As the Bath team ran out towards the Shed to warm up, the crowd started deafening chants of "going down, going down, going down". And with Newcastle beating Leeds at Headingley, it is looking more and more likely. If a team with as many big names as Bath can be relegated it is an advert for the quality of the premiership. And they didn't look like a team grasping for a lifeline at Kingsholm.

The Blue, White and Black's had the better of the possesion in the first half. Their lineout worked perfectly, an area Gloucester could do with copying. Gloucester started the scoreboard rolling with two Ludovic Mercier penalties, he had definitely found his kicking boots.

Everyone knows how dangerous Mike Catt can be, and he kept Bath in it. He got their first points through a cleverly judged drop goal, and then started a move which resulted in the local rival's scoring a try.

As Gloucester were slowly pushing forward in attack, Andy Gomarsall picked up from the back of the scrum. His pass was intercepted by Catt who ran most of the field before the move was held up. Bath recycled and the ball was span out to Borthwick, who turned the defender and went over to put Bath in the lead. Olly Berkley converted.

Mercier, probably man of the match, put another penalty over to reduce the lead. When Gloucester were awarded another penalty on the half way line, Ludo chose to have a go against the wind but put it just wide.

Gloucester went in behind at half time, but Bath prop Mallet had been sin binned for an alleged punch which was seen by the touch judge.

The one man advantage paid off early in the second half. Ludo kicked for a five metre touch and Gloucester won the lineout through Mark Cornwell. The Cherry-and-Whites set up a typical maul, and Olivier Azam was bundled over. He and Ludovic Mercier had just been named in the France A squad to play England A on Friday.

Catt kept Bath in it with another good drop goal. However, he couldn't single handedly make up for the handling errors Bath were making in the midfield. They did look a good side at times but maybe lacked the organisation when going forward.

Towards the end Gloucester did all they could to stop Bath getting a bonus point. However they couldn't quite muster a winning bonus for themselves. The did manage one more try at the very end of the game after a Ludovic Mercier penalty.

Gloucester kept storming forward but seemed to lack invention in the back line, with handling errors usually ending any possibility of a breakthrough. However finally the pressure paid off when the ball was thrown wide and Garvey had the space to go over in the corner.

There isn't another match until the Powergen Cup quarter final against Leicester at Franklins Gardens on March 2nd.

Final Score: Gloucester 20-16 Bath

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