Hibbard the two-try hero as Cherries grab bonus

RICHARD Hibbard was the two-try hero as Gloucester survived a late change of venue, a delayed kick-off and then a spirited Treviso comeback before banking ed maximum points to top Pool 1.

They host Bayonne in Round 6 with a place in the last eight in their own hands after running in six tries to go one point ahead of La Rochelle in the standings.

Hibbard went over for a try in each half of a contest played on the 4 G surface at the Ghirada Sports Centre after French referee Thomas Charabas deemed parts of Stadio Comunale de Monigo unplayable.

The two-hour delay in kick-off meant things finished in arctic conditions but Gloucester fans were able to warm their hands with half a dozen tries to savour and a defensive display that denied the home side any reward.

Greig Laidlaw made no mistake with his kick directly in front of the posts for an eighth minute opener after Treviso were pingerd for offside before strong running from Jonny May had the Treviso alarm bells ringing.

A line-out steal by Ross Moriarty initiated a storming break by No.8 Ben Morgan that stretched the home defence and James Hook went over for the first try.

Gloucester came again with forwards Hibbard and Tom Savage carrying strongly and from a driving line-out Hibbard crashed over which Laidlaw converted for a 17-points advantage with half-time looming.

After half-time, a powerful Gloucester scrum enabled Morgan and the Savage to test the home defence and Matt Scott powered over for their third try, replacement Billy Burns adding the extra points.

And within minutes the bonus point was in the bank when Hibbard was driven over from a line-out for his second and Gloucester’s fourth.

Winger David Halaifonua first to provide the icing on the cake with their fifth try following a delightful cross field kick from Burns and then Billy Twelvetrees sealing it at the death with the sixth try.

Defence coach Gloucester Jonny Bell said: "We're delighted with the result.

"We knew we needed a bonus-point win and given everything that happened pre-match I thought the guys were magnificent and the guys that came on were magnificent.

“You can’t over-estimate how difficult it is for the guys when they think the game's off and then to get themselves back into that frame of mind to go out on a difficult pitch and in difficult conditions and win well, so all credit must go to the players.

“To come away here and get six tries and nil Treviso is no mean feat. We talked all week about being professional and doing a professional job, and we did that.”