

Their efforts paid off with tries to No.8 Morgan and Purdy to set up a grandstand finish.

But fly-half James Hook could convert only the first of the two scores to laeve Gloucester with an agonising single-point defeat.