Gloucester had England backs, Olly Morgan and James Simpson Daniel, back in their starting line-up. They pushed Quins for the full 80 minutes, with tries from Captain Gareth Delve, and two from Charlie Sharples, but it was a worthy win for the London side.

There was little chance of this game being cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch. With a little rain overnight, the pitch was a little damp but this did not deter any of the players from making it a running game. Although gloves and scarves were needed, with so much entertainment spectators kept the chill out with the excitement of the game.

Quins put the pressure on from the kick off. It definitely was not the start that the visitors wanted as they dropped the opening kick, and Quins took advantage of the shaky first touch of the ball. Danny Care took a quick tap penalty, Mike Brown broke tackles and Ugo Monye threatened the line, but was just put into touch by Sharples.

Gloucester were dealt a major blow just 5 minutes in when James Eustace was stretchered off with an injury, but it was the visitors who had the first chance at goal. A penalty awarded against Quins for collapsing the scrum saw fly-half, Freddie Burns, attempt to put the first points on the score-board, only to be denied by the post.

Gloucester, though, were the quicker to react, with Charlie Sharples gathering up the ball, and the visitors piled on the pressure almost reaching the Quins line, which resulted in a second, and easier, penalty. This time he did not miss 0-3 (9 mins).

There was a worrying moment for Quins fans when a great run from Delve saw the number 8 barge through the Quins defence to score the opening try on the right hand corner. Although Burns did not convert, they now had an 8 point lead. 0-8.
Quins responded in the best way they could. Danny Care showed his class by breaking free through a hole at a ruck and then drawing in the Gloucester full back. He followed it with a pass to George Lowe, who shot through the gap with a great line, to score between the posts. Evans had an easy conversion. 7-8.

Four minutes later, and Gloucester had once again stretched their lead with their second try. A grubber kick sent rolling towards the Quins line looked to have been covered by Mike Brown, but Sharples came racing up the pitch and dived for the ball, with the referee awarding a try to the visitors. Burns missed his second conversion. 7-13.
The two missed conversions would prove costly for Gloucester, as Evans was on kicking form and slotted 2 consecutive penalties to level the score 13-13.

Burns put Gloucester back in front with a penalty on 33 minutes, but a moment of brilliance from Evans was to take Quins into the lead for the first time in the game. The Quins fly-half danced his way through the Gloucester defence, stepping two and handing the third off before diving for the line. 18-16.

Half time

Danny Care may have been awarded man of the match today, but this must have been a hard decision, with Nick Easter having played so well. The England number 8 crashed over the try line, following a clever little pass from Danny Care, and had a great game overall. Surely, having missed the Autumn internationals due to injury, there can be little doubt that Easter will return to the England number 8 shirt for the Six Nations. Evans converted to make it 25-16.

Care and Lowe combined, once again, for Lowe’s second try and Quins’ fourth, thus earning the bonus point. Danny Care did what he does best, with a quick tap and go which scattered the Gloucester defence. His pass to Lowe allowed the young academy centre to outstrip the Gloucester defence, and seal the game for Quins. Evans converted. 32-16.

Although the scoreline may have been daunting, Gloucester battled on bravely and reduced the gap with a Nicky Robinson penalty, and one minute later, following a yellow card for James Percival, Gloucester made the one man advantage count with a try from Sharples. Robinson kicked the conversion. 32-26.

A rejuvenated Gloucester attacked strongly but Quins eased the pressure with an Evans penalty; however, Gloucester cancelled it out with one of their own, giving them a losing bonus point. 

Final score: 35-29