London Irish were seriously outgunned by a powerful Gloucester eight yesterday. The Cherry-and-whites could even afford to have their half-backs, Scott Benton and Mark Mapletoft, turn in below-par performances such were the riches of possession Gloucester enjoyed. The Irish tried hard and relied heavily and their traditional counter-attacking skill, running at the home side from anywhere with the limited possession they won. It was never going to be enough, though, and Gloucester's dominance was underlined with three second-half tries that gave a comfortable gloss to the score.

The return of League rugby had ensured close to a full house with the Kingsholme faithful expecting their side to continue a winning sequence against the Irish that stretches back to October 1993.

Controversially, Gloucester dropped their England hooker, Phil Greening, and were also missing the veteran Philippe Saint-Andre who was on international duty, but for the Irish, the loss of their Lion, Jeremy Davidson, in the ninth minute was a greater blow.

It meant a great responsibility fell on the shoulders of Malcolm O'Kelly, who rose to what proved a hopeless task. As well as a major influence in the line-out, he was ever present in the loose and even won a sprint against Raphael Saint-Andre chasing a Mapletoft grubber kick and got the touchdown.

Gloucester made a confident start with good driving play by the forwards setting up quick ruck ball that ensured the home three-quarters were able to stretch Irish defences. The pressure inevitably paid with a 15th-minute try by the Western Samoan, Terry Fanolua, who was worked clear by his fellow centre, Richard Tombs. Mapletoft added a penalty to stretch the lead.

The only Irish try came in the 31st minute when a huge Gloucester clearance gave Conor O'Shea the chance to run from inside his 22. The big full-back was deep into Gloucester territory before he was brought down, but the flanker, Kieron Dawson, was in support. When tackled, he got a poor pass away that hobbled along the ground to a grateful Niall Woods, who scored and added the conversion to bring the visitors within a point at the break.

It was the nearest the Irish would get. When Gloucester won an attacking scrum close to the Irish line, their pack put on the shove. After the second scrum collapsed, the Irish prop Gary Halpin was given a yellow card. After the third, the referee, Ed Morrison, awarded the penalty try.

Gloucester increased their lead when in the 52nd minute, Woods fumbled a Mapletoft chip and Tombs gratefully gathered to score. A try for the flanker, Pete Glanville, on the stroke of time merely added insult to Irish injury.