European Challenge Cup: Gloucester remain unbeaten with win over Brive
Last Updated: 23/01/15 6:14pm
Gloucester maintained their perfect record in Pool 5 in the European Challenge Cup with a 31-20 victory over Brive at the Stade Amedee Domenech.
Two tries from Matt Kvesic, one from Dan Robson and a penalty try made it six wins from six games in Europe for the Cherry and Whites and left Brive bottom of the group after six straight defeats.
The French side nosed ahead in the sixth minute through a penalty from Riaan Swanepoel but that was cancelled out seven minutes later by James Hook’s penalty following a break by Billy Burns.
Brive were back in front in the 23rd minute thanks to Swanepoel’s boot, but Gloucester then took command as flanker Kvesic dived over for the opening try three minutes later, with Hook adding the conversion.
Robson extended the visitors’ lead in the 31st minute with his fourth try in five games as he raced onto Mark Atkinson’s grubber kick following Henry Purdy’s break.
Hook added his second conversion before referee Dudley Phillips claimed centre stage in a scrappy period of play either side of the interval.
Brive prop Pat Barnard received a yellow card before half-time and he was followed to the sin-bin by Gloucester’s Tevita Halaifonua and the hosts’ replacement prop Karlen Asieshvili shortly after the restart.
Gloucester were awarded a penalty try in the 50th minute as they piled forward with their extra man and Hook’s conversion, to make it 24-6, appeared to have secured the victory.
However, Brive were handed a lifeline eight minutes later with a penalty try of their own for halting a rolling maul illegally and Swanepoel’s conversion narrowed the deficit further.
Phillips then brandished a fourth yellow card in Hook’s direction but Brive were unable to make any further inroads during his 10-minute absence and Gloucester wrapped up the win and earned a bonus point with their fourth try as Kvesic touched down with five minutes remaining.
Hook took his personal points tally to 11 with the conversion but there was still time for Brive to score again through replacement hooker Thomas Acquier, whose try was converted by Nicolas Bezy.
Oyonnax claimed second place in Pool 5 after they beat Zebre 20-3 for their fourth victory in the competition.
Guillaume Bousses, Valentin Ursache and Pedrie Wannenburg scored tries for the French side, while fly-half Regis Lespinas kicked a penalty and one conversion.
Zebre's points came thanks to a 44th-minute penalty by Luciano Orquera.