Late Hastings kick tips pulsating encounter in favour of Gloucester

Adam Hastings kicked a late penalty to give Gloucester a thrilling 31-28 Gallagher Premiership victory over Bristol at Kingsholm. It looked as though the fierce West Country rivals would not be separated after they each scored four converted tries but Scotland fly-half Hastings held his nerve from 40 metres out, maintaining Gloucester’s impressive start to the season and inflicting a third successive Premiership defeat on Bristol.

Gloucester led three times only for Bristol to pull themselves level on each occasion before prop Val Rapava-Ruskin’s second try just after the hour mark tied things up after the visitors had gone in front. Flanker Jordy Reid, Rapava-Ruskin and lock Freddie Clarke claimed first-half tries, yet Bristol ensured a rollercoaster encounter through equalising tries for Sam Bedlow, his fellow centre Piers O’Conor and prop Ellis Genge.

Andy Uren’s 56th-minute try edged Bristol ahead and Callum Sheedy kicked his fourth successful conversion, but Hastings’ fourth conversion after Rapava-Ruskin crossed for a second time set up the opportunity for the fly-half’s winning strike.

Gloucester changes included England wing Jonny May returning to the starting line-up, with Santiago Carreras moving to full-back, while centre Chris Harris replaced Mark Atkinson, who suffered a season-ending knee injury at Bath last weekend. Bristol handed scrum-half Tom Whiteley a first start since February, taking over from an injured Harry Randall, with Fitz Harding returning to the back row alongside Chris Vui and Dan Thomas.

Both teams displayed plenty of ambition in the early stages, with Gloucester’s Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit proving a considerable attacking threat. It was no surprise when Gloucester took an eleventh-minute lead, relying on their outstanding driving maul to breach Bristol’s defence as Reid touched down and Hastings converted.

Bristol had opportunities to hit back quickly, but poor ball retention proved their undoing and Gloucester’s powerful counter-ruck led by No8 Ruan Ackermann often sent them into reverse gear.The visitors did not lose their composure, though, and patient build-up play saw them draw level through a 25th-minute try for Bedlow that Sheedy converted after the centre crashed through weak Gloucester defence.

It was a game of little pattern, yet the excitement levels continued as the sides matched each other blow for blow. Gloucester went back in front eight minutes before half-time after Harris caused panic in Bristol’s defence and Rapava-Ruskin dived over the top of a ruck to score.

Hastings’ conversion made it 14-7, but Bristol hit back after Genge’s strong midfield charge created enough space for Uren, who replaced Whiteley, to send O’Conor through a huge gap with Sheedy adding the extras.

But just when Bristol thought they had done enough to go off level at half-time, Ackermann stormed clear from the back of a scrum and Clarke powered over, giving Hastings an easy conversion as Gloucester secured a 21-14 interval advantage.

It took Bristol just five minutes into the second period to draw level for the third time and this time it was Genge who did the damage, claiming his fourth Premiership try this season. Sheedy’s conversion tied the game up once more before the impressive Uren went close to a dazzling solo score, but he was hauled into touch by Gloucester’s last defender.

Bristol should have made no mistake just three minutes later following a piercing Charles Piutau break, but flanker Dan Thomas lost the ball under pressure from Rees-Zammit and the chance went begging. Gloucester, though, could not escape Bristol’s attacking menace and Uren put them ahead for the first time with a try that Sheedy converted.

But Gloucester set up a thrilling final quarter by claiming the eighth try of a pulsating contest as Rapava-Ruskin again crossed Bristol’s line, with Hastings converting before he provided the match-winning moment.