Freddie Clarke: Gloucester let themselves down in Bath loss, says lock
- Published
Freddie Clarke has played in four Premiership games for Gloucester this season
Gloucester lock Freddie Clarke said the team "let ourselves down" after conceding 35 points in the second half to lose to Bath in the west country derby at Kingsholm.
The Cherry and Whites had been on top in the first 40 minutes and took a 20-10 lead into the break.
But Bath scored four unanswered tries in a 15 minute spell to turn the game around, which ended 45-27.
Gloucester have now lost their last three Premiership matches.
"First half we showed hunger - breakdown, first phase, line-out was all going our way," Clarke told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
"I can't really explain that second-half performance from us, we really let ourselves down.
"We spoke about having a fast start all week and we delivered that for sure and we were unlucky not to come away with more points but it's hard to reflect after the last 40 minutes if I'm honest.
"Tactically we were there. I think we just let ourselves down at the breakdown, first phase gave them easy entries into our 22 and then our defence in the 22 they seemed to keep scoring."
Gloucester came into the season having won all five of their Premiership Rugby Cup matches, to progress to the semi-finals of the competition, and a friendly win against Barbarians.
However, after beating Harlequins and Newcastle in their opening two league matches, defeats to Saracens, Sale and now Bath have followed leaving Gloucester eighth in the table with nine points.
The team next face Exeter away on Sunday, 19 November.
Clarke added that the squad will use the next few days to have a "long, hard look at individual performance" and "everyone look at everything".
He said: "That first-half performance we showed glimpses of what we can do but in this league as soon as you take your foot off the gas, teams will put you to the sword and that's what happened.
"I think we can't put on displays like that at home, can't concede 40 points.
"It's one thing letting yourself down but it's another thing letting the fans of Gloucester down."