Gloucester 39-10 Wasps

May scored two tries as Gloucester dazzled on Boxing Day

Gloucester ran riot against Wasps as they secured only their second Premiership win in five games.

Fine converted tries from Luke Narraway and Jonny May gave Gloucester an early 14-0 lead at a sold-out Kingsholm.

Wasps hit back through Elliot Daly and, although May scored his second try, a Nicky Robinson penalty cut the gap to 19-10 at the break.

But Gloucester then cut loose and tries from Henry Trinder and Olly Morgan, with two, gave them a try bonus point.

It was a fine performance from the hosts, who outplayed Wasps in every facet of the game.

They were incisive in attack from the opening whistle and frequently left Wasps chasing shadows, with their exciting young backline revelling in the chance to impress.

But it was their pack that laid the foundations and they chiselled out the opening try, bulldozing a 20m path to the line to allow number eight Narraway to boost his England chances with the try.

Gloucester number eight Narraway showed some lovely touches

Breaks from Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and Freddie Burns then put Gloucester on the front foot and some crisp passing enabled Narraway to put May over for their second try.

With Burns adding both conversions, Wasps looked in danger of being blown away, but they hit back almost immediately as Daly, only 19, made the line with an arcing run.

Robinson converted, only for May to score his second try with a fine stretching finish in the corner.

A Robinson penalty cut the gap to nine points at the break but the margin was flattering to Wasps and Gloucester duly put them to the sword in the second half.

The opening period had been full of adventure and running rugby from Gloucester, and if anything the hosts upped the pace after the interval, with Burns getting them ticking over with a penalty.

Trinder touched down his kick ahead after the covering Simpson narrowly failed to snuff out the danger, and Morgan then took over the try scoring.

His first came at the end of another flowing move, the full-back taking three Wasps defenders over the line with him, but there was more than an element of good fortune about his second.

As he dived over the line the covering Richard Haughton knocked the ball out of his grasp, but the referee gave the score and Burns converted as the Cherry and Whites sent their vocal fans home with the ideal Christmas present.

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Gloucester Rugby head coach Bryan Redpath told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"We haven't played like that all season, but there was the right link between backs and forwards with energy and tempo to our game.

"People will always talk about the try scorers, but we should remember the work of the pack which was second to none.

"The Gloucester people were outstanding, to come and fill Kingsholm on Boxing Day and sing and shout, we needed that.

MATCH DETAILS

Gloucester: Morgan; May, Trinder, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Simpson-Daniel; Burns, R Lawson; Wood, S Lawson, Harden, Buxton, Hamilton, Strokosch, Qera, Narraway.

Replacements: Sharples for Morgan (60), Mills for Burns (72), Lewis for R Lawson (66), Murphy for Wood (66), Dawidiuk for S Lawson (63), Chistolini for Harden (66), Deacon for Strokosch (69), Cox for Qera (72).

Wasps: Southwell; Haughton, Daly, Flutey, Wade; N Robinson, Simpson; Payne, Webber, Broster, O'Donoghue, Wentzel, Birkett, Everard, Burton.

Replacements: Varndell for Southwell (38), Berry for Simpson (66), Lindsay for Webber (52), Castex for Broster (63), Harris for Everard (63), Jones for Burton (52).

Not Used: Baker, Davis.

Att: 16,500

Ref: Greg Garner (RFU).