Bath had needed to make all the possession and territory they enjoyed in the opening stages count. After repeated infringements by the Cherry and White forwards at the breakdown, the referee showed lock Tom Savage yellow.

With Savage in the bin, Bath's man advantage came to the fore, with Welsh lock Dom Day touching down after a potent mauling effort from the pack. Unfortunately, Tom Homer's conversion attempt bounced back off the left upright. 5-0.

Fullback Homer was on hand soon thereafter to slot a penalty kick, as Bath once again threatened the Gloucester line. 8-0.

Gloucester fly-half James Hook's long penalty brought the scores to within five points with just over ten minutes left in the first half. 8-3.

Although the score remained unchanged until the half-time whistle blew, it was a period in which Gloucester showed little threat in attack, thanks to a tenacious Bath defence. Matt Banahan, too, in the more unusual 13 jersey, posed the greatest threat for the home side in going forward.

HALF TIME: Bath Rugby 8-3 Gloucester

The rival teams traded penalties in the opening ten minutes of the second half, first through Hook, and then Homer. 11-6.

Hook extended Gloucester's lead near the 50-minute mark when, having been brought down after setting off on a trademark mazy run, the Bath tackler was penalised at the breakdown. 11-9.

Indeed, the boot of Hook was the architect of the Cherry and Whites' victory, kicking as it did a further six points from two penalties to compound an error-strewn second half for the hosts.

Bath made a last-ditch attempt at preventing a home defeat to their old rivals, with a penalty in the final minute taking them into Gloucester's 22 for a lineout. From there, however, they were penalised at the breakdown. Gloucester kicked the ball to touch and ensured they took the spoils back with them to Kingsholm.

FULL TIME: Bath Rugby 11-15 Gloucester

Gloucester take derby spoils at the Rec

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