Gloucester Rugby ran in three tries to claim a comfortable 31–10 Guinness Premiership victory over Newcastle Falcons at a sold-out Kingsholm, Nicky Robinson contributing 16 points as the Cherry and Whites moved into the top four.
Gloucester Rugby returned to winning ways with a dominant 31–10 Guinness Premiership victory over Newcastle Falcons at a sun-soaked Kingsholm, moving them up to fourth in the table with a performance full of running rugby and clinical finishing.
Nicky Robinson was in imperious form at fly-half, controlling the game from first to last and contributing 16 points through four penalties and two conversions. The Welsh international was particularly sharp in the second half, when Gloucester's advantage grew from 16–3 to an unassailable 31–10.
Robinson opened with two early penalties to establish a 6–0 lead, before James Simpson-Daniel — always a threat with his searing pace — burst through a gap in the Newcastle midfield on 27 minutes to touch down under the posts. Robinson converted to make it 13–0.
Jonny Wilkinson, returning to Kingsholm for the first time since his injury-plagued stint at the club the previous season, reduced the deficit with a composed penalty just before the half-hour, but Robinson's third penalty from long range on the stroke of half-time sent Gloucester in 16–3 up.
The second period brought more of the same. Lesley Vainikolo, the powerful Tongan winger, collected a cross-field kick from Robinson to score Gloucester's second try on 54 minutes. Robinson converted. Tane Tu'ipulotu gave Newcastle brief hope with a try on 61 minutes, Wilkinson converting, but Robinson's fourth penalty on 68 minutes and a late Olly Morgan try — the fullback finishing brilliantly after a surging midfield break — sealed the result emphatically.
Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan praised the performance: "We played with a lot of ambition today and the backs were outstanding. Nicky was exceptional — he controlled the game brilliantly and the whole side responded to him." Newcastle director of rugby John Fletcher acknowledged his side had been second best: "Gloucester were too good for us today. We competed for forty minutes but the second half was really difficult."