THE WALES outhalf Nick Robinson kicked Gloucester to a 19-17 victory they barely merited against Newport Gwent Dragons at Kingsholm last night. He landed the winning kick four minutes from the end of a game low on quality.
Scrumhalf Wayne Evans and number eight Joe Bearman combined on 37 minutes to give the Dragons a half-time lead.
Gloucester had opened the scoring at the start of the second quarter when Lesley Vainikolo slipped a pass to Akapusi Qera.
The visiting captain, Luke Charteris, was helped up over the line by Gareth Delve before Bearman picked up from a scrum and, as James Simpson-Daniel drifted wide, outhalf James Arlidge cut inside to score under the posts.
His conversion drew the Dragons level and within five minutes they were ahead. Evans threatened to dart away from a scrum and, as he committed the defence, he flicked an inside pass to Bearman who had a clear run to the line.
Gloucester pinned the Dragons in their territory, waiting to be awarded a penalty. Three were granted in a 10-minute period and Robinson kicked the lot to restore his side’s lead, but Arlidge responded on the hour to give the Dragons the advantage. Robinson missed a 45-yard penalty before landing his fourth four minutes from time.
GLOUCESTER: Voyce; Sharples, Simpson-Daniel, Molenaar, L Vainikolo; Robinson, R Lawson; Dickinson (Capdevielle, 58), S Lawson, Somerville, Attwood, Brown (James, 25), Strokosch, Qera, Delve (capt).
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: Tovey (Thomas, 51); Brew, Riley, Smith, Fussell; Arlidge, Evans (Lee, 51); McKenzie, S Jones, Hall, Sidoli, Charteris (capt), Lydiate, Thomas, Bearman.
Referee: P Fitzgibbon(Ireland).
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