10,693 people turned up to the Memorial Ground, a record crowd. And it was the selected match for Bristol owner Malcolm Pearce to launch his 5000 club plan. The plan has been implemented as an attempt to keep rugby in Bristol. And Malcolm Pearce believes that 5000 season ticket holders will do that. Along with a season ticket for next season you get a £40 MOT for your car and a replica shirt. And if Bristol don't achieve the 5000, no money leaves your account!

It was Dean Ryan's return to Bristol, the club he was at for four years, and it was a start he would have been very happy with. After just a few minutes Gloucester were rewarded a lineout inside the Shogun's 22. Azam's dodgy lineout was caught by Forrester, who flew down the blind side in and out of the helpless defenders to score his first. Mercier, today kicking brilliantly, slotted his first conversion.

The difference between Django on soft and hard ground is amazing, and the whole team seemed full of running skillful rugby instead of the typical "stick it up your jumper" approach which has been adopted over the Winter months. His second try was just as good as the first.

As the ball was spun wide along the line Django found himself in space. He had support down the wing but chose not to use it, outrunning the trailing defenders with pure pace. Again Mercier put the conversion over, part of the 13 points he gathered without any being penalties.

Contepomi, having a rare off-day with the boot for his standards, brought Bristol back in to the game with two penalties but the two early tries seemed to put Gloucester just out of touching distance from their derby neighbours. However Bristol fought back and started to have the better of the possession, little errors just letting them down.

And it was Gloucester who stretched their lead even further. James Simpson-Daniel broke away and slipped a reverse pass to Andy Hazell. He made his own space and sped through a gap to score the Cherry-and-Whites third try of the day. Mercier missed for the only time in the match.

Bristol's first came soon after and signalled that results of late for Bristol would be repeated; a high scoring game but with Bristol losing out due to poor defence. It was England's wing Phil Christophers that scored it. He claimed the ball just inside the Gloucester half, and outdone a fair part of the Gloucester defence. Garvey did his best to stop Christophers scoring but he still managed to flyover in the corner. Contepomi added the two points.

Unfortunately for Gloucester Andy Hazell picked up an injury just before half time. He has knee ligament damage and could miss both of England's A games and possibly the massive Powergen Final at Twickenham. Paramore was the replacement.

Just minutes in to the second half Forrester got his third, and England coach Andy Robinson could only have been impressed. Forrester stormed through and some lack-lustre defending allowed him to score. Mercier added the difficult conversion to the delight of the massive away crowd.

Soon after a ruckus occurred between Jake Boer and (yep you guessed it) Gareth Archer. Both were sent to the bin, and Bristol were awarded a penalty. Shane Drahm missed the kick but did put a penalty over a few minutes later.

Ludovic Mercier has been a topic of hot debate over recent months. How I see it is that if we can replace him with someone of status such as Jonny Wilkinson then fair enough, but that seems unlikely with current money problems. If we can only get someone of equal/lesser ability then I say stick with Ludo. He is of incredible talent and has been a massive asset to the Gloucester team over the last two years. And he has a natural ability for spotting gaps and loose passes.

He showed this ability with a try of his own. A loose pass from Bristol was latched on to by the Frenchman who paced away from the defenders with a look of anguish on his face. Despite his obvious tiredness no one could catch him and he scored, adding the extra two as well.

It was now all Gloucester game and they added their sixth try just minutes from the end of the match. Lineout ball was fed to the backs and they all got touches before Garvey was left in space and went over. For the second time in two matches we have seen fantastic moves when he ball has been spread along the width of the pitch and a try scored. An ability Gloucester have lacked in the last few months.

In the final minutes Bristol claimed a consolation through Drahm who went over with relative ease.

If anything I would say that Gloucester are at their strongest point of the season. Watch out Northampton. (Come'on, let's fill Twickers!)

Final Score: Bristol 21 - 38 Gloucester

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon