Billy Twelvetrees inspires five-try Gloucester to win over Wasps

Billy Twelvetrees scored 20 points as a superb second-half performance from Gloucester secured a 40-24 victory over Gallagher Premiership rivals Wasps at Kingsholm. Gloucester’s eight were able to dominate against a Wasps’ pack missing England internationals Joe Launchbury and Jack Willis – and were rewarded with five tries.

Jack Singleton, Matt Garvey, Joe Simpson, Jason Woodward and Twelvetrees all crossed for the Cherry and Whites, with captain Twelvetrees adding three penalties and three conversions. Paolo Odogwu scored two late tries for the visitors. Alfie Barbeary and Michael Le Bourgeois scored the others with Jimmy Gopperth kicking two conversions.

Wasps began brightly before a long punt from Gloucester scrum-half Joe Simpson secured his side a platform in the opposition 22 and from there the visitors were penalised only for Twelvetrees to miss a straightforward kick.

Minutes later, after a strong burst from centre, Mark Atkinson, Twelvetrees was presented with an even easier opportunity and this time the Gloucester skipper made no mistake with a simple penalty which was the only score of an evenly-contested first quarter.

However it was largely a disjointed affair with the game not being helped by continual disruption with injuries – Prop Ben Harris left the field permanently and there were lengthy delays for treatment to other Wasps’ forwards, Tom Cruse and Tom Willis.

Despite these setbacks, Wasps took the lead when, from a lineout 10 metres from the hosts’ line, the ball went loose for Le Bourgeois to seize possession and score. Gopperth surprisingly missed the conversion attempt before a period of sustained Gloucester pressure ended with Twelvetrees kicking his second penalty before Singleton finished off a driving lineout to give the hosts a 13-5 interval lead.

Wasps lost Willis at half-time and three minutes after the restart they fell further behind to a third penalty from Twelvetrees. The visitors appeared to be struggling but they conjured up the next try. Skilful play from Thomas Young sent Josh Bassett racing away down the left flank before Barbeary forced his way over from close range – the flanker’s fifth try in seven matches.

The game continued to gain impetus with a second try in as many minutes, Gloucester responding when Garvey burst away from a maul 15 metres out. Twelvetrees missed the conversion and then a penalty after Wasps’ replacement Levi Douglas was sin-binned for repeated team infringements.

Gloucester took advantage when Lloyd Evans burst away to feed Twelvetrees, who did not have the legs to make it to the line – but Simpson was on-hand to receive the scoring pass.

With 13 minutes remaining, Woodward finished off an excellent three-quarter move to pick up the bonus point, before Twelvetrees intercepted Gopperth’s pass to race away for the fifth. Spirited Wasps controlled the remainder of the game and after Ruan Ackermann was sin-binned, replacement Odogwu scored two tries in quick succession to secure a bonus point for the visitors.