Gloucester still on top

Gloucester retained top spot in the Guinness Premiership with victory over Wasps.

Guinness Premiership, Gloucester v Wasps, Kingsholm, Saturday November 18, KO 3.00pm

Gloucester centre Anthony Allen helped his side retain their top-of-the-table status with a 27-21 win over Wasps on Saturday.

The 20-year-old, who was sent back home by England last week, scored a superbly-crafted solo try to seal the win in front of a sell-out Kingsholm crowd.

He opened up plenty of gaps in his partnership with Mike Tindall, who made his first start after finally shaking off his calf injury, while Willie Walker slotted six of his seven kicks at goal.

It was a disappointing return to action for Wasps's Simon Amor, however, who lasted only 17 minutes before taking a blow to his shin which forced him from the field.

Amor was replaced by Mark McMillan who immediately got his side surging forward and made an instant impact on the game.

Catching Gloucester short of numbers, Wasps countered from a five-metre line-out. Hooker Joe Ward was involved twice, keeping pace with England winger Tom Voyce as the ball was hurried down the left touchline and taken over for the try by blindside flanker James Haskell. Mark Van Gisbergen slotted the conversion.

Wasps turned things around after spending the early part of the game struggling to cope with Gloucester's wily front row and were more in control with their first try on the board.

Discipline levels started to drop midway through the first half when both sides lost men to the sinbin.

Alex Brown was first off for killing the ball then Jonny O'Connor was dispatched for taking Ryan Lamb out without the ball.

The incidents reaped a penalty apiece for Van Gisbergen and Walker, but those were the only points conceded while both sides were down to 14 men.

Walker scored his second penalty courtesy of another mistake by Payne, and two more penalties from the New Zealander either side of half-time put Gloucester in front.

James Bailey then extended Gloucester's superiority with their first try on 56 minutes, giving the home fans hope that they could end a two-year hoodoo against Wasps.

The game was eventually clinched when Allen showed his pace to the line courtesy of a knock-on, Walker adding the extras to relieve any lingering doubts over the eventual outcome.

Ward crashed over late on for Wasps with Van Gisbergen adding his third penalty, but the points merely claimed a consolation bonus point for the Londoners.