Exiles overcome Gloucester

Tom Homer produced an impressive kicking display

A masterly kicking display from London Irish full-back Tom Homer condemned defending champions Gloucester to a 23-15 defeat in the final LV= Cup group weekend of the campaign.

Homer kicked six out of six penalties for a total of 18 points while hooker Brian Blaney grabbed an early try for the Exiles at the Madejski Stadium.

But it was young Gloucester winger Ian Clark who stole the show with two tries, one of them an outstanding solo effort, on his starting debut for the Cherry and Whites.

Gloucester looked out of it in the second half before Clark's double plus a conversion and penalty from former England captain Mike Tindall, who stepped in at fly-half, kept them in with a chance.

With nothing to play for, both teams threw the ball around, although mistakes by Gloucester cost them as Irish ran up a 14-0 half-time lead.

Punished

Homer punished errors during the opening period with some big penalty goals, slotting efforts twice from 40 metres and another from a metre inside the 50 line.

Blane's try came from a neat move inside the Gloucester 22 when the ball was spun through fly-half Dan Bowden to former England centre Shontayne Hape

The hooker rounded off the move with a 22 metre down the wing, bouncing through three would-be tacklers for the touchdown.

Gloucester's lack of a regular goal-kicker who could land the ball through the sticks from long range was apparent throughout the match.

Three times they had a penalty around halfway, and three times Tindall looked for touch instead of the goal.

Yet when Irish gave away a penalty in front of their posts just 15 metres away, Tindall booted it to the ironic cheers of the Madejski Stadium crowd.

Glorious

Just as the home side looked to increase their advantage though young academy ace Clark, making his first start for the Cherry and Whites, grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

Having already shown bravery, catching two high balls under pressure, Clark ignited the after-burners from 60 metres out on the left wing, beating Tagicakibau before outpacing Homer for a glorious try.

Tindall converted to close the gap to just four points but Gloucester gave away two penalties, which Homer put away to take Irish 10 points ahead on the hour.

The Cherry and Whites were not done however and upped their game again as they attacked inside the Exiles' 22.

And, when the ball came across to the left, wing James Simpson-Daniel fed Clark to steal in at the corner from five metres.

Another mistake by the visitors though, gave Homer the chance to slot his sixth penalty of the game to finish off the scoring.