The blue, black and whites use their extra man wisely though and end up clearing the ball up field. Is that Sam Burgess I spy about to come on?

Gloucester have the put-in and quickly recycle the ball. It's worked wide now to Charlie Sharples but the wing is snuffled out just short of the line. The home side keep the ball, however, and continue to knock on the Bath door.

Graeme Hobbs:, external That was an impressive maul from Bath! It can be such a weapon when done well #AvivaPrem #GLOSvBATH #bbcrugby #rugbyunited

Credit to the 14 men of Gloucester, who've responded well since that try. There's a couple of huge hits from the Bath defence, replacement Rob Webber with the second, but it'll all end up with a scrum - which will, this time, be uncontested. Frankly, that can't be a bad thing.

Image source, Getty Images

It's probably fitting that, after all those collapsed scrums, it's a collapsed rolling maul that brings about the first try of the evening. Bath were heading to the line at pace and Gloucester's pack can only send it tumbling down. George Ford converts, the visitors now in complete control.

Here's another scrum, replacement Micky Young with the put-in for Bath. The first one collapses so it'll be reset, and again it comes crashing down. This time, however, Sila Puafisi is penalised and the Gloucester prop is sent to the bin. It looks like referee Guy Garner has run out of patience.

There's 25 minutes left at Kingsholm and at the moment it looks like the West Country derby is going Bath's way.

Can Gloucester mount a comeback? Let us know what you think by using #bbcrugby on Twitter.

Looks like Kyle Eastmond is going to take no further part. However, it won't be Sam Burgess who replaces him, but Ollie Devoto. Perhaps not all that surprising in a local derby as tight as this one.

Caroline Chapman
BBC Sport at Kingsholm

"Safe to say referee Guy Garner isn't going to be receiving any Cherry and White-themed Christmas cards this year.

"Home players and fans alike are getting increasingly frustrated with his decisions at the scrum.

"And as George Ford keeps his cool from the tee, the game is certainly going Bath's way at the moment."

Image source, Getty Images

I wonder what the chat is among the Gloucester pack. One thing is for sure, it's going to be a long evening for them if they can't find a way of getting their set-piece right.

George Ford kicks the penalty and Bath are now more than a converted try clear.

Matt Banahan is unlucky there, stepping out of the line to put in a fine hit in Gloucester territory but frustratingly knocking on. We all know what that means! It's scrum time - and guess what? A Bath penalty.

George Ford, who missed that penalty, used to play for Leicester of course. And, as you can probably imagine, Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill thought his side should have done better after having a one-man advantage for more than 60 minutes.

"I'm frustrated with how we managed that second half. We got what we deserved. You have to control that field position and get that forward pack into the right areas of the field so we can have opportunities to create attacks," said Cockerill.

"We were defensively poor. We were too narrow. It will be interesting on Monday morning when we look back and see a side with one less back creating opportunities.

"Saints outplayed us. They took advantage of our naivety in defence. We seemed to go AWOL at times in defence."

George Ford can't land the kick, however, and Bath's lead will stay at three points. That really was a terrific passage of play - more of the same, please!

But Bath have turned it over, and here goes Jonathan Joseph breaking forward at pace! He has Semesa Rokoduguni for company, too, but elects not to use the winger and it breaks down. They will have a penalty though...

Image source, Getty Images

While we're waiting for that first try at Kingsholm, Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder has been giving his reaction to his side's win over Leicester and Dylan Hartley's red card.

"At half-time Tom Wood said 'let's do it for Dylan'," said Mallinder. "It was a tremendous, spirited performance. Not just relying on spirit and guts but also a lot of technical and tactical work.

"In terms of the red card it is disappointing. Dylan has to keep his arms down but he's being held and I don't think there is any malice in it. The nature of the game didn't justify a red card. I think Smith went down pretty easily, which was disappointing.

"I think the referee's initial decision of a yellow card would have been the correct decision.

"I thought Luther Burrell was outstanding. After 20 minutes we said we were still going to take them on and what we needed from Luther was to stay strong and on his feet and he did that brilliantly."

Ross Moriarty breaks through the middle to get Gloucester moving in the right direction. They switch the ball from right to left, probing, searching for a gap. This is more like it.

George Ford gets us under way. Here's hoping for a freer-flowing 40 minutes of Premiership rugby union...

The teams are on their way out again at Kingsholm. Prediction time, folks. Let us know where you reckon this game is going on Twitter using #bbcrugby.

Image source, Getty Images

I mentioned Franklin's Gardens a few moments ago - well, now seems as good a time as any to remind you what happened earlier in the Premiership.

Northampton Saints secured a dramatic late victory over Leicester Tigers in what was a truly epic East Midlands derby. England hooker Dylan Hartley was sent off for an elbow off the ball before half-time, but the hosts scored three tries after the break to earn a famous win over their old enemy.

Elsewhere, Saracens ran in 11 tries to trounce London Welsh 78-7, and Tim Swiel kicked Harlequins to a 15-7 victory over Newcastle Falcons.

Caroline Chapman
BBC Sport at Kingsholm

Image source, Getty Images

"Gloucester might be quite content to go in only six points behind, given Bath's onslaught in the last 10 minutes of the half.

"The hosts staved off the pressure so far, but how long can they hold out against the title contenders?

"Bath, meanwhile, may have to carry on without Kyle Eastmond, who seems to be really struggling with a leg injury.

"If only they had a high-profile centre to replace him from the bench...."