European Challenge Cup: Black Lion 10-15 Gloucester - George Barton kicks English side to victory
- Published
George Barton's accuracy from the kicking tee kept Gloucester in control
European Challenge Cup |
|---|
Black Lion (7) 10 |
Tries: Matkava Cons: Matkava Pens: Matkava |
Gloucester (9) 15 |
Pens: Barton 5 |
Gloucester edged past a spirited Black Lion side 15-10 to avoid a European Challenge Cup upset in Georgia.
The impressive Luka Matkava's dummy saw him score a 20th-minute try to put the hosts 7-6 up before they had a second try from a maul disallowed after obstruction by hooker Irakli Kvatadze.
George Barton's fourth penalty made it 12-7 to Gloucester after half-time.
A Matkava penalty cut the gap with 12 minutes left before a fifth Barton three-pointer sealed the victory.
Barton kicked three first-half penalties as a Gloucester side featuring 14 changes from the team which lost at Bristol last week led 9-7 at the break.
Black Lion qualified for the Challenge Cup for the first time after winning the European Super Cup - the highest level of club competition for countries outside of the Six Nations - and showed great work rate with a number of dangerous passages of play, but were often thwarted by handling mistakes.
They did well to turn Gloucester over while defending their own line a couple of times as the second period wore on, but the English side mainly had control of the territory and possession even if their attack left a lot to be desired.
Matkava's three-pointer gave the crowd in Tbilisi hope, but Barton's fifth penalty made the gap too big as Black Lion had to settle for a losing bonus point.
Black Lion: Tsirekidze; Tabutsadze, Kveseladze, Sharikadze, Todua; Matkava, Peranidze; Abdushelishvili, Kvatadze, Chkhartishvili, Cheishvili, Babunashvili, Ivanishvili, Mamamtavrishvili, Spanderashvili.
Replacements: Mamrikashvili, Shamilishvili, Tchumbadze, Epremidz, Kervalishvili, Margalitadze, Kakhoidze,Modebadze.
Gloucester: Morris; Hearle, Hillman-Cooper, Atkinson, May; Barton, Young; Ford-Robinson, Blake, Gotovtsev, Clarke, Jordan, Thomas, Taylor, Donnell.
Replacements: McGuigan, Elrington, Knight, Clark, Ludlow, Chapman, Llewellyn, Hathaway.
Referee: Adam Jones