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Another fightback earns Glaws Amlin last eight place

Q - 3 tries
By Cherry Picker
January 25 2010
A Heineken Cup campaign that included humiliation and excitement in almost equal measures has ended in a very acceptable place in the last eight of the Challenge Cup for Gloucester – the drawback being an away tie against London Wasps. But it’s a lot better than it might have been after a 32-23 win at Newport in the last pool game.

Akapusi Qera celebrating signing a new Kinsholm contract with a hat trick of tries - a penalty try plus three conversions and two penalties from Nicky Robinson making up the bonus-point total.
It was another fightback win for Glaws, who were 16-10 down at half-time, and a good result as a run of results everybody hopes will turn into a major revival gathers pace with only their second away win in over a year.
Coach Bryan Redpath told the BBC: “There was a quarter-final place at stake today, and it is a big thing. It was a big match for us and a European quarter-final gives us something to look forward to.

"We haven't had a great record away from home, and we were aware of that. We got the four tries that we needed."
On Qera he added: “He is a talent, a handful when he plays like that. It is great to see him back from injury.

"I was frustrated with our first-half performance - we did not look energised. But we were a lot stronger in the second period, particularly the forwards. To score four tries away from home is a good return."

Indeed it is, and a Gloucester team, and squad, which can hopefully turn the first half of the season into a mere bad memory is beginning to look good.

With Luke Narraway announcing that he has joined Qera and many others in agreeing a new deal with the club, the back-row’s comments to the Citizen suggest things are beginning to look up: "The spirit in the squad is probably the best I've known since I've been at Gloucester, and the results over the last few weeks show that we're moving in the right direction.

"Gloucester is a special place to play rugby - the stadium, the supporters, training facilities and off-field set-up; it's the whole package."

That package includes the fans, of course, and there really is a new sense of optimism and hope at the club.
Long may it last.

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25 Jan, 2010 12:37 Report
Shedloads (IP Logged)
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Another fightback earns Glaws Amlin last eight place
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