GLOUCESTER 19 – 6 WARRIORS

Glasgow failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity to ensure their European campaign was well and truly back on track at Kingsholm this afternoon.

The Warriors, who silenced “The Shed” in the opening 40 minutes, would have gone to second in Pool 2 had they won today. But just a penalty and a drop goal from the boot of Dan Parks was not enough and Glasgow emerged the worst of two bad sides.

After the game, head coach Sean Lineen said: “Gloucester went up a gear at half time just as we went down half a gear. That was the difference in the end. They got back in the game pretty easily.

“We lacked focus and attitude in the second half.”

Despite the European race not being over on a numerical basis, the Warriors will now seek to continue their impressive domestic form when they return to Magners League action at home against local rivals Edinburgh in the 1872 Cup derby on Sunday 27 December (kick-off 3.05pm – live on STV). CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

The game was delayed by ten minutes as the Gloucester ground staff frantically pulled the pitch covers off the field and cleared barrow-loads of ice prior to kick-off.

Dan Parks got the game underway with a penalty in the 12th minute, signalling Glasgow’s intent to silence the notoriously rowdy “Shed End” of Kingsholm.

Parks’ penalty opportunity came right off the back of a scorching break by Richie Vernon. The Scotland international made a clean break up the midfield before being brought down just inside the Gloucester 22.

Gloucester then responded five minutes later as they collected a high ball from Chris Cusiter. They built up a threatening counter-attack with various players finding themselves in adequate space. However, tracing back in the middle of a three-on-one, Dave McCall intercepted and cleared to safety.

No matter what Gloucester threw at them, Glasgow seemed to soak up the pressure and converted their own opportunities into points as Parks slotted a drop goal from close range.

Just before the break, Parks was given an opportunity to extend Glasgow's lead to nine, but his attempt from near the half-way line didn't have the distance.

Gloucester emerged from the dressing room a different side that had gone in.

Stand-off Nicky Robinson cancelled our Parks’ six points within the first ten minutes before winger Charlie Sharples crossed at the corner.

As the game approached the final ten minutes, Sharples claimed his second try before Robinson added a further penalty to his tally.

Fifteen minutes from time, Gloucester were on the cusp of sealing this game off and five minutes of possession ensured their fate.

The final breakthrough came as lock Alex Brown received a short pass on the Glasgow line to simply dot down for the second try of the game and deal the killer blow to Glasgow.

Gloucester: Olly Morgan; Charlie Sharples, James Simpson-Daniel, Tim Molenaar, Tom Voyce; Nicky Robinson, Rory Lawson; Nick Wood, Scott Lawson, Paul Doran-Jones; Dave Attwood, Alex Brown; Alasdair Strokosch, Andrew Hazell, Gareth Delve CAPTAIN
Substitutes: Darren Dawidiuk, Alasdair Dickinson, Greg Somerville, Adam Eustace, Luke Narraway, Dave Lewis, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Carlos Spencer

Glasgow Warriors: Bernardo Stortoni; Dave McCall, Max Evans, Graeme Morrison, DTH van der Merwe; Dan Parks, Chris Cusiter; Jon Welsh, Dougie Hall, Moray Low, Alastair Kellock CAPTAIN, Richie Gray, Kelly Brown, John Barclay, Richie Vernon
Substitutes: Kevin Tkachuk for Welsh (49 mins), Dan Turner for Gray (51 mins), Mark McMillan for Cusiter (62 mins), Colin Shaw for Evans (65 mins), Fergus Thomson for Hall, Johnnie Beattie for Vernon and Colin Gregor for Stortoni (all 67 mins), Ed Kalman for Low (69 mins)