Gloucestershire Echo

Bodies on the line Jamal’s grit helps Gloucester to derby victory

- John EVELY jonatahan.evely@reachplc.com

WANT to know what the West Country derby still means to players? Ask Jamal Fordrobins­on.

The replacemen­t Gloucester prop appeared to seriously injure his right shoulder in a tackle on Orlando Bailey in the 79th minute, and the medics came on to treat him, but the Cherry and Whites were under the pump with Bath looking to complete a remarkable comeback with just a four-point margin between the sides.

With Bath, in the middle of a 25-phase attack near the halfway line, the bulking prop dragged himself back into the defensive line, with his arm hanging lifelessly at his side, to make two assist tackles to keep the resurgent hosts out before Ruan Ackermann came to his aid to win a penalty for not releasing and bring an enthrallin­g derby clash at the Rec to close, with Gloucester winning 21-17.

Gloucester head coach George Skivington said: “We will have to see how badly he is hurt, but he looked hurt.

“It was massive from him and that shows how tight this group are.

“He knew it was the last minute of the game, he knew if he was down there would be a gap somewhere and he got up and made two tackles with a bust shoulder.

“That is pretty heroic stuff with the size of the guys running at you.

“I am really proud of him for that and I am really proud of the group for how they dealt with those 25 phases, squeaky clean defence when the run of the game had been penalties against us.

“I thought that was heroic from the group and more than anything I can’t say I am pleased with that performanc­e but I am unbelievab­ly proud.”

Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan’s post match answer to how he was feeling was very shorter. “Gutted,” replied the South African as despite a spirited second half comeback, Bath’s search for their first win of the season continues.

Trailing 14-0 and 21-7, Bath went on to dominate a compelling second half, but having crossed through Tom Dunn and Niall Annett, they could not finish off the comeback.

Two missed conversion­s from replacemen­t fly-half Bailey ultimately proved the difference, with Adam Hastings nailing all three of his in a match that produced a try count of 3-3.

Ollie Lawrence made a strong debut following his loan move from relegated crisis club Worcester, providing some of the punch Bath have lacked from their carriers so far this season.

But despite perfect conditions for enterprisi­ng rugby, the afternoon was dominated by the two packs and all six tries were scored by forwards, although Lawrence, Joe Cokanasiga and Mark Atkinson shone in their attempts to make something happen.

Gloucester’s superb first half provided the foundation­s for their victory and their pack supplied the first points in the 11th minute when the maul specialist­s staged a trademark line-out drive that ended with lock Matias Alemanno going over.

Bath were unable to capitalise on lengthy spells with the ball and they also struggled in defence, with prop Juan Schoeman dispatched to the sinbin - a loss that cost them moments later when Santiago Socino finished another line-out drive.

Stung into action, the Premiershi­p’s bottom-placed side responded through a sustained attack, with Cokanasiga prominent.

The pressure resulted in a yellow card for number eight Albert Tuisue, whose afternoon then ended because of a failed HIA, and the visiting defence eventually cracked when Miles Reid forced his way over from close range.

Atkinson was becoming an increasing­ly influentia­l figure in Gloucester’s attack and having created space for a lively Louis Rees-zammit run, he set up his team’s third try.

He carried the ball into the guts of Bath’s defence and Alemanno was present to batter his way through several tackles and score.

Ben Meehan became the third player to see yellow for a high tackle on Cameron Redpath and the early stages of the second half saw promising signs of a revival from Bath.

Lawrence launched a powerful run in heavy traffic but his success was wasted when Cokanasiga spilt forward close to the line.

The pack took over to score through hooker Dunn from a line-out and Bath were straight back on the offensive, with Cokanasiga proving hard to stop down the right.

Replacemen­t scrum-half Max Green was hobbling around the pitch but with starting nine Louis Schreuder already off injured, there was no cover so he was forced to solider on.

Another line-out drive fell short and once Ruan Ackermann was sin-binned, Bath resumed by propelling Annett over the whitewash.

Gloucester finally escaped the relentless pressure but they failed with a 76th-minute assault and when Cokanasiga set off on a desperate run, the Recreation Ground was on its feet.

Play went end to end, but Bath ran out of steam to ensure they will finish the weekend rooted to the foot of the table.

Bath: Gallagher, Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Redpath, Hamer-webb Francis, Schreuder, Schoeman, Dunn, Stuart, Attwood, Roux Ellis, Reid, Merigan. Replacemen­ts: Annett, Cordwell, A. Coetzee, Richards de Carpentier, M. Green, Bailey, Butt.

Gloucester: Evans, Rees-zammit, Kveseladze, Atkinson, Carreras Hastings, Meehan, Rapava Ruskin, Socino, Balmain, Clarke Alemanno, Ackermann, Ludlow, Tuisue. Replacemen­ts: Singleton, Knight, Ford-robinson, Jordan, Reid Chapman, Reeves, May

 ?? ?? Gloucester’s Santiago Socino scores his side’s second try at The Recreation Ground
Gloucester’s Santiago Socino scores his side’s second try at The Recreation Ground

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