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Last Updated: Monday, 1 January 2007, 16:59 GMT

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Gloucester 15-3 London Irish

Full-back Olly Morgan scored Gloucester's first try

Gloucester: (5) 15
Tries: Morgan, Balshaw
Cons: Walker
Pens: Walker

L Irish: (3) 3
Pens: Geraghty

Gloucester proved too strong for London Irish in the Premiership clash at a muddy Kingsholm on Monday.

The Cherry and Whites scored tries through full-back Olly Morgan and sub Iain Balshaw at either end of the match for a first win in three games.

Morgan scored with a chip-and-chase on three minutes after Ryan Lamb's penetrating counter.

A Shane Geraghty penalty was the only other score before Balshaw ended the stalemate to put his side third.

It wasn't the best advertisement for rugby, but sometimes you have got to work 80 minutes and take the four points

Gloucester boss Dean Ryan

Flanker Andy Hazell made the initial escape, covering 30m before being stopped at the line.

Replacement scrum-half and fellow England star Peter Richards fed Balshaw, who dived for a try in the 71st minute, converted by replacement fly-half Willie Walker.

Walker added a penalty with three minutes to spare and Gloucester held out at the end as Irish tried to trundle their way over the line.

Gloucester boss Dean Ryan:
"It was a day when it was important that we didn't try to do too much. The conditions were impossible.

"Both sides tried the same tactics. London Irish do a good job of holding a high field position and we just had to sit and wait.

"It wasn't the best advertisement for rugby, but sometimes you have got to work 80 minutes and take the four points.

"We know this side can play rugby on another day. We've just got to be patient."

London Irish coach Brian Smith:
"The pitch was rubbish. It's a shame we have to play on surfaces like that. It just isn't up to standard.

"I spoke to Dean and he said the same. When you have a running team like us, what you like to see is a contest. It was difficult on that glue pot.

"The crowd was quite upset about the players kicking the ball, but when you're playing on a surface like that, you're better off not having the ball.

"Both sides were very frustrated. The Gloucester fans will be happy with the result, but there could have been a lot of rugby played had it been a better wicket."

Gloucester: Morgan; Simpson-Daniel, Tindall, Allen, Foster; Lamb, Lawson; Califano, M. Davies, Nieto, Bortolami, Brown, Buxton, Hazell, Forrester.
Replacements: Azam, Wood, Eustace, Boer, Richards, Walker, Balshaw.

London Irish: D Armitage; Ojo, Mordt, Mapusua, Bishop; Geraghty, Hodgson; Hatley, Coetzee, Rautembach, Kennedy, Casey, Roche, S. Armitage, P Murphy.
Replacements: Collins, Paice, Lea'aetoa, J. Hudson, Magne, Horak, Everitt.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (Bristol).