Gloucester 14-0 Harlequins: Visitors fail to score in Premiership for first time since 2014 during defeat at Kingsholm

Oscar Beard reacts during Harlequins' 14-0 defeat at Gloucester

Gloucester earned a 14-0 Gallagher Premiership win over an out-of-sorts Harlequins before a sell-out crowd at Kingsholm as the visitors were blanked in a league game for the first time in a decade.

After scoring two tries in an impressive first-half performance, the home side had to rely on some heroic defence to achieve the rare feat of keeping the normally potent Quins scoreless.

Josh Hathaway and Jack Clement scored Gloucester's tries, both of which Santiago Carreras converted as none of Quins' stars could make any impact on the night.

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The visitors last failed to score in a league game during a 39-0 loss to Saracens in September 2014

Gloucester have risen to fifth in the standings, level on points with Leicester and Saracens and five clear of seventh-placed Quins.

Santiago Carreras kicked two conversions for Gloucester

Sloppy Quins slip to defeat

After withstanding a sustained opening assault, Gloucester broke out and from their first real attack, a long pass from Gareth Anscombe provided his fellow Wales international Hathaway with a walk-in.

That score was the catalyst for the hosts to take control.

Their pack had the edge at the breakdown and dominance in the scrum and as a result looked set to increase their advantage when Ciaran Knight - a late replacement before kick-off for Val Rapava-Ruskin (knee) - tore through the defence before chipping ahead, but the Quins cover just got back.

However, the respite was only temporary as Gloucester soon won another a scrum penalty and from the resulting line-out, their opponents were scattered everywhere as Clement powered over.

The home side suffered a blow when their promising young prop Afolabi Fasogbon limped off but they were still able to keep Quins at bay to lead 14-0 at half-time.

Gloucester clinch win in scoreless second half

The Londoners needed the first score after the interval to remain in contention but could not penetrate a resolute home defence, who were able to successfully defend two five-metre line-outs and then tackle fiercely when the ball was moved wide.

Quins were not helped by uncustomary poor handling and full-back Tyrone Green looked the only one capable of breaking down Gloucester's defensive red wall.

The visitors took off England flanker Chandler Cunningham-South together with two other forwards in an attempt to reverse their fortunes but it paid no immediate dividends as an error-ridden third quarter finished scoreless.

Surprisingly Green was then replaced by Jarrod Evans, with Marcus Smith switching to full-back. Gloucester responded by withdrawing Anscombe, with Carreras taking up the fly-half berth.

With 15 minutes remaining, Carreras had a chance to make it a three-score game but his 40-metre penalty rebounded back off a post. It mattered little as Quins continued their fumbling right up until the end.

Quins 'riddled with errors' as Gloucester find 'right balance'

Harlequins coach Danny Wilson:

"We were riddled with errors and physically we weren't at the races, especially in the first half as Gloucester clearly had the competitive edge at that stage.

Harlequins coach Danny Wilson: 'I have not seen us make that many individual errors for some time so we need to address the problem'

"The second half was an improvement but overall we gave away 23 turnovers and made 15 handling errors - but despite that we still had many opportunities to score, which we blew.

"I have not seen us make that many individual errors for some time so we need to address the problem ahead of next week's important game with Leicester at Twickenham.

"We had no problem with our attack last week, scoring 53 points against Stormers, and we are capable of going on long winning runs as we've done it before."

Gloucester coach George Skivington:

"Our defence was outstanding as to 'nil' any Premiership side is massive, especially one as good as Quins.

"The boys are now finding the right balance between attack and defence but our defensive set in the first 10 minutes set the tone for the rest of the match."

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