European Cup/ Gloucester 26 Ospreys 18: Gloucester continued their unbeaten start in Europe last night with a storming second-half revival in front of a club-record crowd at their remodelled stadium. The win puts Gloucester firmly on top of Pool Two.

If the 16,500 spectators did not get the free-flowing classic they might have hoped for, there was no shortage of excitement on a cool, damp evening. The Ospreys, for whom Gavin Henson had his moments, seized the early initiative through two tries from Sonny Parker but the game turned in the third quarter when long-range turnover tries from Anthony Allen and James Simpson-Daniel utterly transformed the contest.

Gloucester set a record for the fastest try-bonus point in tournament history inside 22 minutes in Belfast last week, but the Ospreys were sure to pose a stern test.

Even in the absence of their injured wing Shane Williams their squad looks impressively deep. If any side looked edgy it was the Cherry and Whites, Ryan Lamb taking an early blow to the head and his halfback partner Rory Lawson being penalised for a crooked put-in. Worse followed when Mike Tindall's looping pass in the general direction of Simpson-Daniel was deflected backwards by Iain Balshaw, allowing James Hook to gather and send Parker scooting over.

Lamb slotted a penalty to trim the Ospreys' lead but it required a desperate corner-flag tackle from Balshaw to prevent Nikki Walker scoring from the restart.

With Hook also missing a drop-goal and a penalty attempt, Gloucester needed to get a grip and the huge Lesley Vainikolo duly became more involved. The home pack also did their best to crank things up but their defensive effort continued to leave plenty to be desired as Parker drove through more flimsy tackles to extend the visitors' lead. Lamb slotted one penalty but mis-hit another kickable effort to heighten home anxiety.

Gloucester were scrummaging solidly but there were only sporadic moments of alarm for the Ospreys' until the final seconds of the half. Qera came storming off the back of a lineout and, as the visitors tried to scramble back, Jonathan Vaughton was sent to the sin bin for hands in the ruck. Lamb kicked the penalty to trim the interval deficit to three.

The pendulum swung further when Gloucester secured turnover ball around halfway and Allen cut a shrewd angle to put his side ahead for the first time.

Simpson-Daniel had been largely ignored for most of the night but when Tindall and Balshaw put the winger clear there was only one outcome.

GLOUCESTER: Balshaw; Simpson-Daniel, Tindall, Allen, Vainikolo; Lamb (Paterson, 56), Lawson; Wood, Azam (Titterrell, 69), Nieto; Buxton (capt), Bortolami; Strokosch, Qera (Delve, 46), Narraway. Tries: Allen, Simpson-Daniel. Cons: Lamb, Paterson. Pens: Lamb 3, Paterson. Sinbinned: Nieto.

OSPREYS: Byrne; Walker, Parker, Henson, Vaughton; Hook, Phillips (Marshall, 65); D Jones, Bennett, A Jones; Gough, I Evans; J Thomas, Holah, Tiatia (capt). Tries: Parker 2. Con: Hook. Pens: Hook 2. Sinbinned: Vaughton.

Referee: G Clancy(Ireland).