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Gloucester open Euro campaign with good win

JSD's try
By Cherry Picker October 12 2008
On the weekend when James Forrester's career was cut short by his knee injury, Gloucester produced a disciplined, professional performance to beat Biarritz 22-10 in their opening Heineken Cup match of the season. They got a touch of luck on the way, but they fully deserved their win that sets them up for the next game, against Cardiff.
Barkley kickThe luck game when the referee missed a knock-on in the build-up to Gloucester's only try of the game, scored by James Simpson-Daniel, but nobody could doubt their right to victory.
The French side lost their discipline in the second half, but by then Olly Barkley's kicking (right converting JSD's try) had condemned them to defeat.
Cardiff's unsurprising away win over Calvisano means next weekend's clash at the Millennium Stadium is the big one in the group.
Coach dean Ryan told the BBC: "I am really pleased with the result - it was a big step for us. It is an even bigger game for us now against Cardiff next week.
"We've got to prove to ourselves that we can be more consistent in the high pressure games.
"When we've looked at our mistakes in the past Europe has highlighted them. For us to show progress, we have to show it in the Heineken Cup."
So far so good, then, for Ryan and his players. After the team's shaky start to the Guinness premiership season, this was more like it.
But are we alone in thinking 11,723 isn't much of a crowd?
Meanwhile, Forester has had to call it a day because of his knee injury at the age of just 27.
Ryan said: "The game's lost an enormous talent, I don't think we really saw how good he could be.
"We saw potential and progress but it was just moving on. I really wish him well because he'll be sadly missed."
We would like to echo those remarks - a professional sportsman being denied the chance to earn his living is a cruel blow, especially for one so talented.

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13 Oct, 2008 04:05 Report
cheerycherry (IP Logged)
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Re: Gloucester open Euro campaign with good win
Sometimes you have to be pragmatic and say 'a win's a win' cant say im overly thrilled with the style of play but if it is succesful I will stomach it. Im wondering if people's crunching credit plus the game being televised led to a relatively sparse crowd. You would of thought the Glaws marketing team would of considered that but apparently not and it will be revealing to see if any ticketing offers are wheeled out.

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13 Oct, 2008 10:57 Report
Two Sheds (IP Logged)
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Re: Gloucester open Euro campaign with good win
Probably a combination of the financial armagedon the media says we all face and the fact it was on the telly, but so many empty places always look disappointing. Unless William Blessing was there and emptied thousands of seats????

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13 Oct, 2008 23:36 Report
cheerycherry (IP Logged)
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Re: Gloucester open Euro campaign with good win
I have said before that im not surprised some people are staying away. If you are not a dedicated Glaws fan then it can be an expensive day out when the game is being televised anyway plus the games are coming thick and fast at the moment and maybe that was a factor too.

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14 Oct, 2008 11:58 Report
Two Sheds (IP Logged)
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Re: Gloucester open Euro campaign with good win
You're probably right cc. I just hope the empty seats don't dishearten certain people ... like TW.

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14 Oct, 2008 12:47 Report
cheerycherry (IP Logged)
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Re: Gloucester open Euro campaign with good win
Kingsholm doesnt sell out too often anyway but the attendances for Tigers and Biarritz have been disappointing. Hopefully when the likes of Bath, Cardiff and Wuss roll into town then attendances will pick up. Compared to what attendances used to be when I first started watching Glaws it is still busy at 'only' 11000 odd

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14 Oct, 2008 12:47 Report
cheerycherry (IP Logged)
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Re: Gloucester open Euro campaign with good win
Kingsholm doesnt sell out too often anyway but the attendances for Tigers and Biarritz have been disappointing. Hopefully when the likes of Bath, Cardiff and Wuss roll into town then attendances will pick up. Compared to what attendances used to be when I first started watching Glaws it is still busy at 'only' 11000 odd

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14 Oct, 2008 15:55 Report
Smyler (IP Logged)
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Re: Gloucester open Euro campaign with good win
This may seem bizarre, but, aside from the odd really big match, the crowds at Kingsholm are lower for Heineken Cup games than they are for GP games.

Saturday's crowd was only about 650 lower than our home game against Bourgoin last season and a little more than 1500 higher than we got against Agen the season before.

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15 Oct, 2008 00:20 Report
cheerycherry (IP Logged)
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Re: Gloucester open Euro campaign with good win
It is strange. You would of thought that a side with Biarritz's reputation would of brought more spectators in. You will know if Glaws are losing money because they will start doing ticket offers.

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