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Last Updated: Saturday, 2 September 2006, 16:08 GMT 17:08 UK

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Gloucester 24-19 Bath

Gloucester wing Iain Balshaw tries to find way past the Bath defence

Balshaw only played 40 minutes on his debut before limping off

Gloucester: (12) 24
Tries: Adams, Morgan
Cons: Walker
Pens: Walker 4

Bath: (6) 19
Tries: Grewcock 2
Pens: Barkley 3

Gloucester held off the challenge from Bath to claim an opening-day victory over their West Country rivals.

The home side led 24-11 after 57 minutes, thanks to tries from Jack Adams, who replaced the injured Iain Balshaw, and Olly Morgan.

Danny Grewcock's second try of the afternoon with 11 minutes to go and an Olly Barkley penalty gave Bath hope of claiming victory.

But they were unable to get another score, leaving Gloucester victorious.

England World Cup winner Balshaw, who was making his debut for Gloucester after moving from relegated Leeds, lasted only 40 minutes before he limped off with his right ankle heavily strapped.

Gloucester boss Dean Ryan:
"Balshaw has a twisted ankle. He'll be fine. He's just a bit fed up it happened on his debut.

"In those wet and windy conditions to get any sort of game was a credit to both sides.

"I'm very pleased with our performance. We did the right things at the right times, and kept the ball in hand."

Bath acting head coach Steve Meehan:
"We didn't get going in the first half.

"Our kicking game was not as good as it should have been, and we gave Gloucester a lot of ball.

"We had a good preparation for this game, but we seemed to be flat throughout much of the match."

Gloucester: Morgan; Balshaw, Keil, Allen, Foster; Walker, Richards; Wood, Davies, Califano, Bortolami (capt), Brown, Buxton, Hazell, Forrester.
Replacements: Azam, Forster, James, Narraway, Lawson, Mercier, Adams.

Bath: Stephenson; Higgins, Davis, Barkley, Bory; Berne, Walshe; Flatman, Mears, Bell, Borthwick (capt), Grewcock, Short, Lipman, Delve.
Replacements: Hawkins, Barnes, Feaunati, Fidler, Williams, Malone, Maddock.

Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)