Bristol suffer another setback in battle for relegation

Bristol Rugby 14-32 Gloucester Rugby, Ashton Gate
Scorecard

Gloucester scored three tries in the second half as they completed a 14-32 bonus point win against Gloucester in their Aviva Premiership encounter at Ashton Gate on Friday.

The defeat was also Bristol's 15th in the overall 18 games played this season and they are in the danger of facing a relegation with seven points behind 11th placed Worcester Warriors while Gloucester Warriors have leapfrogged Newcastle Falcons to the eighth position.

The first 11 minutes saw Gloucester fly-half Billy Burns and his counterpart Billy Searle exchange penalties following which a 13th minute touch down from replacement Charlie Sharples and a conversion put the visitors seven points ahead.

Just after Burns extended the gap to 10 points with a 36th minute penalty, Gloucester lost fullback Tom Marshall temporarily when he was sin-binned and Searle ended the first half with a three-pointer to bring down the difference to seven points.

A third penalty kick from Searle gave some momentum to Bristol in the second half but a converted try from Billy Burns and a 69th minute cross over from replacement Lewis Ludlow put Gloucester on the course of victory while Jonny May's final minute touchdown ensured a bonus point as well.