De Vedia double downs Gloucester
London Irish handed Gloucester their first defeat of the Guinness Premiership season with a 15-10 triumph on Sunday.
Last Updated: 21/10/07 7:20pm
London Irish handed Gloucester their first defeat of the Guinness Premiership season with a 15-10 triumph on Sunday.
League leaders Gloucester came into the match with a 100 percent record from their first five games, but came off second best in a defence-dominated contest at the Madejski Stadium.
The decisive moment occurred nine minutes from time when Exiles winger Tomas de Vedia crossed for his second try of the game.
Defences dominate
London Irish debutant Peter Hewat - who arrived in the country from Australia on Tuesday - provided the the only points of the first-half with a fourth-minute penalty, although the former New South Wales full-back missed two other three-point chances.
The opening try did not arrive until the 43rd minute when de Vedia touched down for the hosts after collecting Shane Geraghty's cross-field kick.
That appeared to spark Gloucester into action and six minutes later Iain Balshaw collected his own chip ahead to cross the whitewash for the Cherry-and-Whites' first points.
Scotland international Chris Paterson, making his Gloucester debut on the wing, landed the conversion to reduce the deficit to 10-7.
However, the Exiles would not be denied and sealed the result in the 71st minute when de Vedia pounced on a grubber kick in the left corner after team-mate Topsy Ojo had failed to apply downward pressure.
The television match official - who had earlier denied Phil Murphy a try when the ball was grounded past the in-goal area - confirmed the score, although Delon Armitage was off-target with the conversion.
Paterson landed a penalty to reduce the deficit to 15-10 and set up an exciting final five minutes, but the hosts' defence stood firm to ensure the win.
Bath's victory at Newcastle earlier in the day means Gloucester's lead atop the Guinness Premiership is cut to just one point.
