Exiles crushed at Kingsholm

London Irish's Guinness Premiership play-off aspirations suffered a major setback after a 34-20 defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm.

A first-half masterclass from the Cherry and Whites proved the difference as the Exiles failed to recover after falling 27-3 behind at the break.

The returning Lesley Vainikolo and fellow wing James Simpson-Daniel scored tries, while fly-half Nicky Robinson kicked 19 points before substitute prop Alasdair Dickinson sealed the win.

Irish, who were left to rue more indiscipline after twice being reduced to 14 men, posted consolation touchdowns through lock Kieran Roche, flanker Steffon Armitage and prop Dan Murphy, while Tom Homer kicked a penalty and ex-Gloucester player Ryan Lamb added a conversion.

The result means Irish must now beat second-placed Northampton in a fortnight's time, and hope results involving rivals Wasps and Bath go their way.

Sharper

Irish showed two changes from the side that suffered a shock home defeat against lowly Leeds Carnegie last weekend, with wing centre Elvis Seveali'i and number eight Richard Thorpe both gaining recalls.

But the switches made little difference, with Gloucester far sharper in the opening exchanges and striking an early blow through Vainikolo.

The England international latched onto Robinson's inch-perfect crosskick to put the hosts ahead after penalties had been exchanged.

Robinson booted three more penalties during a damaging six-minute spell which saw the visitors trail 17-3 adrift approaching the interval.

But, with the bit firmly between their teeth, Gloucester crossed again three minutes before half-time when Simpson-Daniel finished off a 70-metre breakaway try.

Former Wales international Robinson added the extras, and the game was effectively done and dusted at the break with Gloucester an emphatic - and deserved - 24 points clear.

Vainikolo did not return for the second-half, watching from the sidelines with strapping on his right knee as Charlie Sharples replaced him.

Trouble

It was Irish who struck first on the scoreboard, driving Gloucester's forwards backwards from close range and Roche claiming the touchdown.

Malone, though, missed an easy conversion, hitting the post from just 20 metres out that summed up his side's lacklustre afternoon.

Gloucester's New Zealand prop Greg Somerville appeared off the bench for his final Kingsholm appearance before returning Down Under this summer, and the home scrum suddenly began to cause Irish all kinds of trouble.

They knew one more score would finish the game, and Irish saw substitute Dan Murphy sin-binned for pulling down a scrum with the home side camped just five metres from their line.

Irish somehow cleared the danger, only for Dickinson to put them out of their misery when he rumbled over from five metres.