Exiles smash poor Gloucester

London Irish moved two points clear at the top of of the Guinness Premiership after dismantling Gloucester 42-12 at the Madejski Stadium.

The top-of-the-table clash turned out to be a one-sided affair with the hosts running in four tries without reply to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

Peter Hewat contributed 22 points with the boot, landing three penalties in either half as well as converting scores from Paul Hodgson and Declan Danaher.

Delon Armitage and Sailosi Tagicakibau also crossed while all Gloucester had to show for their efforts were four penalties, three from the boot of Ryan Lamb.

Barkley blow

The Cherry and Whites, who were level on points with their opponents going into the mouth-watering clash, suffered a blow before kick-off when Olly Barkley was ruled out through illness.

By half time many of his team-mates must have been feeling just as sick as the former Bath centre.

The Exiles opened up a crucial cushion built on two early penalties from Australian Hewat, who was starting at fly-half in a full strength back line.

They had already missed chances to get an opening try before Armitage finally got their first after 18 minutes, the full-back's solo effort from 60 metres seeing him run around Lamb before showing a scorching turn of speed down the touchline.

The England international then went from scorer to provider, getting involved in a move that culminated with scrum-half Hodgson diving under the posts.

A trio of Lamb penalties at least kept Gloucester in touch and when sub Willie Walker slotted over another three points shortly after the interval, the game appeared in the balance at 21-12.

Clinical kicking

However, the Exiles simply moved through the gears, Hewat's clinical kicking adding a further nine points to open up an 18-point lead.

When winger Tagicakibau went through four tackles and dragged himself over the line with six minutes to play, Irish knew they had sealed the win.

All that was left to be seen was whether they could clinch a bonus-point try, something they managed right at the death when replacement Danaher ran 50 metres to get over the line.

Hewat added the conversion to put the final nail in Gloucester's coffin and complete a wonderful performance for the impressive league leaders.