Match Centre: Gloucester Rugby 27-21 Wasps

Gloucester Rugby 27-21 Wasps, Kingsholm Stadium

Gloucester made an incredible second half comeback as they came from 0-21 behind to beat Wasps by six points in their opening clash of the Gallagher Premiership at Kingsholm Stadium on Saturday.

The Cherry and Whites were also greatly aided by sin bins to Tom Willis and Biyi Alo in the 66th and 67th minute with the first also resulting in a penalty try.

Wasps had an early setback as fullback Matteo Minozzi left the field injured in the 6th minute and Ali Crossdale was drafted in as a replacement. Alfie Barbeary thought he scored the opening points but was denied by the TMO after finding guilty of a obstruction.

It was a matter of time before Wasps got the opening points as Charlie Atkinson converted his own try after breaching past the Gloucester defence to make it 0-7.

Atkinson had a chance to extend the lead but missed a penalty chance in the 24th minute though he made amends after converting tries from Brad Shields and Burger Odendaal in the 26th and 30th minutes as Wasps finished the opening half scoring 21 unanswered points.

Gloucester finally opened their account early in the second half as Louis Rees-Zammit dotted down after running the length of the pitch after snaffling the ball on our own line. Shortly a break from Harry Elrington provided Albert Tuisue an opportunity as his offload sent Charlie Chapman over in the 45th minute. This time Adam Hastings kicked the conversion as the gap came down to 12-21.

An infringement at breakdown allowed Hastings to slot a three-pointer bringing the gap down to six points but the game changed on its head in the final quarter as Wasps lost Willis to sin bin in the 66th minute for collapsing a maul and shortly Ayo also joined him for stopping a certain Gloucester try. With the penalty try awarded, the Cherry and Whites went into the lead for the first time in the game.

With the momentum on their side, Gloucester ensured they did not let the chance slip away as Freddie Clarke dived from close range which was awarded after consulting with a TMO. Hastings missed out on the conversion but Gloucester will be relieved to get away with a 27-21 win.

Team line up:

Gloucester: Evans; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Atkinson, Thorley; Hastings Chapman; Elrington, Singleton, Balmain, Clarke, Craig, Ackermann (capt), Taylor, Morgan.

Reserves: Socino, Rapava-Ruskin, Ford-Robinson, Jordan, Tuisue, Meehan, Twelvetrees, Moyle.

Wasps: Minozzi; Kibirige, Spink, Odendaal, Bassett; Atkinson, Robson; Hislop, Cruse, Ryan, Launchbury (capt), McDonald, T Willis, Sheilds, Barbeary.

Reserves: Frost, Millar-Mills, Alo, Morris, J Willis, Porter, Mills, Crossdale.