London Irish 23-15 Gloucester
James Walker-Roberts • Published 4 Feb 2012 16:30
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LONDON Irish bowed out of the LV= Cup despite beating defending champions Gloucester in their final group game.
Exiles required not only a win against the Cherry and Whites to qualify, but also for Newcastle Falcons to upset Pool Two leaders Leicester.
And while Toby Booth's men managed to fulfil their part of the equation, Leicester eased to a win over Falcons to reach the semi-finals.
Irish got off to a perfect start at a bitterly cold Madejski Stadium thanks to a penalty from Tom Homer and a try from Brian Blaney.
Homer's conversion from the touchline went just wide of the uprights but he added two penalties to put Irish 14-0 ahead.
Although the hosts were unable to maintain their momentum throughout the half, they prevented a below-par Gloucester getting on the scoreboard before the break.
Mike Tindall, who was playing at fly-half for the visitors, got the Cherry and Whites' first points with a penalty early in the second half.
Gloucester then closed the gap further when 19-year-old Ian Clark, making his first start for the visitors, darted 80 metres down the left flank, outpacing full-back Homer and then touching down under the posts.
Tindall added the simple conversion but Irish replied with two penalties from Homer to put them 10 points ahead.
And although Clark added a second try in the left corner, the conversion fell short and man of the match Homer had the last say with his sixth penalty.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 04 Feb 12
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