Mat earns ‘ferocious’ derby win
Bath 17 Gloucester 21
GEORGE SKIVINGTON reckons his blood pressure took a hammering as his Gloucester side held firm to came out on top in a “physical and ferocious” West Country derby.
The boss saw his
Cherry and Whites inflict defeat on Bath, who have now lost their opening five Premiership games to sit bottom of the table.
Argentina lock Matias Alemanno did the damage, grabbing two tries as Gloucester left the Rec definitely on the up – but also relieved after a late onslaught saw the hosts claw back a 21-7 deficit to push them all the way with a 25-phase finish.
Skivington admitted: “It’s not good for your blood pressure – but you’re starting to expect these tight and tense finishes now. It keeps you on the edge of your seat!
“It will go down as a good West Country derby.
“It was physical and ferocious with both teams going hell for leather and a lot of lads getting banged up on both sides.
“We knew Bath would have added spice to try and win their first game of the season against us.
“I’m really proud of the group for that last 25 phases. It was squeakyclean defence and didn’t give a penalty away. It was heroic.”
Alemanno was the try hero having just arrived back from the Rugby Championship.
Gloucester defied losing three men to the sin bin – Albert Tuisue, Ben
Meehan and Ruan Ackermann – to take the spoils. They swept into a 21-7 half-time lead with Alemanno bursting over, followed by hooker Santiago Socino, who was clinical from close range.
Flanker Miles Reid replied for the hosts but Alemanno responded by forcing his way across.
Bath fought back with second-half tries from captain Tom Dunn, and his replacement Niall Annett, to set up the tense finale.